John Holdren Presentation at Oil-Climate Index Release

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Energy and Climate Program, Stanford University, and the University of Calgary have developed a first-of-its-kind Oil-Climate Index (OCI) to compare the emissions impacts of different oils as a function of discoveredwhat they are, how they are extracted, how they are refined, how they are transported, and how they are ultimately used. At a VIP dinner to launch the OCI, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology John P. Holdren delivered a keynote lecture about the state of climate science and policy.

Discussion Highlights

• GHG Emissions: Dr. Holdren laid out what the scientific community knows to be true about climate science: that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are the primary driver of climate change, and that “vigorous remedial action” in reducing those emissions can alter the destructive path on which we now find ourselves.
   
• Climate Action Plan: On the policy front, Dr. Holdren presented the three prongs of the President’s Climate Action Plan: cutting carbon pollution in the United States, preparing the country for the impacts of climate change, and leading international efforts to address climate change.
   
• Helping Policymakers: Following his keynote, in a discussion moderated by Jonathan Koomey of Stanford University, Dr. Holdren described how data and analysis much like the OCI can help policymakers to focus on new ways to reduce emissions. He also emphasized the importance of further research and development for low emissions technologies and the need for legislation on greenhouse gas emissions in the power sector.

John P. Holdren

John P. Holdren is assistant to the President for Science and Technology, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).