On July 14th, the Center for Food Studies at The American University of Rome (AUR), in partnership with the Harvard Club of Italy (HCI), welcomed Harvard alumni for a special evening of dialogue and exchange in the university’s garden courtyard. The event featured a timely and insightful conversation with Professor Robert Stavins, A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy & Economic Development at Harvard Kennedy School and Director of Graduate Studies for Harvard’s doctoral programs in Public Policy and in Political Economy and Government.
Moderated by Dr. Fabio Filocamo, President of the Harvard Club of Italy, and Dr. Maria Grazia Quieti, HCI Vice-President and Director of AUR’s Master in Food Studies, the evening explored urgent global challenges through the lens of climate policy, economics, and international cooperation.
Professor Stavins offered an economist’s perspective on climate change, framing it as a quintessential global commons problem. Because greenhouse gases disperse in the atmosphere, the environmental costs of emissions are borne collectively—regardless of where they originate. This dynamic, he explained, creates a major policy dilemma: while the benefits of mitigation are shared globally, the costs are typically incurred locally, deterring national action.
He identified short-term political cycles as a key barrier to climate action, noting that elected officials often struggle to justify investments with long-term payoffs. Climate change, he emphasized, remains one of the most intractable political challenges of our time—one that can only be addressed through sustained international cooperation.
Highlighting a path forward, Professor Stavins expressed cautious optimism about the Paris Agreement’s “bottom-up” architecture, specifically the role of Nationally Determined Contributions. While imperfect, this framework empowers countries to tailor their climate commitments, offering a practical, if complex, route to coordinated global action.
The evening concluded with lively conversation and connection among alumni.
This event exemplifies the Center for Food Studies’ mission to convene international voices and foster dialogue around the most pressing questions shaping our collective future. By bridging disciplines and communities - from climate economics to food systems - the Center serves as a vital platform for critical inquiry and engaged citizenship.