MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change

MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change
Name	MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change
Established	1991
Parent	Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Director	C. Adam Schlosser
Website	https://globalchange.mit.edu/

MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change is an interdisciplinary research program dedicated to analyzing the complex interactions between human activity, the Earth system, and the associated risks of climate change. It serves as a bridge between scientific discovery and the development of actionable policy, integrating advanced modeling of the global economy and the climate system. The program is a collaboration between the MIT Sloan School of Management and the MIT School of Science, with core support from a consortium of government and industry sponsors.

Overview

The program’s central mission is to provide an integrated, quantitative assessment of the environmental and economic dimensions of global change to inform public and private decision-making. It operates at the nexus of atmospheric science, oceanography, ecology, and economics, recognizing that effective climate solutions require understanding both physical and human systems. Key outputs include long-term projections, risk analyses, and assessments of potential mitigation and adaptation strategies, which are used by organizations like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and various national governments.

Research and Modeling

Core research is built around the development and application of the Integrated Global System Modeling framework, a suite of coupled computer models. This framework links the MIT Earth System Model, which simulates atmospheric chemistry and ocean circulation, with the Economic Projection and Policy Analysis model, which projects greenhouse gas emissions from global economic activity. This integration allows researchers to explore feedbacks, such as how climate impacts might affect agricultural productivity or energy demand, and to evaluate the costs and effectiveness of policies like a carbon tax or investments in renewable energy technologies like solar power and wind power.

Key Publications and Findings

The program regularly publishes influential reports and peer-reviewed papers in journals like Nature and Science. Seminal studies have quantified the social cost of carbon, analyzed the economic risks of exceeding critical climate thresholds, and assessed the feasibility of meeting international targets like those in the Paris Agreement. Its research has highlighted the significant challenges of deep decarbonization, the role of carbon capture and storage, and the potential impacts on regions like the Arctic and vulnerable nations in Southeast Asia.

Education and Outreach

An integral component is training the next generation of scientists and policy analysts through graduate fellowships, postdoctoral positions, and research opportunities for MIT students. The program hosts public seminars, briefings for policymakers in Washington, D.C., and collaborations with institutions like the World Bank and the International Energy Agency. Its online platform, the MIT Global Change Outlook, disseminates key data and interactive visualizations to a broad audience, enhancing public understanding of complex climate issues.

Organizational Structure and Partners

The program is co-directed by a scientist and an economist, reflecting its interdisciplinary nature, and is advised by a consortium that includes sponsors from the U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, and major industrial firms like ExxonMobil and Chevron Corporation. It maintains strong ties with other research centers at MIT, including the MIT Energy Initiative and the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, and collaborates internationally with entities such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the European Commission.

History and Evolution

The Joint Program was founded in 1991 by renowned professors Henry D. Jacoby and Ronald G. Prinn in response to a growing need for rigorous, integrated analysis of climate change. Initially focused on building its foundational modeling framework, it expanded significantly following key assessments like the IPCC Third Assessment Report. Over decades, it has evolved to address emerging issues, including the implications of geoengineering, the economics of climate adaptation, and the systemic risks posed to global infrastructure and financial markets.

Category:Climate change research Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology Category:Research institutes in Massachusetts