Global Warming

While all global climate models show an overall increase in surface temperatures over the coming decades, when it comes down to regional effects on temperature and rainfall there are areas of significant uncertainty.

Workshop explores intertwined future of food production, water, and climate

Choices by consumers and farmers can help limit global warming, but climate change may also curtail those choices in the future.

May 11, 2018

“In China, as you go to tighter and tighter climate policies, you continue to reduce pollutant emissions from coal, whereas the U.S. has already reduced a lot of its air pollution from coal through end-of-pipe technologies,” Karplus says.

Study: Health benefits will offset cost of China’s climate policy

A 4 percent reduction per year in carbon dioxide emissions should net $339 billion in health savings in 2030, researchers estimate.

April 23, 2018

Artist’s view of the young Earth as it is believed to have looked 3.5 billion years ago

Determining the timing of methanogen evolution

Scientists conclude methane-producing microbes date back 3.5 billion years, supporting the hypothesis that they could have contributed to early global warming.

April 4, 2018

A new study found that cities with an orderly pattern, like the street grid seen in most of this map, have a much greater urban heat island effect than those with a more disorderly pattern, such as areas in the upper right.

Urban heat island effects depend on a city’s layout

The way streets and buildings are arranged makes a big difference in how heat builds up, study shows.

February 22, 2018

Air pollution in Bangladesh and Northern India

Projecting the impacts of climate change

Joint Program researchers advocate for improved modeling approach.

February 13, 2018

Maps depict the close correlation of crop production, rainfall and temperature in the U.S. Midwest in the last half of the 20th century. In this map, the number of bushels of corn produced are shown in shades of green.

Intensive agriculture influences U.S. regional summer climate, study finds

An increase in corn and soybean production in the Midwest may have led to cooler, wetter summers there.

February 13, 2018

On Jan. 25, the MIT Climate Action Team organized a carbon-pricing panel that included (from left to right) Massachusetts State Sen. Michael Barrett, State Rep. Jennifer Benson, Climate XChange Research and Policy Director Marc Breslow, Associate Professor Janelle Knox-Hayes, Joint Program Co-director and Sloan School of Management Senior Lecturer John Reilly, and Center for Energy and Environment...

Is Massachusetts ready for carbon pricing?

Panel at MIT explores benefits, costs, and political challenges.

January 30, 2018

"Climate Science and Climate Risk: A Primer" by Kerry Emanuel is written for nonscientists.

A primer for understanding climate science

MIT Professor Kerry Emanuel explains the science behind climate change, as well as the associated risks and how to quantify them.

January 22, 2018

Members of the MIT delegation to the 2017 UN Climate Change Conference gather outside the venue in Bonn, Germany (l-r): Jonas Knapp, Laur Hesse Fisher, Michael Casey, Kathleen Kennedy, Thomas Malone, Jessika Trancik, Stephen Lee, Morgan Edwards, Tom Kiley, and Erick Pinos.

Exploring ethical dimensions of climate negotiation

MIT researchers focus on empathy, transparency, and empowerment at this year's United Nations Climate Change Conference.

December 18, 2017

At the MIT Conference for the Resilient Reconstruction of the Caribbean, Puerto Rico’s governor, Ricardo Rosselló ’01 (left), described the devastation of recent hurricanes and discussed opportunities for collaboration on resilient rebuilding. He spoke with Robert Stoner, deputy director of the MIT Energy Initiative and director of the Tata Center for Technology and Design.

MIT conference seeks solutions for reconstruction in devastated Caribbean

Two-day workshop featuring island leaders explores ways to rebuild better, more resilient infrastructure.

December 15, 2017

In a panel discussion during the Dec. 7-8 climate summit at MIT, one of the liveliest discussions also featured some of the most diverse perspectives, as speakers delved into the complex issues surrounding decarbonization of the transportation sector. From left to right: Vicki Arroyo (moderator), Georgetown Climate Center; Jessika Trancik, MIT; Stephanie Pollack, Massachusetts Department of Transp...

MIT convenes researchers and policymakers for regional climate action

Two-day summit on climate leadership in northeastern North America draws almost 200 to MIT.

December 12, 2017

Large power transformers are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions exacerbated by climate change.

Preventing the next blackout

An MIT study projects the potential impact of climate change on large power transformers in U.S. Northeast.

December 5, 2017

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was the guest speaker at an MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative People and the Planet lecture.

Addressing America’s climate future

At an Environmental Solutions Initiative event, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse speaks about defending science and moving forward on climate action.

November 22, 2017

Zachary Smith is the Joseph R Mares (1924) Career Development Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering.

Using polymeric membranes to clean up industrial separations

Department of Chemical Engineering Professor Zachary Smith is working on new polymeric membranes that can greatly reduce energy use in chemical separations.

November 15, 2017

“You’re rolling the dice every year,” says professor Kerry Emanuel. “And we believe the odds of a flood like Harvey are changing.” Pictured is an aerial view of Houston during the Hurricane Harvey flooding.

Texas’ odds of Harvey-scale rainfall to increase by end of century

Study finds state’s annual risk of extreme rainfall will rise from 1 to 18 percent.

November 13, 2017

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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