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Focus Areas

Our independent analyses of the complex interactions among co-evolving systems aid decision-makers in confronting multiple, interwoven challenges.

Earth Systems
Changes and risks to interconnected land, ocean, atmosphere and biosphere systems
Managed Resources
Changes and risks to managed agriculture, water, land and energy systems
Infrastructure & Investment
Physical and transition risk; adaptation and resilience to climate change and extreme events
Energy Transition
National and global projections of the future energy mix; prospects for different sectors and technologies
Policy Scenarios
Environmental and economic change under different climate, air pollution, and economic policies
Regional Analysis
Science and policy studies at subnational, national and multinational levels
Multi-Sector Dynamics
Potential tipping points and transition states of Earth and human systems

Research Tools

Our state-of-the-art models and analytical methods project global and regional changes and potential risks under different policy scenarios.​

Global Framework

Simulates the interplay between Earth and human systems

Earth System Component

Simulates physical, dynamical and chemical processes in the atmosphere, land, ocean and cryosphere

Human System Component

Simulates the evolution of economic, demographic, trade and technological processes

Risk Analysis

Analytical methods to quantify uncertainty at global and regional scales

Global Change Outlook

Our Greenhouse Gamble Wheels

News

Wind farm
In The News
US, India, Russia, Japan are building out wind power much too slowly for climate change, report says

MIT Joint Program Co-Director Emeritus John Reilly highlights key challenges (Associated Press)

Nationally Determined Contributions
In The News
ASK MIT CLIMATE: When countries pledge to lower their emissions under the Paris Agreement, how do we count which emissions belong to which countries?

Emissions are attributed to the country where they happen geographically—even if the energy produced, or the products manufactured, are destined for somewhere else (MIT Climate Portal)

MIT School of Science launches Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy
News Release
The MIT Joint Program is now the MIT Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy
New center taps Institute-wide expertise to improve understanding of and responses to sustainability challenges
Scientists detect clear signal of human influence on upper tropospheric ozone
News Release
Scientists find a human “fingerprint” in the upper troposphere’s increasing ozone

Knowing where to look for this signal will help researchers identify specific sources of the potent greenhouse gas (MIT News)

More News