MIT Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy

Is green energy raising your electric bill? Or state policies? It’s complicated. | MIT Sloan Study finds that over 25 years, while large-scale renewables lower residential electricity prices, state electric rate structures can cause rooftop solar to drive up costs for non-solar households.

Study co-authored by MIT Prof./CS3 faculty affiliate Christopher Knittel finds that over 25 years, while large-scale #renewables lower residential #electricity prices, state electric rate structures can cause rooftop #solar to drive up costs for non-solar households.

Understanding how “marine snow” acts as a carbon sink Hitchhiking bacteria dissolve essential ballast in “marine snow” particles, which could counteract the ocean’s ability to sequester carbon, according to a new study.

A new study co-authored by MIT Prof./CS3 faculty affiliate Andrew Babbin and MIT CS3 Principal Research Scientist Ryan Woosley finds hitchhiking bacteria dissolve essential ballast in ubiquitous “snow” particles, which could counteract the #ocean's ability to sequester #carbon. 🧪

Support Climate and Sustainability Groups on MIT 24-Hour Challenge The Earth’s climate is changing faster today than ever before in the history of our species. MIT and many of the world’s leading companies, organizations, and institutions are making a tremendous effo...

MIT’s 24-Hour Challenge returns Thursday, March 12! CS3 will have our own microchallenge on the #Climate Challenge page!

Your support helps CS3 map new directions to mitigate risks to natural and societal systems while supporting justice and equity across society.

Donate to CS3 on March 12.

Ozone layer recovery. Source: NASA

A 2025 study co-authored by MIT Prof./CS3 faculty affiliate Susan Solomon showed that "the actions taken under the Montreal Protocol to reduce ozone-depleting substances are the primary reason for the recovery of the #ozone layer." - Discover magazine 🧪https://tinyurl.com/4s4bmm9n

In our latest e-newsletter, we highlight recent contributions from CS3 researchers in advancing state-of-the-art #models and #emulators of the Earth system to inform decision-making and shape the next generation of #sustainability science and strategy.
tinyurl.com/4ecc9b54

Researcher Profile: 3 Questions with Chris Womack

In our latest Researcher Profile, MIT CS3 PhD student Chris Womack describes how he became interested in advancing more efficient, reliable #climate #emulators, how he is doing just that at MIT, and how this work may ultimately enhance human well-being. 🧪

Research Insight: Advancing more efficient, accurate and reliable climate emulators

In our latest CS3 Research Insight, MIT CS3 PhD student Chris Womack explores recent efforts to take #climate #emulators to the next level, and thereby equip #sustainability -minded decision-makers with a powerful policy analysis tool. 🧪https://tinyurl.com/bd9s6keb

This report highlights accomplishments of our 1st full year as MIT CS3. As we expand efforts to produce more precise/comprehensive knowledge of #sustainability challenges, we continue to guide decision‑makers to formulate more effective strategies to improve quality of life. 🧪
tinyurl.com/mwrwxcw4

Europe Must Not Abandon Its Climate Ambitions Catherine Wolfram highlights three recent developments that underscore why the bloc should maintain its carbon-pricing system.

Report co-authored by MIT Professor/CS3 faculty affiliate Catherine Wolfram shows that "a coalition of [European] countries pricing #carbon in heavy industries could generate billions of dollars in revenue, while also meaningfully reducing global #emissions." #climatechange #sustainability

Is Climate Change Making Inflation Worse?

A working paper co-authored by MIT professors/CS3 faculty affiliates Christopher Knittel and Catherine Wolfram estimates that Americans pay between $400 and $900 per person annually due to #climatechange. In today's New York Times, Knittel says costs are about to accelerate.

Study reveals climatic fingerprints of wildfires and volcanic eruptions A new study identifies the impact of major wildfires and volcanic eruptions on global atmospheric temperatures, and underscores the importance of human activities in causing tropospheric warming.

In research that could help elucidate humans’ role in global warming, MIT Professor/CS3 faculty affiliate Susan Solomon and co-authors show how three major natural events--two #volcanoes and the Australian #wildfires (2019-2020)-- impacted global atmospheric temperatures. #climatechange. 🧪

Data Centers and Your Power Bill

New #AI sites could drive up your #power bill. The costs of those utility investments could add up quickly, says MIT Professor/CS3 faculty affiliate Christopher Knittel in The New York Times. #datacenters

S2 E2 - Climate Modeling | Climate Reveal | Episode 2 We've touched on the use for and impact of climate models in past episodes, but today we take a deep dive into the world of climate modeling - how it works, what the challenges are, what climate model...

New Climate Reveal podcast explores #climate modeling - how it works, its challenges, what it tells us about our future, and how best to communicate that info. Featuring Yi Ming, Prof. of Earth & Environmental Sciences @ Boston College, and Jennifer Morris, Principal Research Scientist @ MIT CS3.

Post-COP 30 Modeling Shows World Is Far Off Track for Climate Goals - Inside Climate News After yet another international climate summit ended last fall without binding commitments to phase out fossil fuels, a leading global climate model is offering a stark forecast for the decades ahead....

Our latest MIT Global Change Outlook finds that while current climate policies and economic indicators put the world on track for dangerous warming, accelerated #climate action could provide a major course correction. 🧪

MIT CS3 students and postdocs present IAP 2026 lecture series on climate science and policy

MIT CS3 students and postdocs presented an MIT Independent Activities Period 2026 lecture series on the fundamentals of #climate #science and #policy in January. Click the link to access videos of the entire series. 🧪

Guest post: 10 key climate science ‘insights’ from 2025 - Carbon Brief Annual “10 new insights in climate science” report offers a snapshot of key advances in the scientific understanding of the climate system

The 7th key #climate science 'insight' from 2025, 'Impacts on #labor #productivity,' shows how increasing heat stress is projected to reduce working hours and economic output. This insight is co-authored by MIT CS3 Principal Research Scientist Jennifer Morris. 🧪

5 Big Reasons Why Electricity Prices Are So High Right Now The average U.S. household is projected to spend nearly $1,000 this winter to heat its home.

One reason why #electricity #Prices are so high right now is #datacenter expansion, notes MIT Professor/CS3 faculty affiliate Christopher Knittel. Electricity costs have increased by as much as 267% compared to five years ago in areas near new data centers, finds a recent Bloomberg News analysis.

Climate Reveal

Climate Reveal, a new podcast that pairs world-class researchers with industry leaders and educators, transforms complex #climate science into accessible, conversational and hopeful insights. Multiple MIT CS3 researchers have shared their expertise on the podcast.🧪 tinyurl.com/4snrf5r4

Meet a U.S. Start-Up Trying to Break China’s Rare-Earth Monopoly

Aiming to compete with Chinese suppliers of rare earths, a New Hampshire startup recently began producing metal using new processing methods. MIT CS3 faculty affiliate Elsa Olivetti highlights some challenges.

Powering up (and saving) the planet As the Institute’s first VP for energy and climate, Evelyn Wang ’00 is marshaling MIT’s expertise to meet the greatest challenge of our age.

As MIT's first VP for #energy and #climate, Evelyn Wang ’00 is marshaling MIT’s expertise to meet the greatest challenge of our age. MIT CS3-affiliated faculty members concur with her assessment of the mission ahead.

Post-COP30, more aggressive policies needed to cap global warming at 1.5 C The 2025 Global Change Outlook from the MIT Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy presents the latest projections for earth’s energy and climate systems under two policy scenarios - one based...

Projections in our 2025 Global Change Outlook show that aggressive cuts in greenhouse gas #emissions can lead to significant reductions in global #warming and #precipitation, and thereby lower the risks of damaging #climate impacts. 🧪

Introducing the Minerals Stewardship Consortium at MIT The new Minerals Stewardship Consortium at MIT convenes industry, academia, and policy leaders to navigate competing demands and reimagine materials supply.

Mining 2.0: New MIT Minerals Stewardship Consortium is studying ways to "strategically elevate the environmental, social and economic impacts of #mining while also building resilient and ethical mineral supply chains,” says MIT Professor/CS3 affiliate Elsa Olivetti, the MSC faculty co-director.

2025 Global Change Outlook. Photo credit: iStock

The Dec. 2025/Jan. 2026 edition of the MIT CS3 e-newsletter features the release of our 2025 Global Change Outlook, which uses modeled projections to show how accelerated #climate action can reduce risks to natural and societal systems and advance #sustainability goals. 🧪
tinyurl.com/hc5rjtj8

Making clean energy investments more successful New research emphasizes the importance of well-validated models and forecasting tools in evaluating choices for investments in clean energy technologies and policies by governments and companies.

New study co-authored by MIT Professor/CS3 affiliate Jessika Trancik explores the role of data-driven, predictive tools in optimizing clean #energy investment decision-making by governments and businesses. 🧪

Post-COP30, more aggressive policies needed to cap global warming at 1.5°C

#COP30 underscored that more aggressive policies will be needed to cap global warming at #1.5°C. Our just-released 2025 Global Change Outlook shows how accelerated action can reduce #climate risks and improve #sustainability outcomes, while highlighting potential geopolitical hurdles. 🧪

When companies “go green,” air quality impacts can vary dramatically Many organizations are taking actions to shrink their carbon footprint, such as purchasing electricity from renewable sources or reducing air travel. MIT researchers found that even if each activity a...

MIT CS3 researchers and collaborators found that industry’s actions to shrink their carbon footprint—like buying renewable electricity or reducing air travel—can both cut CO₂ emissions but have very different impacts on overall air quality. #climate #airquality #sustainability 🧪

New international coalition aims to strengthen carbon markets "Carbon pricing is not dead," expert says of group led by Brazil with 18 members including China and the EU that have carbon markets.

Inspired and informed by a Global Climate Policy Project report spearheaded by MIT Professor/CS3 faculty affiliate Catherine Wolfram, leaders from 20 countries and the European Union eventually signed on to a new Open Coalition for Compliance Carbon Markets. E&E News: tinyurl.com/2wbukuh4

Episode 5 - Health and Climate | Climate Reveal | Episode 5 In our 5th episode, we look at the health impacts of the climate crisis, both direct and indirect. Noelle Eckley Selin, Director of MIT’s Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy, and Professor ...

Listen to a conversation about the impact of #climate change on human #health with MIT CS3 Director Noelle Selin & Boston College (BC) Director of the Global Observatory on Planetary Health Philip Landrigan in Climate Reveal, a BC podcast that explores climate challenges & potential solutions. 🧪

How might national vulnerabilities to disruptions in global #food trade impact countries' food security by 2050? MIT CS3 Research Scientist Kenneth Strzepek & colleagues from the International Food Policy Research Institute present latest findings @ an IFPRI policy seminar in Washington D.C.

New En-ROADS Map: Take a closer look at local temperature change The latest addition to the En-ROADS Simulator lets you visualize local temperature change under different climate scenarios.

A new, interactive map co-developed by Climate Interactive and MIT's Bringing Computation to the Climate Challenge (BC3) displays projected temperature changes in local areas across the century under different scenarios. The BC3 team includes many CS3-affiliated researchers. (Climate Interactive) 🧪