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RESEARCH CIER's integrative approach incorporates insights, methods and tools from multiple disciplines at the outset of each project. This helps us to identify critical issues and define research problems in new ways. Our basic and applied research projects utilize the best available methods in data management, computer modeling, and environmental decision making in order to develop new understanding, technologies and approaches for addressing critical problems. |
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Climate Change Adaptation While there is growing discussion of the alternatives and costs of addressing climate impacts through mitigation and adaptation, one CIER study has assessed the unexamined costs of inaction including the potential economic impacts of climate change in The US Economic Impacts of Climate Change and the Costs of Inaction. Our researchers have also done groundbreaking research on the impacts of climate change on metropolitan infrastructure, namely in Boston with the CLIMB project “ Climate's Long-term Impacts on Metro Boston ”, and in the cities of Hamilton and Wellington in New Zealand under the CLINZI project: “Climate's Long-term Impacts on New Zealand Infrastructure”. International research, in support of OECD efforts, on City Competitiveness and Climate Change considers issues of both GHG mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Climate Change Mitigation To assist the State of Maryland with implementation efforts for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), CIER's team is conducting a Phase 2 Study for RGGI implementation in Maryland , regarding impacts of allowance auction levels and energy efficiency choices, as well as economic outcomes in the state. Maryland officially joined RGGI in 2007 after consideration of results from our Phase 1 Study and report on the economic and energy impacts related to Maryland 's potential participation; a study conducted for the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). As part of a University-wide plan to make UMD carbon-neutral by 2050, CIER has updated the Greenhouse Gas Inventory of the campus to include 2008, which informed the UMD Climate Action Planning Working Group of the major sources of emissions on campus. CIER is currently working with the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) to organize and analyze their Climate Action Plan. Last, CIER has received funding from the University System of Maryland to research options for improving the measurement and visualization of Greenhouse Gas emissions from campus transportation.
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Sustainability Working with planning scenarios from the Maryland Reality Checks regional planning exercise, CIER is collaborating with the Center for Smart Growth Education and Research on an EPA STAR grant project, Reality Check Plus - Envisioning a Sustainable Maryland , to examine future energy use and alternatives to promote sustainable development in the state. CIER provides timely, independent analysis of environmental resource issues to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and others. CIER is convening Maryland 2050, a series of dialogues and studies with researchers and state leaders focused on envisioning and planning for significant human-environmental issues that will face the State of Maryland within the next four decades.
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