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.

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 a new report, The US Economic Impacts of Climate Change and the Costs of Inaction, to be released Tuesday morning, October 16, 2007.

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).

University of Maryland President, Dan Mote, signed the Presidents Climate Commitment in April 2007. CIER is conducting the first campus Greenhouse Gas Inventory to support the commitment as well as research on mitigation strategies for consideration.

Serving as academic expert on the Governor's Climate Change Commission , subcommittee on Climate Mitigation, Dr. Matthias Ruth is helping craft Maryland's mitigation plan, to be delivered to the Governor in Fall 2007.

Last updated October 16, 2007