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Impacts of Rainfall Shocks on Out-migration in Türkiye

Will climate change induce large scale migration flows, and for what reasons? In this work, the authors quantify how rainfall shocks affect out-migration in Turkish provinces and study the role of urbanization and alternative drivers of migration decisions: per capita income, agricultural output, and local conflicts. Our results suggest that droughts induce a decrease in per capita GDP in rural provinces, which in turn acts as a push factor in out-migration decisions.

The Role of State Investment Banks for Renewable Energy Technologies

Policymakers around the world increasingly direct state investment banks (SIBs) to finance clean energy technologies. By studying the predictors of SIB lending to renewable energy projects, a new paper finds that SIB involvement is indeed more likely for higher-risk technologies like offshore wind; and, for solar PV, involvement decreases as deployment ramps up. However, SIBs are less likely to engage with smaller-scale or market-opening projects, illustrating the need for targeted mandates and guidelines.

Exploring a Suitable Business Model for Nuclear Batteries

The ‘nuclear battery’ is a novel concept for delivering nuclear powered heat and electricity. As a stand-alone, plug-and-play energy platform combining a micro-reactor of 1-20 megawatts electric and a turbine to supply electricity and heat from a very small footprint, the nuclear battery opens up new opportunities for the utilization of nuclear power. These new use-cases require development of a new business model for nuclear. We put forward a Business Model Canvas for the ‘Solution Provider’ — the entity we envision in charge of engaging with the Customer and the rest of the players in the value chain.

Money (Not) to Burn: Payments for Ecosystem Services

Particulate matter significantly reduces life expectancy in India. This Working Paper uses a randomized controlled trial in Punjab, India to evaluate the effectiveness of conditional cash transfers (otherwise known as payments for ecosystem services, or PES) in reducing crop residue burning, a major contributor to India’s poor air quality. Satellite imagery indicate that PES with upfront payments significantly reduced burning while standard PES payments were inframarginal. The authors show that PES with an upfront component is a cost-effective way to improve India’s air quality.

Power Price Crisis in the EU 3.0: Proposals to Complete Long-Term Markets

In a recent Research Commentary, Schittekatte and Batlle propose remedies that aim to complete long-term markets. In this full Working Paper, the authors expand on their discussion of complementary proposals that aim at completing the long-term market while fulfilling the two main objectives of the reform: facilitating the entry of renewable energy sources (RES) at the lowest system cost and limiting the impact of sustained high prices on end users’ bills.

March 29, 2023

Your electric bill shouldn’t be so high. Here’s how to fix it.

State law requires Massachusetts to cut greenhouse gas emissions relative to 1990 levels by 50 percent by 2030 and by 85 percent by 2050. But how we price electricity is making this effort to address climate change harder. In an Op-Ed in the Boston Globe, Professor Christopher Knittel discusses the enormous effect of Massachusetts' flawed electricity pricing system on incentives to electrify - and suggests a better way to price electricity.

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March 23, 2023

An Education in Climate Change

A multidisciplinary climate change curriculum for high schools, developed at MIT, aims to engage and mobilize teachers and students. In an article on MIT News, CEEPR Director Christopher Knittel and Aisling O'Grady talk about the motivation behind the MIT CATE program, the curriculum development process, and future aims and goals.

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March 6, 2023

For Teachers & High School Students: Climate Action and Education Conference on April 1, 2023

CATE welcomes high school students, K-12 teachers, and select MIT students to register for the Climate Education and Action Conference on April 1st. The event will offer an exclusive look at CATE's interdisciplinary high school climate curriculum. Local climate, energy, and education groups will also host workshops covering: decarbonizing K-12 schools, climate education resources, student activism, and energy resilience. Register here.

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The Roosevelt Project

The Roosevelt Project takes a multidisciplinary approach to examine the transitional challenges associated with progress toward a deeply decarbonized U.S. economy. The project aims to chart a path forward through the transition that minimizes worker and community dislocations and enables at-risk communities to sustain employment levels by taking advantage of the economic opportunities present for regional economic development.

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The CATE Project

The Climate Action Through Education Project aims to develop a science-based climate curriculum for U.S high school students, placing particular emphasis on reaching populations who are underserved and on countering climate denial messages. The curriculum will inform students about the causes and consequences of anthropogenic climate change, while equipping them with the knowledge and sense of agency to contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation.

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The E2e Project

Through an interdisciplinary approach to the so-called ‘energy efficiency gap’, the E2e Project seeks to evaluate and strengthen policies and incentives for improved energy efficiency. Proven research designs used to achieve these aims include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental designs, with data and customer access provided through formal partnerships with private-sector companies.

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