
Six ways MIT is taking action on climate
An article on MIT News discusses a variety of recent events during Earth Month @ MIT which highlighted efforts by faculty, staff, and students to make a difference today. This includes a poster session where graduating CEEPR Research Assistant Alexa Canaan presented work to the attendees, as well as MIT CATE activities spearheaded by CEEPR Director Chris Knittel and CATE Project Manager Aisling O'Grady. Read more at the full article here.
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Reforming retail electricity rates to facilitate economy-wide decarbonization
A recent CEEPR working paper by Tim Schittekatte, Dharik Mallapragada, Paul L. Joskow, and Richard Schmalensee has been published by Joule. In this work, they argue that deep decarbonization of the economy depends heavily on the decarbonization of the electricity sector and the electrification of several key end-use sectors. Without fundamental reform of retail electricity rates, the costs of this massive transformation will be substantially higher than necessary, harming consumers and putting essential political support at risk. Read more at the full journal weblink here.
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Have trucks conquered every corner of America?
Light trucks, a category that includes pickups, vans, and SUVs, now dominate U.S. roadways, outnumbering cars among registered vehicles in all 50 states. How did this happen? In an article in the Washington Post, CEEPR director Christopher Knittel offers his insight into why American consumers shifted from cars to light trucks – a combination of unintended consequences of government fuel regulations and consumer safety considerations – and the environmental implications of this trend. Read more in the full article 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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