COP 21 Not a Silver Bullet on Climate Change
The Paris climate conference cannot provide the engine that will drive a solution to the world's climate change challenge. Rather, it can best serve as a mediator that will help guide and structure the swirling, bottom-up process of radical change that is the best hope of preserving Earth's climate.
Nov 24, 2015 The RAND Blog
Climate Targets: Values and Uncertainty
Policymakers know that the risks associated with climate change mean they need to cut greenhouse-gas emissions. But uncertainty surrounding the likelihood of different scenarios makes choosing specific policies difficult.
Aug 11, 2015 Nature Climate Change News and Views
Future of Coastal Flooding
President Obama's executive order that directs federal agencies to plan and build for higher flood levels as they construct new projects in flood-prone regions will affect hundreds of billions of dollars of future public works projects. In an ideal world, planners would estimate the benefits and costs for each project, taking into account everything from the details of the local landscape to the potential for adaptive responses over time.
Feb 25, 2015 The Hill
U.S.-China Global Warming Deal Could Signal Shift on Climate Change
The U.S.-China agreement on limiting greenhouse gas emissions represents a significant and welcome shift in the international approach to addressing climate change. For the first time, a large developing country has agreed to limit its greenhouse gas emissions -- a crucial step since these countries have become the world’s largest sources.
Dec 9, 2014 U.S. News & World Report
New Coal Plant Rules Need Sustained Support to Succeed
Stopping climate change will require the United States and the rest of the world to virtually eliminate emissions over the course of the 21st century. Getting anywhere close to zero emissions demands sustained political and public support, driven by an energy production sector given enough incentives to make carbon reduction succeed.
Jun 30, 2014 The Sacramento Bee
Planning for Superstorms, Wildfires, and Deep Uncertainty
The path to climate change preparedness should start at the intersection of resilience and robustness — that is, building resilient communities with the individuals and organizations within those communities making robust decisions, ones designed to work well over a wide range of ever-changing conditions.
Apr 18, 2013 The RAND Blog
Evidence for Climate Change Is Overwhelming
In case after case, the theory that best fits the data is the one that also leads inexorably to the conclusion that human influence is one of the most important forces currently changing the climate, writes Robert J. Lempert.
Mar 8, 2012 Palisadian-Post
Climate Scientists Should Wear Adam Smith Ties
If it were really possible to explain millions of years of Earth data with a theory that doesn't also imply a recent human influence on the climate, some ambitious, self-interested team of scientists somewhere in the world would seek scientific renown by doing so, writes Robert Lempert.
Mar 30, 2011 Bloomberg Government
Redesigning the International Approach to Climate Change
Limiting climate change requires a revolution in the way the global economy generates and consumes energy. It is becoming increasingly clear that the current diplomatic approach should be redesigned to meet this immense political, technical, and social challenge, writes Robert J. Lempert.
Jul 1, 2010 The Huffington Post
Missed Opportunities in Johannesburg
Published commentary by RAND staff: Missed Opportunities in Johannesburg in United Press International on October 22, 2002.
Oct 22, 2002 United Press International
