RAND Research Topic: Global Climate Change 2012-02-12T23:00:30Z Copyright (c) 2012, The RAND Corporation RAND Corporation http://www.rand.org/topics/global-climate-change.html Threats Without Threateners? Exploring Intersections of Threats to the Global Commons and National Security http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP360.html Jan 10, 2012 Jan 10, 2012 Climate change, water scarcity, and pandemics are examined for their national security implications and impacts on the global commons. This paper describes four clusters of policy approaches for these complex, interconnected issues and uses suggestive examples to build the case for policy evolution away from fixing problems and toward innovative alternatives, such as anti-fragile systems, that actually benefit from change and uncertainty. Seven Billion? No Need to Panic http://www.rand.org/commentary/2011/11/04/CNN.html Nov 4, 2011 Nov 4, 2011 We cannot wish away serious ecological issues, such as the steady increase in greenhouse gases or the steady decrease in critical resources (e.g., phosphates). But population growth per se need not portend ecological catastrophe, writes Martin Libicki. California's Water Challenges http://www.rand.org/multimedia/audio/2011/10/25/californias-water-challenges.html Oct 25, 2011 Oct 25, 2011 David Groves discusses an innovative approach to dealing with the many challenges that may contribute to sustainable and affordable solutions of long term water supplies in California. Beyond the Shadow of 9/11 http://www.rand.org/pubs/corporate_pubs/CP22-2011-09.html Sep 1, 2011 Sep 1, 2011 The 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks warrants a thoughtful review of America's progress and future strategy. In this <em>RAND Review</em> cover story, RAND experts offer perspectives on Afghan-led solutions, ways to counter al Qaeda, air passenger security, and compensation for those affected by terrorism. Technology Interactions Among Low-Carbon Energy Technologies: What Can We Learn from a Large Number of Scenarios? http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100171.html Jul 1, 2011 Jul 1, 2011 This paper uses a combinatorial approach in which scenarios are created for all combinations of the technology development assumptions that underlie a smaller, representative set of scenarios. Governing Geoengineering Research: A Political and Technical Vulnerability Analysis of Potential Near-Term Options http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR846.html Apr 19, 2011 Apr 19, 2011 Geoengineering is risky, but could transform the portfolio of options for limiting future climate change. Some geoengineering approaches could prove fast acting and inexpensive and could be deployed by one or a few nations without global cooperation. Should Power Plants Consider Using Biomass Energy as an Alternative to Fossil Fuels? http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR876.html Apr 8, 2011 Apr 8, 2011 U.S. power plants seek to diversify their fuel sources and biomass energy is a renewable resource that generally has lower life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions than fossil fuels. This model estimates the cost and availability of biomass energy resources from U.S. agricultural lands from the perspective of an individual power plant. Climate Scientists Should Wear Adam Smith Ties http://www.rand.org/commentary/2011/03/30/BGOV.html Mar 30, 2011 Mar 30, 2011 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. Paying for carbon emissions reduction http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP312.html Feb 23, 2011 Feb 23, 2011 This paper explores how much British citizens might be willing to pay for carbon emissions reduction, and the implication of this for climate change policies. No Direct Military Benefit from Use of Alternative Fuels by Armed Forces http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG969.html Jan 25, 2011 Jan 25, 2011 If the U.S. military increases its use of alternative fuels, there will be no direct benefit to the nation's armed forces. It makes more sense for the military to direct its efforts toward using energy more efficiently. No Direct Military Benefit from Use of Alternative Fuels by Armed Forces http://www.rand.org/news/press/2011/01/25.html Jan 25, 2011 Jan 25, 2011 If the U.S. military increases its use of alternative fuels, there will be no direct benefit to the nation's armed forces. Managing Climate Risks in Developing Countries with Robust Decision Making http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100254.html Jan 1, 2011 Jan 1, 2011 The authors present the concept of robust decision making (RDM), which draws on already-existing knowledge of practitioners to choose actions that are viable in both the short- and long-term. Identifying and Evaluating Robust Adaptive Policy Responses to Climate Change for Water Management Agencies in the American West http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201000193.html Jul 1, 2010 Jul 1, 2010 This paper describes work helping the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) explicitly develop adaptive policies to respond to climate change and integrating these policies into the organizations' long-range planning processes. Redesigning the International Approach to Climate Change http://www.rand.org/commentary/2010/07/01/HP.html Jul 1, 2010 Jul 1, 2010 <p>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.</p> EPA Program Sought to Improve Environmental Performance of Public and Private Sectors http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR732.html May 24, 2010 May 24, 2010 <p>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ended a voluntary national program that encouraged facilities to improve all aspects of their environmental performance. The significant environmental challenges that the U.S. faces require it to continue to seek complements to traditional regulatory approaches.</p> Green Buildings, Jobs and Summits http://www.rand.org/commentary/2009/09/25/PPG.html Sep 25, 2009 Sep 25, 2009 <p>If the United States is to be a global competitor in green building technology, it needs to learn from some of the countries that are at the table in Pittsburgh this week, writes Charles Ries.</p> Improving the Energy Performance of Buildings: Learning from the European Union and Australia http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR728.html Sep 21, 2009 Sep 21, 2009 <p>The United States can become more energy efficient and create more "green" jobs by adopting some of the strategies used by the European Union and Australia to rate and disclose the performance of commercial and government-owned buildings.</p> Strengthening U.S. International Energy Assistance to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improve Energy Security http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP251.html Sep 10, 2009 Sep 10, 2009 <p>International energy-assistance programs are a potentially important tool for addressing the challenges of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and increasing U.S. energy security. This study reviews U.S. programs and compares them with German programs, which take a different, more centralized approach. Insights from recent studies of U.S. energy and climate policy are presented, along with recommendations for further investigation.</p> Methods for Long-Term Environmental Policy Challenges http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20090827.html Aug 1, 2009 Aug 1, 2009 This article provides a concise overview of methods for analyzing policy choices that have been used in the study of long-term environmental challenges. Transportation Challenges for the New Administration: Perspectives of Past Transportation Secretaries http://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/CF257.html May 1, 2009 May 1, 2009 <p>Shortly after the inauguration of President Barack Obama, RAND hosted a panel discussion with three former U.S. secretaries of transportation. These conference proceedings summarize their comments on which issues should be among the Department of Transportation's (DOT's) top priorities, DOT funding and appropriation, earmarking and transparency in the transportation funding process, and the federal role in transportation policy.</p>