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Global Climate Change

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Global climate models developed by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predict glacial retreat, rises in sea level, and other impacts on human and natural activity, from agriculture to migratory patterns. RAND researchers have studied and are continuing to examine the effects of climate change, particularly how governments and businesses respond to both observed changes and projected scenarios.

Essay

Costa Rica Leads the Way in Cutting Carbon Emissions

Aug 30, 2021

Almost every country has pledged to slash carbon emissions to slow the gears of global warming. Costa Rica's plan provides a glimpse of what a carbon-neutral future will look like. It shows how nations can take action and make investments that hold up, regardless of what future comes to pass.
Q&A

Mapping Environmental Racism: Q&A with Jaime Madrigano and Benjamin Preston

Sep 7, 2021

Environmental policy experts Jaime Madrigano and Benjamin Preston are leading an effort to highlight how discriminatory policies have shaped environmental health disparities. Their goal: create an interactive map of the United States to motivate environmental policy that advances antiracism.

Explore Global Climate Change

Journal Article

Economic Losses from Extreme Weather in the U.S. Gulf Coast Region: Spatially Differential Contributions of Climate Hazard and Socioeconomic Exposure and Vulnerability

A novel socio-climate hazard typology (SCT) was developed that integrates locally defined climate hazard and socioeconomic exposure and social vulnerability typologies. We regressed the SCT types and their constituent hazard and socioeconomic components against the cumulative economic loss from extreme weather events in order to attribute economic losses to different interactions among climate hazards, socioeconomic exposure, and vulnerability.

May 12, 2020
Report

Environment, Geography, and the Future of Warfare

Some of the most significant environmental and geographic trends that could affect U.S. national security and the future of warfare are rising global temperatures, the opening of the Arctic, sea level rise, extreme weather events, water scarcity, and increasing urbanization.

May 11, 2020
Journal Article

Vulnerability to the Cardiovascular Effects of Ambient Heat in Six U.S. Cities: Results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

In a changing climate with extreme heat events, it is important to understand the mechanisms by which heat affects health and who is vulnerable. This knowledge will allow better targeting of assistance and interventions, which could help people adapt.

Apr 30, 2020
Journal Article

Awareness, Risk Perception, and Protective Behaviors for Extreme Heat and Climate Change in New York City

This study demonstrates that non-Hispanic black individuals are more likely to lack access to air conditioning, and with the finding that people with low household incomes are more likely to lack access, may explain disparities in heat-related morbidity and mortality.

Apr 30, 2020
Report

Military and Local Governments Could Coordinate Climate Adaptation Plans

Contending with and preparing for the effects of climate change is a critical global challenge that will shape the security landscape over the next 20 years. What role can collaboration play in military and local government climate resilience planning?

Apr 28, 2020
Journal Article

Defining the Solution Space to Accelerate Climate Change Adaptation

Better understanding of the solution space for climate change adaptation, and identifying ways to influence this space, is critical for informing policy making globally to accelerate adaptation action.

Mar 24, 2020
Tool

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Climate Impacts Summary and Outlook: Winter 2019-2020

This web-based tool aims to inform Chesapeake Bay Watershed policymakers, practitioners, and community leaders on Winter 2019-2020 climate, as well as projected future climate trends. An interactive tool shows percentage change in freeze-thaw days.

Mar 23, 2020
Journal Article

Quantifying the Relationship Between Streamflow and Climate Change in a Small Basin Under Future Scenarios

This study focuses on simulating change in streamflow within a small basin under future land use/cover change and climate scenarios by integrating logistic regression-CA-Markov model and the Soil Water Assessment Tool model.

Mar 6, 2020
Journal Article

Applying the Knowledge Product Evaluation (KnoPE) Framework to Two Urban Resilience Cases in the United States

This paper describes the development and testing of the Knowledge Product Evaluation (KnoPE) framework,which represents a structured approach to evaluating the utility of decision-support tools for urban resilience.

Feb 27, 2020
Dissertation

Indian Summer: Three Essays on Heatwave Vulnerability, Estimation and Adaptation

Explores how future heatwaves in India may vary over time and geography and estimate the impact they might have on mortality.

Dec 23, 2019
Blog

Artificial Intelligence, Refugees, Global Health Security: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the Pentagon's artificial intelligence strategy, technology's role in the refugee crisis, threats to global health security, and more.

Dec 20, 2019
Commentary

A Climate Scientist's Brush with Wildfire

RAND researcher Robert Lempert was evacuated from the path of a wildfire. This experience emphasized for him the challenges of adapting to climate change, not merely because it is hard, but because it makes the familiar become unfamiliar in unexpected ways.

Dec 18, 2019
Tool

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Climate Impacts Summary and Outlook: Fall 2019

This climate summary informs Chesapeake Bay stakeholders on Fall 2019's climate and weather as well as projected climate trends. Hurricane damage in the Mid-Atlantic and changes in hurricane frequency and intensity are shown in interactive figures.

Dec 17, 2019
Blog

Medicare, Climate Change, 'Superbugs': RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on opening Medicare to Americans at age 50, how to assess climate change plans, antibiotic-resistant "superbugs," and more.

Nov 22, 2019
Commentary

How Voters Can Assess New Climate Plans

While the U.S. government has announced its intention to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, most presidential candidates and many states have proposed climate plans of their own. How might voters determine if any of these plans can seriously address climate change?

Nov 14, 2019
Journal Article

Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty: Climate Change and Infrastructure Management

This chapter very briefly addresses issues and approaches to decision making on adaptation to climate change.

Nov 12, 2019
Periodical

RAND Review: November-December 2019

This issue spotlights research on veteran suicide; liability implications of driverless cars; and new approaches to improving the post-incarceration experience. The Giving column highlights a million-dollar gift to fund research on homeless veterans.

Oct 28, 2019
Blog

The Syria Withdrawal, Climate Policy, Drones: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the effects of the U.S. withdrawal from Syria, one expert's take on climate policy, how drones could help get blood to soldiers who need it, and more.

Oct 25, 2019
Journal Article

Flood Damage Reduction Benefits and Costs in Louisiana's 2017 Coastal Master Plan

This article builds on the modeling analysis conducted for Louisiana's 2017 Coastal Master Plan. We use the Coastal Louisiana Risk Assessment model to project coastal flood damage over time under different scenarios and with the master plan implemented.

Oct 23, 2019
Q&A

The Science of Climate Policy: Q&A with Benjamin Preston

Benjamin Preston, a senior policy researcher and director of RAND's Community Health and Environmental Policy Program, specializes in climate risk and adaptation, disaster recovery, and resilience. In this Q&A, he discusses common misperceptions about climate change and how to decarbonize the U.S. economy.

Oct 22, 2019

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RAND Topic:
Global Climate Change

Topic Synonyms:
Climate Change;
Global Warming

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