Groundbreaking Institute
University of Chicago Launches Groundbreaking Institute to Tackle Climate Change and Drive Sustainable Growth
The University of Chicago launched the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth on October 30, 2024, as a groundbreaking initiative to address the critical challenge of balancing climate change mitigation with sustainable economic growth. This first-of-its-kind institute aims to produce new understandings of climate challenges and develop practical, effective solutions.
Key Features
Key Features Research Focus
The Institute combines frontier research in three main areas:
The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth at the University of Chicago focuses on three main research areas:
1. Economics and Policy: This area builds on UChicago’s leadership in economics to analyze the costs of climate change and design market structures that balance decarbonization with economic growth. It aims to characterize the climate and sustainable growth challenge and uncover policies and markets to balance these goals.
2. Energy Technologies: This pillar focuses on developing new energy technologies and improving existing ones, with a particular emphasis on scalable clean energy technologies. The Energy Technologies Initiative, led by battery scientist Prof. Shirley Meng, concentrates on energy storage, which is crucial for the clean energy transition.
3. Climate Systems Engineering: This area addresses the complexities of climate systems and explores ways to manage greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere. Led by Prof. David Keith, this initiative investigates novel strategies such as
carbon removal and solar geoengineering to mitigate warming effects.
These research areas are designed to produce new understandings of climate challenges and develop practical, effective solutions for balancing climate change mitigation with sustainable economic growth.
Educational Approach
The Institute introduced the Chicago Curriculum on Climate and Sustainable Growth, which will serve as the foundation for new degree programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. This curriculum offers a comprehensive 360-degree approach to climate and sustainable growth challenges, exposing students to foundational ideas, tradeoffs, and complexities in a unique way.
Global Collaboration
The Institute emphasizes international engagement, with a particular focus on developing and emerging economies. It has dedicated research programs in India and China, recognizing that these countries are expected to account for 80% of greenhouse gas emissions over the remainder of the century
Structure and Leadership
- Faculty Director: Professor Michael Greenstone, who is also the Milton
Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and Director of the
Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (EPIC) - Key Component: The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)
has been integrated into the new Institute
Research Pillars
1. Markets and Policy: Focusing on characterizing the climate and sustainable
growth challenge and uncovering policies and markets to balance these goals
2. Energy Technologies: Developing new energy technologies and improving
existing ones
3. Climate Systems Engineering: Addressing the complexities of climate systems
Educational Programs
- New major for undergraduates with specializations in climate science, climate
politics, climate finance, and climate technology (pending approval) - Integration of climate and sustainable growth courses into the core curriculum
for undergraduate students - Hands-on learning opportunities through research and internships
Climate Change and Long-Term Solutions
The Institute launched in India on December 13, 2024, building on the University of Chicago’s decade-long presence in Delhi. This expansion aims to foster collaboration with local partners and conduct research focused on climate and sustainable growth economics, policy, energy technologies, and climate systems engineering in the Indian context.
By combining rigorous research, innovative education, and global collaboration, the University of Chicago’s Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth seeks to make a significant contribution to addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time.