See the Change

Scientists, researchers, and environmental experts from across the state gathered at Emory in May to draft a set of targeted research questions that could help Georgia better understand and address one of the century’s defining challenges.

An initiative of the Georgia Climate Project, the effort is partly driven by communities across Georgia that are already exploring strategies to address the impact of climate change, says Daniel Rochberg, chief strategy officer for the Climate@Emory initiative and an instructor in the Rollins School of Public Health and Emory College.

“Whenever someone wants to take climate action, there is often a question about where to turn for unbiased data,” he says. “We can offer a list of research questions to support something useful, providing pointers to existing research that can help lay a foundation for decision making.”

Some communities are actively assessing vulnerabilities and strategies to build resilience to potential climate change impact, while others are developing technologies and policies to begin reducing emissions, according to Rochberg, who has also worked for the US State Department as special assistant to the lead climate negotiators under presidents Bush and Obama.

“To inform this work, decision makers at all levels need credible and relevant information from across the natural, applied, and social sciences,” says Murray Rudd, an associate professor in Emory’s Department of Environmental Sciences and member of the climate research roadmap steering committee.

Cofounded by Emory, the University of Georgia, and the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Georgia Climate Project is a multiyear effort by a statewide consortium of universities and colleges, working with partners to improve understanding of climate impacts and solutions.