C-ROADS in the White House – Holdren Describes the Simulation

At the “Time for Change” conference by Innovations magazine held in National Academies of Sciences yesterday, John Holdren, President Obama’s chief science advisor, mentioned C-ROADS in response to a question about engaging policy makers.

Dr. Holdren highlighted his view that “John Kerry has put it on his laptop” and is discussing it in many places and that it has had an impact on policy making.

In the opinion of a colleague of ours who was there, his talk was very much influenced by the C-ROADS modeling work.

We’re feeling thankful for great partners using good scientific tools!

Senator John Kerry Introduces the C-ROADS Climate Simulator

Senator John Kerry uses C-ROADS to help him understand the where the proposals to COP15 in Copenhagen are headed.

Below is the video of Senator Kerry speaking at an event hosted by the American Meteorological Society in Washington DC, describing the C-ROADS simulator, how he used it, and how it reports the “state of the global climate deal.” This introduction was followed by a presentation of C-ROADS and its latest findings from our partners John Sterman of MIT and Bob Corell of the Climate Action Initiative.

As he says: “I have to tell you — this works, it is important, and it is already getting broad dissemination, because I used it.”

Sterman and Corell Share C-ROADS Results and Slides

Dr. John Sterman of MIT and Dr. Bob Corell of the Heinz Center presented the C-ROADS simulator and its latest findings on the state of the “global deal” leading up to COP-15, in an event hosted by the American Meteorological Society. Senator John Kerry provided the introduction and context.

We’re posting a pdf of the slides they presented as well as the white paper they referred to and the recent scientific review summary of C-ROADS.

Senator John Kerry to Introduce C-ROADS Briefing in Washington

Our partners John Sterman from MIT and Bob Corell from the Heinz Center are presenting C-ROADS and its latest findings this Wednesday (March 18) on the Hill!  Senator John Kerry will provide introductory remarks. See announcement below.

Assessing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Policies: New Science Tools in the Service of Policy and Negotiations

AMS/Heinz Center Briefing

What is the Climate-Rapid Overview And Decision Support Simulator (C-ROADS) and what was the motivation for its development? More importantly, how is this simulator intended to be used to assess the success or failure of various greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction policies, nationally and internationally, alone or in combination, to limit climate change? Is the tool scientifically robust? Who is its intended user? Are there examples of the use of C-ROADS to evaluate current legislative proposals to reduce GHG emissions? What was the outcome of those simulations?

Senator Kerry Shares C-ROADS Findings

On March 5th Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts referred extensively to our work in remarks at a forum sponsored by Hitachi and featuring panels organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Brookings Institution.

As the level of interest in the conclusions Senator Kerry referred to grows we offer here information on several upcoming opportunities for the science and policy communities to hear and assess them for yourselves.

1. The underlying model the Senator refers to — C-ROADS —  is currently being reviewed by a panel of climate and modeling experts. We expect to be able to share their conclsusions and assesment of the model in the coming weeks.

2. Dr. Elizabeth Sawin on our team is presenting our results at the The IARU International Scientific Congress on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark.  (In Session 50, 50 – Enabling Long Term Climate Policy Part II,3/11/2009,  13:45 – 15:15 ) This Scientific Congress provides the opportunity for the findings Kerry refers to be evaluated by climate scientists and modelers and to contribute to the body of scientific analysis informing the UNFCCC climate negotiations. The paper we have drafted for the conference will be available at the conclusion of the scientific review described above.

3. In the US, Dr. John Sterman from the Sloan School of Management at MIT and Dr. Robert Corell of the Heinz Center will be participating in a briefing about our results and conclusions  on Capitol Hill. The briefing will be organized by the American Meterological Society and held we hope in late March.