MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative

A special shoutout to Stepwise co-founder and Sloan alum, Jane Chen. Read more about Stepwise's smart power monitor solution in this week's Boston Globe Technology.

If you’re looking for a launching pad for creating an impact on #climatechange, this is it. The climate action page features articles, initiatives, and research all in one accessible place, including data-backed #climateaction ideas for managers from leading MIT experts. Head on over to the new page here: https://lnkd.in/evjmq_8U MIT Sloan School of Management

This week we continue to highlight the newly formed Climate Policy Center's leadership team. John Sterman will build upon the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative work and bring his experience with the MIT Climate Pathways Project which has engaged over 11,000 climate leaders using its simulation model EN-ROADS. Sterman is the Jay W. Forrester Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a Professor in the MIT Institute for Data, Systems, and Society. He is also the Director of the MIT System Dynamics Group and the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative. Sterman’s research centers on improving decision-making in complex systems, including corporate strategy and operations, energy policy, public health, environmental sustainability, and climate change. His work ranges from the dynamics of organizational change and the implementation of sustainable improvement programs to climate change and the implementation of policies to promote a sustainable world. Sterman pioneered the development of “management flight simulators” of corporate and economic systems which are now used by corporations, universities, and governments around the world. He is the author of many scholarly and popular articles on the challenges and opportunities facing organizations today, including the book, Modeling for Organizational Learning, and the award-winning textbook, Business Dynamics. Sterman is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and received an honorary doctorate from the Università della Svizzera italiana, Switzerland. He has twice been awarded the Jay W. Forrester Prize for the best published work in system dynamics; has won an IBM Faculty Award as well as the Accenture Award for the best paper of the year published in the California Management Review. He received the Best Application Award from the System Dynamics Society for his work on climate change policy. At MIT, he has been recognized with the Samuel E. Seegal Faculty Prize, given to a professor who “inspires students in pursuing and achieving excellence,” the Jamieson Award for Excellence in Teaching, numerous other awards for teaching excellence; and was named one of MIT Sloan’s “Outstanding Faculty” by the BusinessWeek Guide to the Best Business Schools. His research has been featured in media around the world including the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe ,Public Television’sNews Hour, National Public Radio’s Marketplace, WGBH, and other media for his innovative use of interactive simulations in management education and policymaking, particularly in climate change and energy policy. Sterman holds an AB in engineering and environmental systems from Dartmouth College and a PhD in system dynamics from MIT.

Last month, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Climate Interactive Andrew Jones presented three sessions at #AMNC24 hosted by World Economic Forum to highlight the powerful capabilities of #EnROADS. Andrew focused on how business, policy, and government leaders can use En-ROADS to simulate climate futures in the energy transition; land, energy, and industry emissions; and economic growth and transition risk. Thank you #WEF for this platform to expand the use of En-ROADS to help shape vital climate policy and sustainable business decisions. 

BIPOC MBA students interested in transformative climate solutions and technology are encouraged to apply for the GreenBiz Group's Verge24 Emerging Fellows program. Selected VERGE 24 Emerging Leaders will receive a complimentary all-access scholarship to participate in the conference (October 29-31) and comes with special recognition and networking opportunities at the event. Applications are open through July 22.  https://lnkd.in/e5Z5UtQp

One of the key reasons #Paris was selected to host the 2024 #Olympic games was its commitment to reducing #GHG emissions for both the preparation and operation of the summer games by 50% compared to #London2012 and #Rio2016. Throughout the seven-year journey leading up to the event, four key lessons were learned that can be utilized by other organizations starting or progressing their own decarbonization journeys. Check them out below and learn more in MIT Sloan Management Review at the link: 🎯 Do the prep work necessary to set well-defined goals 🧱 Break a few walls 🧠 Find creative partners, and prioritize ecosystem thinking 🍋 Turn lemons into lemonade, and think local 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dc3vJhm4 #Paris2024

Can the US solve global climate change on its own? No, but its emissions history, resources, and global influence can play a vital role in spurring climate action around the world. The US accounts for roughly 14% of global GHG emissions  – making it the second largest emitter on the planet. Consequently, progress in the US is progress for the world. MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative Faculty Director John Sterman shares with MIT Climate how “If we delay action, other countries are likely to do the same” at the link below: https://lnkd.in/ep2RNvA8

Earlier this year, we welcomed Akshat Rathi, senior reporter for climate news at Bloomberg, to join MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative Director Jason Jay on campus as part of our Sustainability Lunch Series to discuss his new book “Climate Capitalism: Winning the Race to Zero Emissions and Solving the Crisis of Our Age.” Akshat shared his belief that “reforming capitalism might be the only practical way to get to zero emissions quickly.” Learn more about Akshat’s take on #climatecapitalism via the link: https://lnkd.in/gxESRqba #Climate #ZeroEmissions

The #CROADS climate solutions simulator, co-developed with Climate Interactive lets you explore, in real time, whether emissions pathways and pledges from different regions around the world are enough to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Interested in testing it out for yourself? Visit the link below for a lightning fast guide on how to get started: https://lnkd.in/eMVe7SVp v

Our team was sad to learn of the passing of George Woodwell, renowned scientist and long-time climate champion, last week. George was the founder of the Woods Hole Climate Research Center, later named the Woodwell Climate Research Center, where we recently gathered for our annual advisory board retreat. George dedicated his life to studying climate change, publishing more than 300 research papers, helping shape important climate policies in the US, and being a founding member of many well-known environmental organizations. The legacy and impact of his work will live on forever. Our thoughts remain with his family and loved ones. Learn more about George’s beautiful and impactful life from Keith Schneider in The New York Times: https://lnkd.in/d6PiGp3q