About the Center

History

The prospect of global warming and increased climate variability has become a major policy issue during the last decade. The transportation sector is currently responsible for approximately 27% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and is expected to be one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the foreseeable future, due to increased demand for motor gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel fuel. In May 1999, DOT announced the formation of its Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting to address issues associated with climate change and variability.

Mission

The Center is the focal point in the DOT of technical expertise on transportation and climate change. Through strategic research, policy analysis, partnerships and outreach, the Center creates comprehensive and multi-modal approaches to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gases and to mitigate the effects of global climate change on the transportation network.

Vision

The Center advances timely and effective transportation initiatives to reduce greenhouse gases and preserve the transportation infrastructure. The Center develops and evaluates strategies, and promotes technologies, that encourage livable communities by fostering economic development, mobility, safety, and social equity.

Activities

Research and Analysis

The Center researches transportation strategies and technologies to reduce greenhouse gases, identifies facilities that may be at risk from possible effects of climate change and climate anomalies, and develops an array of tools to assess the transportation system's ability to adapt to variances in global climate. Recent and continuing research has focused on a diverse range of topics, including emission modeling, evaluation of state and local efforts, early action, tax credits, alternative fuels, and urban ferries. DOT is also working with other agencies to launch an interagency study of how climate changes may impact transportation systems and planning. View more on Center research.

Outreach, Partnerships and Communications

The Center builds DOT capacity and awareness by conducting educational forums and establishing a clearinghouse for research and policy coordination related to transportation and climate change. It leverages resources by building strategic partnerships, and reaches out to State and local agencies, environmental advocates, industry, and academia. This ranges from simple information exchange to ongoing partnerships in major research projects and conferences. View more on Center outreach activities.

Strategic Planning and Operations

To respond to the dynamic technological and policy environment, the Center continuously assesses and redirects its activities to make the best use of emerging science and technology. The center develops performance measures to assess proposed climate change strategies and promote the most cost-effective strategies through synergies with other agencies' environmental and climate change policies. The Center tracks the progress of technological developments and the relative costs of climate change mitigation strategies, ensuring that resulting transportation policies are congruent with policies in other sectors.

Policy Assessment and Leadership

The Center ensures a DOT voice in climate change policy formulation through active participation in domestic and international policy activities. The Center participates in the interagency Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI), and in initiatives such as the 21st Century Truck, National and international conferences, and through peer review and publication of research results and policy papers.