Integrated Assessment of Global Climate Change
The goal is to reveal climate change insights into the complex interactions of human and natural systems and develop the integrated models and tools that will underpin future national and regional decision-making on options for mitigation and adaptation.

Program Description

DOE supports research on models and tools for integrated analysis of both the drivers and consequences of climate change. Past work has focused on drivers, specifically sources of greenhouse gas emissions within a common, most often economic, modeling framework. Until recently, only modest attention and resources were devoted to modeling the interactive effects of consequences, that is to say, impacts and adaptation but this has become a major focus for the program. Additionally, future IAMs will need to go beyond a national focus to better inform regional integrated planning. While Integrated Assessment Models have already proven their worth as critical decision tools, next generation models and the IARP will be called upon to do much more, including broad-based vulnerability analyses spanning multiple, interactive stressors; analysis of the role of science and technology in both mitigation and adaptation; study of the effects of human behavior; and assessment of the combined economic effects of different response strategies and policies. They will also be used to explore key intersecting systems and their interdependencies, such as found at the energy, water, and land nexus.

Solicitations

The program is not presently soliciting research proposals.
Future grant solicitation notices will be posted on the DOE Office of Science Grants and Contracts Web Site and at grants.gov. Information about preparing and submitting applications, as well as the DOE Office of Science merit review process, is at the DOE Office of Science Grants and Contracts Web Site.
The most recently closed solicitation (Notice 08-18) focused on basic research and modeling to support integrated assessment of climate change impacts and adaptations. Specifically, the notice requested applications that would improve the fundamental knowledge and methodologies for analysis of climate change impacts and adaptations within integrated assessment frameworks, including innovative general approaches to modeling impacts and adaptation, development of different measures of impacts, techniques for accommodating thresholds and tipping points, concepts and approaches to addressing probabilities and uncertainties, and methods for addressing data limitations. Preapplications were due March 10, 2008. Fifty-six preapplications were received and reviewed. Twenty six of the preapplications were selected to be developed into full (formal) applications. Eight of the formal applications were selected for funding.

Why the Program's Research is Important

Climate change is real, its effects are more immediate and profound than previously anticipated, and old questions (are humans the cause?) are yielding to new: What are the impacts? Who and what will be most vulnerable? What can we do about it, and how can we prepare? Against this backdrop, and with an eye toward: new or vastly improved Integrated Assessment Models will inform some of the most significant U.S. energy and other infrastructure decisions and investments of this century. In short, these models shape our fundamental understanding of climate change: the drivers, its pace, its consequences, the implications and role for energy systems of the future, changes in availability of natural resources, food, and water, and shifts in global economies, vulnerabilities and overall national security.

Abstracts

Currently funded program research projects

More Information about the Program and its Accomlpishments

Program Manager

Mr. Robert W. Vallario
Climate and Environmental Sciences Division, SC-23.1
Department of Energy, GTN Bldg.
1000 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20585-1290
Phone: (301) 903-5758
Fax: (301) 903-8519
Email:bob.vallario@science.doe.gov