Part of the MIT Climate Action Plan
MIT Climate Symposia
MIT’s Climate Action Symposia series aimed to advance our community’s understanding and to expand our capacity to generate solutions for the urgent global challenge of climate change. The symposia brought together more than 12,000 people—more than 10,000 in-person and online for the first four and 2,400 as we transitioned to a virtual format for the final two.
The six symposia examined the current state of climate science and policy, as well as pathways for decarbonization of the global economy. We also looked at how universities can and should contribute solutions, including MIT’s efforts under our Plan for Action on Climate Change. The original program—including agendas, slides, and speaker bios—is archived below.
Watch the six symposia on YouTube
Learn more about MIT's Plan for Action on Climate Change.
Schedule
Progress in Climate Science
Wednesday, October 2, 2019 · 1:00-4:00 pm
Kresge Auditorium · Building W16
Challenges of Climate Policy
Tuesday, October 29, 2019, 4:00–7:00 pm
Wong Auditorium · Building E51
Decarbonizing the Electricity Sector
Wednesday, December 4, 2019, 3:00–6:00 pm
Wong Auditorium · Building E51
Economy-wide Deep Decarbonization
Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 5:00–8:00 pm
Wong Auditorium · Building E51
The Role of Research Universities and MIT’s Climate Initiatives
Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 2:30–4:30 pm
Virtual
What is the World Waiting For? Policies to Fight Climate Change
Monday, November 16, 2020, 2:00–4:00 pm
Virtual
Symposia Organizing Committee
Paul L. Joskow, Elizabeth and James Killian Professor of Economics Emeritus, Department of Economics (Chair)
John M. Deutch, Institute Professor Emeritus, Department of Chemistry
Kerry A. Emanuel, Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Atmospheric Science, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Paula T. Hammond, David H. Koch Professor of Engineering and Department Head, Department of Chemical Engineering
Colette L. Heald, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
Ernest J. Moniz, Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems Emeritus, Department of Physics
Richard Schmalensee, Howard W. Johnson Professor of Management and Professor of Economics Emeritus, Sloan School of Management and Department of Economics
Evelyn N. Wang, Gail E. Kendall Professor and Department Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Maria T. Zuber, Vice President for Research and E. A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (ex officio)
