Climate, Environment & Sustainability

CU Boulder scientists explore ways to help people and communities around the world become more resilient to a changing climate. We develop technologies to reduce emissions and slow the rate of climate change.

Our research is foundational, with our earth and atmospheric science disciplines ranking No. 1 and No. 2 respectively around the world in 2023. We collaborate closely with federal agencies such as NOAA and NASA to address society's most pressing challenges, because creating climate solutions requires connections, partnerships and cross-disciplinary approaches.Ìý

Learn more aboutÌýour equitable approach to solutions.

Research shows the Arctic could become ‘ice-free’ within a decade

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Climate change transforming how scientists think about their roles

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Â鶹ÒùÔº may be ill-prepared for natural disasters

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Faculty Experts on Climate Change & Environmental Issues

Faculty experts from CU Boulder are available to discuss climate change and its potential solutions.ÌýTo arrange an interview,Ìýcontact CU Boulder media relationsÌýatÌýcunews@colorado.edu:

Natural Hazards

Jennifer Balch

Associate Professor, Department of Geography; Fellow, the Cooperative Institute of Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)
Expertise: Fire and ecosystem dynamics, fire and global climate

Merritt Turetsky

Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology;ÌýFellow, theÌýRenewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI)
Expertise: Arctic security, permafrost thaw, carbon cycling and wildfire

Pedro DiNezio

Associate Professor,ÌýDepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Expertise: Extreme weather events, impacts of global climate fluctuations, El Niño and La Niña

Lori Peek

Professor, Department of Sociology;ÌýDirector, Natural Hazards Center
Expertise:ÌýEquity in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery

Water

Professor,ÌýCivil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering; CIRES fellow
Expertise: Sustainable water quantity and quality for the growing populations under climate change

Nikki Lovenduski

Associate Professor, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Interim Director, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research
Expertise: Oceanic CO2 uptake,Ìýclimate change in the polar regions

Keith Musselman

Assistant professor, Department of Geology; INSTAAR fellow
Expertise: Climate change impacts on water availability, snow water resources

Conservation & Biodiversity

Joanna Lambert

Professor, Department of Environmental Studies
Expertise: Species interactions, coexistenceÌýand animal resilience in the Anthropocene, wolf reintroduction in Colorado.Ìý

Colleen Scanlan Lyons

Associate Research Professor,ÌýDepartment of Environmental Studies
Expertise: Forest conservation,Ìýsustainable development in tropical forest regionsÌý

Sammy Ramsey

Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Expertise: Entomology,Ìýpollinator health, parasites and diseases in beesÌý

Renewable Energy & Sustainability

Lucy Pao

Professor, Department ofÌýElectrical, Computer & Energy Engineering
Expertise: Hurricane-resistant wind turbine design

Kyri Baker

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil, Environmental andÌýArchitectural Engineering;ÌýRASEI fellow
Expertise: Power systems, electric grid,Ìýthe challenges of integrating renewable energy to the grid under climate change

Oana Luca

Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry
Expertise: Electrochemical carbon capture, plastics recycling technologies

Environmental Policy

Maxwell Boykoff

Professor, Department of Environmental Studies; CIRESÌýfellow
Expertise: Decarbonization politics,Ìýscience-policy decision-making

Paul Komor

Senior Research Associate, RASEI
Expertise: PoliciesÌýand technologies needed to phase out fossil fuelsÌý