Greenhouse gases

Southeast Asia is seen shrouded by smoke in this NASA satellite photo.

Clearing the air over Southeast Asia

Study finds reducing biomass burning is not enough to significantly improve air quality in Southeast Asia.

May 7, 2018

“In China, as you go to tighter and tighter climate policies, you continue to reduce pollutant emissions from coal, whereas the U.S. has already reduced a lot of its air pollution from coal through end-of-pipe technologies,” Karplus says.

Study: Health benefits will offset cost of China’s climate policy

A 4 percent reduction per year in carbon dioxide emissions should net $339 billion in health savings in 2030, researchers estimate.

April 23, 2018

Professor John Heywood is a leading expert on internal combustion engines. His seminal book, "Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals," has been revised in a second edition to reflect recent technological advances that make the internal combustion engine more efficient and environmentally friendly.

3Q: John Heywood on the future of the internal combustion engine

Professor of mechanical engineering explains the importance of advancing internal combustion engines and offers his take on recent EPA rollbacks.

April 18, 2018

Putting a price on carbon, in the form of a fee or tax on the producers of fossil fuels, can be an effective way to curb emissions of greenhouse gases.

Carbon taxes could make significant dent in climate change, study finds

Several different carbon-pricing approaches would help reduce emissions, and some would be fair as well, researchers report.

April 6, 2018

Artist’s view of the young Earth as it is believed to have looked 3.5 billion years ago

Determining the timing of methanogen evolution

Scientists conclude methane-producing microbes date back 3.5 billion years, supporting the hypothesis that they could have contributed to early global warming.

April 4, 2018

MIT scientists have determined the structure of an enzyme that is found in ocean microbes and can produce a precursor to methane.

Researchers establish long-sought source of ocean methane

An abundant enzyme in marine microbes may be responsible for production of the greenhouse gas.

December 7, 2017

Lihong "Wendy" Duan, manager of the Asia Pacific Energy Partnership Program at the MIT Energy Initiative, and Singh Intrachooto, chief advisor of MQDC’s Research and Innovation for Sustainability Center, shake hands during a signing ceremony to launch the collaboration.

Collaborating to cut emissions in the property sector

Bangkok-based property developer MQDC is joining the MIT Energy Initiative’s Low-Carbon Energy Center for Electric Power Systems Research.

December 5, 2017

XiaoYu Wu pictured with the reactor his team used for the research. MIT researchers have developed a new system that could potentially be used for converting power plant emissions of carbon dioxide into useful fuels. The method may not only cut greenhouse emissions; it could also produce another potential revenue stream to help defray its costs.

Turning emissions into fuel

MIT-developed method converts carbon dioxide into useful compounds.

November 28, 2017

MIT is on the path to achieve at least a 32 percent reduction in campus emissions of greenhouse gases by the year 2030.

Institute on track to meet campus climate action goals

Plans are in place to meet or exceed greenhouse gas reduction targets.

November 21, 2017

Helping Mexico design an effective climate policy

MIT researchers are working with the Mexican government on carbon pricing options to meet the country’s climate goals under the Paris Agreement.

November 17, 2017

Zachary Smith is the Joseph R Mares (1924) Career Development Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering.

Using polymeric membranes to clean up industrial separations

Department of Chemical Engineering Professor Zachary Smith is working on new polymeric membranes that can greatly reduce energy use in chemical separations.

November 15, 2017

“You’re rolling the dice every year,” says professor Kerry Emanuel. “And we believe the odds of a flood like Harvey are changing.” Pictured is an aerial view of Houston during the Hurricane Harvey flooding.

Texas’ odds of Harvey-scale rainfall to increase by end of century

Study finds state’s annual risk of extreme rainfall will rise from 1 to 18 percent.

November 13, 2017

“Our technology takes plastic out of the landfill, locks it up in concrete, and also uses less cement to make the concrete, which makes fewer carbon dioxide emissions,” says assistant professor Michael Short.

MIT students fortify concrete by adding recycled plastic

Adding bits of irradiated plastic water bottles could cut cement industry’s carbon emissions.

October 25, 2017

A new way to harness wasted methane

Approach developed at MIT could help curb needless “flaring” of potent greenhouse gas.

October 17, 2017

MIT to host summit on climate leadership in northeast U.S., eastern Canada

Michael Bloomberg will deliver keynote address.

September 29, 2017

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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