MIT Climate Pathways Project

The menu of possible climate solutions can feel overwhelming.

The urgency to act on climate is real, but leaders face an astounding number of potential options. In order to avoid irreversible harm to our prosperity, society, and health, the world must meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to no more than 1.5-2.0°C from pre-industrial times. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says this requires greenhouse gas emissions be nearly cut in half by 2030 from 2010 levels and reach "net zero" by midcentury.

But which policy pathways can lead to success?

Up Next: Why Simulation?

Research shows that showing people research doesn't work...

One-way communication, where leaders are inundated with facts from an expert, won’t necessarily change behaviors, and traditional slideshow presentations take a linear approach to conveying information in a world that is anything but straightforward. In contrast, interactive simulation gives leaders the opportunity to learn for themselves about complex systems in a hands-on way.

...and there’s a reason pilots fly in simulators first. 

Pilots log long hours in a safe environment before they take to the skies with precious cargo. In that same vein,  the MIT Climate Pathways Project helps leaders is government, business, and civil society test climate policy ideas before taking them to the boardroom or bill signing--making the big decisions that impact us all.
 

Our mission: to leverage interactive simulations and research insights to advance the adoption of evidence-based climate policy through leaders in the public and private sector.
 

Up Next: The Simulators

 

The best available science, in a fraction of a second.

Co-developed between Climate Interactive and the MIT Sloan School of Management, these two global climate solution simulators use the best available science. Both are free, fast, easy-to-use, and available in multiple languages. They are tested against and calibrated to historic data and other models, and their structure, equations and assumptions are all published for you to explore. You can even challenge and change the key assumptions. Both simulators are updated regularly with the latest science and new features.

The Simulators:

En-ROADS

En-ROADS is the newest and most popular global simulator that allows users to explore the impact of dozens of policies—such as electrifying transport, pricing carbon, and improving agricultural practices—on hundreds of factors, like energy prices, temperature, air quality, and sea level rise.

Learn more about En-ROADS

C-ROADS

C-ROADS allows users to explore the impacts of emissions pathways, deforestation, and afforestation pledges across regional group to determine whether, collectively, they are enough to meet global climate goals.

Learn more about C-ROADS

Up Next: How to Engage

Bring our interactive workshops and simulations to your organization.

Whether you're looking for a one-on-one policy deep dive or an exciting keynote presentation at your conference, explore how you can engage with us below.

More knowledge, urgency, efficacy, and action.

Lead researchers at the UMass Lowell Climate Change Initiative, Climate Interactive, the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative, and Reutlingen University have found that our interactive simulations lead to increased knowledge of climate change science, an enhanced sense of urgency about the issue, a desire to learn and do more about it, and direct action attributed to experience. 

Research Insights

In addition to our interactive simulations, our team conducts climate policy-relevant research in areas like bioenergy and vehicle fleet electrification. Interested in speaking with an author? Let us know.

50+ endorsements from leaders in government, business, and civil society.

Our History

The MIT Climate Pathways Project (CPP) was established in 2019 at the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative (SI) and engaged more than 15,000 leaders in government, business, and civil society in its first five years with the help of colleagues from SI, Climate Interactive, UMass Lowell, and beyond. CPP built a new capability to engage elected officials, trade associations, and others in the policy ecosystem. This served as a proof-of-concept for broader engagement between MIT climate experts and leaders in climate policy. In 2024, MIT Sloan launched the MIT Climate Policy Center (CPC).  Given complementary missions to advance evidence-based climate policy, CPP operations were moved to the CPC. CPP remains a joint effort between MIT CPC, SI, and Climate Interactive.