MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative
The MIT Climate Pathways Project
Accelerating the adoption of evidence-based climate policy
The urgency to act on climate is real, and it is incumbent on institutions like MIT to provide the best possible scenarios for a future that is safe for humans and nature to thrive.
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 IPPC says this requires greenhouse gas emissions be nearly cut in half by 2030 from 2010 levels + reach "net zero" by midcentury.
All nations must fulfill their commitments – and the complex menu of solutions for doing so can feel overwhelming. Realizing the challenge of getting to an emissions pathway consistent with no more than 2°C (3.6°F) of warming, the Sustainability Initiative, Climate Interactive, the UMass Lowell Climate Change Initiative and Alumnus Michael Sonnenfeldt launched the MIT Climate Pathways Project.
Our goal is to help decision-makers in government, business, and civil society make sense of available solutions with interactive simulations, like En-ROADS (co-developed with Climate Interactive).
En-ROADS is quite simply a climate crisis game-changer for policymakers and people across the country.
En-ROADS is the ideal tool for influencing policy development.
Grounded in the best available science, our simulations encourage exploration of different climate policies, in order to better understand how these actions interact and ultimately have impact in a complex system.
Leaders who have tried it have reacted positively to the experience, and recent research suggests that participation in the simulation leads to several positive outcomes, including increased knowledge of climate change causes, dynamics and impacts, greater feelings of urgency and hope, and a desire to learn and do more about climate change.
Interested in hosting a workshop at your company or organization? Reach out to learn more!
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Climate Pathways Team

John D. Sterman
Management Science
Jay W. Forrester Professor of Management
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Bethany Patten
Senior Lecturer, Director, Policy and Engagement, EMBA '13
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Andrew Jones
Executive Director, Climate Interactive, MS '97
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Krystal Noiseux
Associate Director, Climate Pathways Project

Michael Sonnenfeldt
Founder, Chairman, MUUS & Company, Tiger21, SB ’77, SM ’78
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Ben Wolkon
Manager of Sustainable Investments at MUUS Asset Management Co, MBA '16
Learn MoreResearchers and Affiliates

Pamela Duke
Research Assistant
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Joy Jackson
Research Assistant
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Jason Jay
Behavioral and Policy Sciences
Senior Lecturer, Sustainability
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Ellie Johnston
Engagement Director, Climate Interactive
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Florian Kapmeier
Professor of Strategy at ESB Business School
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Ken Rath
Director, Rath Educational Evaluation and Research
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Juliette Rooney-Varga
Professor, Director, UMass Lowell Climate Change Initiative
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Allie Shepard
Research Assistant
Learn more Featured Videos
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Climate Interactive | November 1, 2019 En-ROADS Presentation at Bloomberg New Economy Forum | Beijing
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Vice News | October 19, 2019 Vice News: Climate Action Simulation
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Bloomberg | January 2020 Bloomberg Sustainable Business Forum | Staying Below 2°C
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Climate Interactive | November 11, 2009 Senator John Kerry Introduces C-ROADS Climate Simulator
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Bloomberg | November 21, 2019 Bloomberg New Economy Forum: Climate Change to Climate Action
Our News and Media
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UN PRME | Dec 2022 UN Principles for Responsible Investment's Best 10 of Climate Change
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Ideas Made to Matter How to choose carbon offsets that actually cut emissions
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The Hill | May 5, 2022 ‘Cash for Clunkers’ can cut gas prices, climate change
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MarketWatch | January 19, 2022 ‘Net zero’ pledges can amount to greenwashing. This is the better way.
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Wired | December 25, 2021 Can You Solve Climate Change Better Than World Leaders?
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BigThink | December 16, 2021 En-ROADS: A powerful, interactive climate model
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Press Sustainability-oriented innovations solve both shared public problems and private customer needs: Jason Jay
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Ideas Made to Matter 4 strategies for sustainable business
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AP | November 15, 2021 ‘Watered-down hope’: Experts wanted more from climate pact
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Newsweek | November 15, 2021 Optimistic vs. 'No Backbone': Scientists Split on Whether Climate Pact
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BBC News | November 11, 2021 ¿Cómo se puede enfriar el planeta y frenar el calentamiento global?
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CGTN News | October 29, 2021 COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow: John Sterman
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Milken Institute | October 18, 2021 A Conversation with U.S. Senator Mitt Romney
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Economic Times India | September 11, 2021 Climate change disrupts supply chains — companies investing in responsible energy are resilient: John D Sterman
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Canary Media | August 23, 2021 What burgers and bananas can teach us about fighting climate change
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Ideas Made to Matter 3 hurdles to sustainable investing — and how to overcome them
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Input | May 10, 2021 This text-based game wants to shift your thinking about climate change
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MIT Spectrum | April 22, 2021 Why Care About Climate Change?
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MIT News | April 19, 2021 From entrepreneur to climate policy advocate
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Bloomberg | March 23, 2021 What if the Perfect Climate Fix Can’t Arrive in Time?
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The Daily Tar Heel | March 18, 2021 Professor hosts workshop on the realities of climate change
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UMass Lowell | February 1, 2021 Science Professor Works to Depolarize Climate Change Issue
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Forbes | January 10, 2021 The Curious Case Of Engineering Schools And Sustainable Investing: MIT
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CNBC | November 19, 2020 Wealthy investors are getting serious about climate change
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National Geographic | October 13, 2020 Let’s not waste this crucial moment.
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Climate Scientists | October 11, 2020 John Sterman: informed decision-making for climate change policy
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AP | September 22, 2020 China, top global emitter, aims to go carbon-neutral by 2060
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The Revelator | July 1, 2020 Want to Design a Livable Future? Try ‘Multisolving’
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Ideas Made to Matter 4 COVID-19 lessons for climate change
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The New Yorker | May 21, 2020 What Will it Take to Cool the Planet
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Bloomberg | April 22, 2020 The professor who turns climate change into a game
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Climate Interactive | November 1, 2019 En-ROADS Presentation at Bloomberg New Economy Forum | Beijing
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Bloomberg | April 21, 2020 The Best Way to Slow Global Warming? You Decide in This Climate Simulator
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TapInto West Orange | December 31, 2019 West Orange Middle School Students Hold Simulated Climate Summit
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Ideas Made to Matter See the future of global warming in less than one second
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AXIOS | DECEMBER 3, 2019 Choose your own climate and energy adventure
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Press MIT technology powers new, accessible climate solutions simulator
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Fast Company | December 3, 2019 This MIT climate solutions simulator lets you solve the climate crisis
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Press How to get to a zero carbon future
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Mission Times Courier | December 6, 2019 Addressing climate change will take group effort
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Bloomberg | November 21, 2019 Bloomberg New Economy Forum: Climate Change to Climate Action
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Bloomberg | November 21, 2019 Climate Change Presentation by MIT's John Sterman at New Economy Forum
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GlobalGoalsCast | October 15, 2019 Can Global GoalsCast Save the Planet?
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Press How you can curb climate change
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Vice News | October 19, 2019 Vice News: Climate Action Simulation
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Press How VR enhances the business school experience
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THE CONVERSATION | OCTOBER 22, 2018 How a game can move people from climate apathy to action
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Nexus Media | September 27, 2018 To Act on Climate Change, Play on
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ZME SCIENCE | SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 New role-playing game engages people from all backgrounds with climate
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NBC NEWS | SEPTEMBER 9, 2018 How to convince someone global warming is real? Play this game
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Press Is the key to sparking climate action a game?
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ARS Technica | June 26, 2017 Fake climate negotiations produce real impacts
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University of Madison Wisconsin | May 22, 2018 Simulating the challenges of a climate change negotiation
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MIT NEWS | NOVEMBER 22, 2016 Forging ahead on climate action
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Climate Interactive | November 11, 2009 Senator John Kerry Introduces C-ROADS Climate Simulator
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Climate Interactive | March 13, 2009 Senator John Kerry To Introduce the C-ROADS Climate Simulator