Sustainable Earth Modelling Economics

The SEME Division analyses the transition to sustainability, helping identify and evaluate low carbon, sustainable strategies. The approach used is multidisciplinary, with strong use of quantitative methods based on data science, integrated modeling and experimental and behavioral economics.

Objectives

Evaluate the low carbon transformation of the energy, land and climate sectors;
Evaluate behavioural and traditional policy interventions for promoting pro-environmental behavior;
Assess green innovation and its determinants;
Study the interplay between various sustainable development goals;
Identify robust policy strategies to climate risks and uncertainties;
Identify technological and societal transition pathways;
Study climate induced migration.

SEME Projects

BEZOS EARTH FUND project - Navigating Fiscal Challenges of the Clean Energy Transition

Navigating Fiscal Challenges of the Clean Energy Transition is a project funded…

PRUDENT: Promoting Green Nudging for Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry

PRUDENT aspires to revolutionize agriculture and forestry by promoting sustainable practices and…

CO-CREATE: Conditions for Responsible Research of SRM – Analysis, Co-Creation, and Ethos

Experimental research on solar radiation modification (SRM) is controversial and feared to…

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SEME Publications

Climate variability and worldwide migration: Current evidence and future projections

Cattaneo C., Massetti E., Farinosi F., Dasgupta S.
2024, Environ. Res. Lett., doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad91cb

The public use of early-stage scientific advances in carbon dioxide removal: a science-technology-policy-media perspective

Tripodi G.; Lillo F.; Mavilia R.; Mina A.; Chiaromonte F.; Lamperti F.
2024, Environmental Research Letters, Volume 19, Issue 11 - Article number 114009, doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad7479

Clean innovation, heterogeneous financing costs, and the optimal climate policy mix

Campiglio E., Spiganti A., Wiskich A.
2024, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Volume 128, doi: 10.1016/j.jeem.2024.103071

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SEME Models

FASST(R) - FAst Scenario Screening Tool

FASST(R) is a source receptor model, an R version of the reduced-form…

WITCH - World Induced Technical Change Hybrid model

WITCH (World Induced Technical Change Hybrid) is an integrated assessment model designed…

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Division Director

Cristina Cattaneo

Division Manager

Mariaester Cassinelli

Laura Pellizzola

People

Contacts

Via Bergognone, 34 – 20144 Milano (MI)
[email protected]

Research Units

Low carbon pathways

Research Unit Leader
Laurent Drouet and Johannes Emmerling

We examine pathways of transition of the economic, environmental and technological systems. We develop and use complex models that integrate sectors and systems and delineate the key strategies compatible with climate stabilization. We carry out empirical work on the efficacy of climate policies around the world.

Behavioural science

Research Unit Leader
Giovanna d’Adda

We assess the behavioural elements that affect individuals, corporations and institutions in the realm of environmental choices. We evaluate energy efficiency and low carbon programmes of industries and governments, both in developed and developing countries, through randomized controlled trials.

Human migration

Research Unit Leader
Cristina Cattaneo

We study the links between climate change and migration and estimate to what extent climate change and other environmental risks influence patterns of human migration.

Sustainable innovation

Research Unit Leader
Elena Verdolini

We identify innovation and technological pathways, strategies and policies for the low-carbon transition; we analyse the mechanisms and the role of specific policies and technological disruptions in fostering or hindering the transition toward low carbon development.

RFF-CMCC European Institute on Economics and the Environment leverages two leading international centers for economic and environmental research: Resources for the Future – RFF, Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change – CMCC.