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

LOCALISED - Localised decarbonisation pathways for citizens, local administrations and businesses to inform for mitigation and adaptation action

LOCALISED is a project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme…

INHALE - Impact on humaN Health of Agriculture and Livestock Emissions

Air pollution remains Europe’s top environmental threat to health, as recently reminded…

EDITS2 - Energy Demand changes Induced by Technological and Social innovations - Low energy demand empirical and modeling work in a post pandemic world

The Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) and Fondazione…

View All SEME Projects

SEME Publications

The role of energy storage on the uptake of renewable energy: A model comparison approach

Giarola S., Molar-Cruz A., Vaillancourt K., Bahn O., Sarmiento L., Hawkes A., Brown M.
2021, Energy Policy, Volume 151, April 2021, 112159, DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112159, web page

Future Prospects of Direct Air Capture Technologies: Insights From an Expert Elicitation Survey

Shayegh S., Bosetti V., Tavoni M.
2021, Frontiers in Climate, DOI: 10.3389/fclim.2021.630893, web page

Can social information programs be more effective? The role of environmental identity for energy conservation

Bonan J., Cattaneo C., D'Adda G., Tavoni M.
2021, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Available online 27 April 2021, 102467, DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2021.102467, web page

View All SEME Publications

SEME Models

FASST(R) - FAst Scenario Screening Tool

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

Cities & Coasts, Future Earth.

WITCH - World Induced Technical Change Hybrid model

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

Energy, Future Earth, Global Policy, Migrations & Inequalities.

View All Models

Division Director

Massimo Tavoni

Division Manager

Mariaester Cassinelli

Laura Pellizzola

PEOPLE

Contacts

Via Bergognone, 34 – 20144 Milano (MI)

[email protected]

Research Units

Low carbon pathways

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.

Leaders: Laurent Drouet and Johannes Emmerling

Behavioural science

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.

Leader: Giovanna d’Adda

Human migration

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.

Leader: Cristina Cattaneo

Sustainable innovation

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.

Leader: Elena Verdolini

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.