Our Global Change Program

Providing food, energy, water, and other goods for this and future generations presents a huge challenge.  There is tremendous pressure on the life support systems of the planet – the atmosphere, climate, water, and ecosystems that provide so many of the goods and services that make our planet habitable.

We believe this time of rapidly deteriorating environment presents:
1) unprecedented global challenges to humanity and
2) simultaneous opportunities for innovation in government and the private sector.

Recognizing the challenges and opportunities that global change presents, the Heinz Center integrated its programs around the theme of global change in December 2007.  We address global change issues objectively, in a context that includes and integrates science, economics, technology, innovation, and policy considerations.  We work with business, government, and the science and environmental communities to identify solutions to deal with global change. 

Global change includes multiple interacting changes on the scale of the planet, including climate change, land use change, deforestation and biodiversity loss

Our priorities in addressing these urgent global change challenges are organized under the following themes:

• Adaptation: Adjusting to changes in the global environment. If we can anticipate what is coming as a result of climate and other global change we can make plans to deal with the implications.
• Mitigation: Avoiding further damage to the planet from more greenhouse gases than are already in the atmosphere, and (where possible) reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.
• Observation and Understanding: Providing policymakers with the information needed to make good decisions. 
• Policy Communication: Encouraging and convening conversations with decision-makers in government and business is at the center of all of our work.

Global environmental problems are complex.  The Heinz Center, with its nonpartisan, non-confrontational approach, based on solid science and economics, has unique capacity to provide lasting solutions.  The Heinz Center is a key environmental policy center for the practical global change solutions and actions central to society’s future.