Energy and environment

Our community recognizes the urgent global climate crisis and is working on interdisciplinary policy solutions rooted in community engagement, economics, political science, psychology, and urban planning. 

It's been described as one of this generation's greatest threats and it bleeds into every facet of our lives. Finding ways to address the climate crisis affects housing, education, immigration, agriculture, tax policy, and many other cross-cutting issues—and at local, state, national, and international levels. Energy and environmental policy influences individual behavior and corporate practices and can be felt by families and communities across the globe. 

The Ford School is consistently ranked as a top-10 public affairs program for environmental policy. Our faculty conducts research and informs policy change related to energy regulation, personal sustainability practices, government cooperation and collaboration, corporate investments, international climate agreements, and more. 

Students are involved in and out of the classroom. The Psychology of Climate Change seminar brings together undergraduates, graduate students from SEAS and the Ford School, and Engineering PhDs. Students in the Fall 2020 Strategic Public Policy Consulting course provided analysis for Resource Recycling to help industries reduce waste and recover valuable resources. And this year's Integrated Policy Exercise addressed climate change migration. 

Research insights

More than half of Michigan's local governments have developed energy plans

The Michigan Local Energy Survey was conducted by CLOSUP to better understand local officials' perceptions of the costs, benefits, and their likelihood of developing energy policies.
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Student experience

Students address food waste as part of U-M Carbon Taskforce

Marc Jaruzel (MPP ‘20) and Jaclyn Kahn (MPP ‘21) provide analysis and recommendations in the final report to President Schlissel to reduce carbon emissions.
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Research insights

Feasibility of a methane tax

Barry Rabe argues that methane fees are an effective first step for carbon taxing in a recent article for the Milken Institute.
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Student experience

James VanSteel (MPP/MURP '21) co-authors electric vehicle report for The Ecology Center

Using research from his summer internship, VanSteel's report analyzed the electric vehicle fee structure as the state of Michigan seeks to support road infrastructure.
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Student experience

Students address climate change migration in Integrated Policy Exercise

Through a virtually simulated UN General Assembly meeting, MPP students considered issues related to the rights of climate migrants and refugees.
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Research insights

Resources Radio podcast

Hosted by Lecturer Daniel Raimi, Resources Radio is a weekly podcast, featuring interviews with leading experts about climate change, electricity, ecosystems, and more.
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North American Colloquium on climate policy

A collaborative effort of the Ford School's International Policy Center, in partnership with the University of Toronto's Munk School and the National Autonomous University of Mexico's Center for North American Research, to bring together scholars, policymakers, and students from all three North American countries. NAC seeks to strengthen policy conversation and contribute to trilateral cooperation between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. (Photo credit: U.S. Department of Labor / CC0)
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Kaltura Video

Ann Lin on how environmental issues affect migration.

Research insights

Hidden costs for a clean energy transition

Energy economist Catherine Hausman and co-author Lucas Davis (UC-Berkeley) find poor urban and rural areas bear the financial burden of legacy natural gas.
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Research insights

A new timeline to shift away from fossil fuels

Daniel Raimi aids energy transition with a map of the U.S. energy economy.
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Policy engagement

Equity considerations must be an integral part of energy research and development

Parthasarathy testified before a key Congressional committee with other experts in a discussion on "Fostering Equity in Energy Innovation."
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Alumni impact

STPP alum Michelle Brechtelsbauer (MPP '16) works to impact zero-carbon energy

Brechtelsbauer is the director of stakeholder relations, strategy, and operations at the Energy Impact Center where she conducts research and explores solutions to climate change.
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Alumni impact

Nick Occhipinti (MPP ‘08) works across differences for the environment

Self-described "friendly neighborhood lobbyist" is the government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
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Alumni impact

Kristy Hartman (MPP ‘13) informs and supports state energy policy

Hartman serves as the director of stakeholder strategy & engagement at the Nuclear Energy Institute, where manages research and outreach to state officials and utility regulators.
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Alumni impact

Laura Bishop (MPA ‘99) ‘leans in’ on environmental sustainability in the public and private sectors.

Bishop is the Commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency for the State of Minnesota.
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Alumni impact

Kenneth McFarlane (MPA ‘14) pivoted from highest profit to greatest outcome

Now with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, McFarlane used the MPA to jumpstart a new career.
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Alumni impact

Interdisciplinary studies and applied learning prepare Fernandes (MPP/MS ‘08) to protect environment

As a policy analyst at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fernandes sees where multiple sides of policy issues.
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