Climate change, fueled by greenhouse gas emissions, is the major long-term environmental issue for society. Climate change scenarios predicated on current emission rates project complete loss of the Arctic icecap by 2070, a 20-foot rise in sea level resulting from glacial melting, and an array of biotic consequences (e.g., invasive species) of enormous import. 

Faculty in CFANS are working on interdisciplinary teams to conduct research on carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem change on agricultural, forested, and urban landscapes. They also conduct research on policy approaches that exacerbate or resolve these local to global changes. The goal is to develop viable management practices that reduce net emissions from these landscapes and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Thus, we are advancing a strategic initiative focused on understanding the underlying biological, chemical, and physical processes of greenhouse gas emissions and terrestrial carbon sequestration together with complementary research on policy solutions.