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Weinberg Takes On: Climate Change

Weinberg researchers lead the charge in climate change solutions.

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Climate change may cause breadfruit to replace staple crops, according to study

A Northwestern study found that breadfruit, a starchy, nutrient-rich alternative to staple crops, will be relatively unaffected by climate change. Unlike its more popular counterparts (rice, corn, soybeans etc), researchers predict that a very small percentage of suitable land used to cultivate breadfruit will be altered by a significant change in climate conditions.

Breadfruit is a starchy, nutrient-rich alternative to staple crops, which will be relatively unaffected by climate change.
Greenland's glaciers

Greenland’s glacier retreat rate has doubled over past two decades

Greenland’s thousands of peripheral glaciers have entered a new and widespread state of rapid retreat, a Northwestern University and University of Copenhagen study has found. The rate of glacial retreat during the 21st century is twice as fast as retreat during the 20th century. And, despite the range of climates and topographical characteristics across Greenland, the findings are ubiquitous, even among Earth’s northernmost glaciers.

If climate change is a shark, water is the shark’s teeth. It’s easier to look ‘okay’ in terms of water security when you look at the availability of water or the infrastructure in a community than it is when you ask about people’s lives. ”

Professor Sera Young researches water equity

Meet some of our Faculty Experts

Headshot of Brad Sageman

Brad Sageman

Professor Sageman studies how the Earth system responds to very large inputs of CO2. His work has fundamental applicability to our understanding of the climate system, and our ability to predict what will happen in the future.

Headshot of Omar Farha

Omar Farha

Chemistry professor Omar Farha, has experience exploring the role of metal-oxide framework (MOF) structures that can be used to combate climate change.

Professor Yarrow Axford

Yarrow Axford

Professor Axford studies climate and environmental change, primarily through the lens of paleolimnology (the study of lake sediments and past lake environments).

Take a class on Climate Change

What social dynamics are fueling climate change and creating unequal environmental risks?

Are maple trees sweet enough to survive climate change?

How does literature shape our understanding of climate change and its future impacts?

I really like helping students see how big issues like climate change, systemic racism, biodiversity loss, and economic inequality are all related.”

Assistant Professor of Instruction Elsa Anderson

Meet Professor Anderson

Northwestern COP26 Delegates

Diana Elhard

Diana Elhard

A sociology Ph.D. candidate at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern and observed how health equity is being integrated into climate change priorities globally as a piece of her dissertation research.

Mallory Megumi Fallin

Mallory Megumi Fallin

A political science Ph.D. conducted dissertation research while at COP26. Her work focuses on equity in climate finance distribution and the role vulnerability to climate change plays in shaping financial outcomes.