The continued burning of fossil fuels, increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, and changes in land use such as deforestation have led to the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, a consistent rise in sea levels, and fueled the intensity of devastating climate events such as wildfires and hurricanes.
At the University of Notre Dame, researchers are working to provide solutions to society’s complex environmental challenges to minimize the trade-offs between human welfare and environmental health. Through the Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative (ND-ECI), scientists, engineers, and social scientists collaborate to tackle issues stemming from global warming, climate change, and alterations to land, water, and air that threaten the planet and human life through various research programs.
— Brandi Wampler, ND Research