Interconnected Systems
Interconnected Physical and Socio‑Economic Systems. As new policies and technologies are developed amid climate and other global changes, they interact with environmental processes and institutions in ways that can alter the Earth’s critical life‑support systems. Fundamental mechanisms that determine many of these systems’ behaviors, including those related to interacting climate, water, food and socio‑economic systems, remain largely unknown and poorly quantified. Better understanding can help society mitigate the risks of abrupt changes and “tipping points” in these systems.
News + Media
A new MIT CS3 study evaluates economic impacts of combining climate and biodiversity action
CS3-affiliated research scientist in MIT AeroAstro's Engineering Systems Laboratory recognized for her work in geography and environmental studies (MIT News)
MIT Prof./CS3 faculty affiliate Susan Solomon joins Rachel Feltman on Scientific American’s Science Quickly podcast to discuss her experience researching the cause and solution for the Antarctic ozone hole in the 1980s. “Amazingly, we can show, with 95 percent confidence, now the Antarctic ozone hole is beginning to heal,” says Solomon, who published a paper on that topic last year. “That was a real incredible moment for me…I was there in 1986, and in 2026 I saw this paper appear that actually shows that we can be confident we’re seeing recovery.” (Scientific American)
Publications
Lin Yang, K., C.A. Schlosser and A. Gurgel (2026)
Land Use Policy, 168, 108086 (doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2026.108086)
Chen, R., S. Ren, J. Lin, Y. Zou, Q. Xu, W. Zhang and H. Samuelson (2026)
Sustainable Cities and Society, 145, 107471 (doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2026.107471)
Sterman, J. and J. Turliuk (2026)
SSRN, doi: 10.2139/ssrn.6689098