Project Climate works to bring promising climate solutions quickly to policy and scale. We are part of the Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment at Berkeley Law.
Methane is an extremely powerful greenhouse gas. It is 84 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a 20-year time frame, and it accounts for one-third of Earth's heating. However, because this gas decays quickly in the atmosphere, actions taken today to cut methane emissions can rapidly slow the warming of our planet.
As organic materials decompose in low-oxygen conditions (e.g., cow stomachs, rice paddies, landfills, geologic formations), they release methane. The leading sources of human-caused methane are the agriculture, oil and gas, and waste sectors.
Project Climate is seeking one to two students to join an existing three-person Discovery Team. Last semester, we analyzed methane data taken by airplanes flying over Gulf Coast oil and gas rigs. This semester, we may continue this work or expand into a new area. Landfills are of particular interest, as we are working with the Engineering School to secure funding to develop new, low-cost landfill monitoring systems.
Applicants should note that our organization's expertise is in public policy, not data science. You will be supervised by knowledgeable but non-technical staff. Those who join our Discovery Team will be expected to take an active role in the technical direction of the research.
