On January 20 a new administration entered the White House determined to cut spending on climate change and environmental protection programs, and reduce restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

To help the MIT community better understand what’s at stake, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with the Joint Program presented seven courses on climate science and policy during the 2017 MIT Independent Activities Period (IAP).

The course series — entitled “Climate Science and Policy: Now more than ever!” — provided a fast-paced, accessible introduction to the Earth’s climate system and the links between scientific and societal aspects of climate change.