The problem

Cities are responsible for more than 60% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and Baltimore City has set ambitious targets to reduce emissions. The path forward will require reducing emissions from a variety of sources, including cars, buildings, waste, and the electricity sources that power the city. How can this be done in a way that improves equitable access to transportation, to heating and cooling, and does not pose unfair financial burdens? Baltimore’s new Climate Action Plan includes broad strategies to reduce emissions. The Decarbonization group’s research will provide insights that will help implement those strategies.

How do the issues you study show up in Baltimore?

We know that greenhouse gas emissions from buildings account for 64% of Baltimore’s emissions. We don’t know exactly how the design or function of buildings affects their greenhouse gas emissions. Without this information, it is impossible to determine ways to equitably reduce emissions. In response, BSEC researchers are developing models to simulate energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from buildings in downtown Baltimore to inform how the city’s new Climate Action Plan can be implemented.

Guiding questions for research

  1. What actions can simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve equity? 
  2. How does infrastructure like buildings and transportation affect greenhouse gas emissions? How can we reduce emissions through green infrastructure?
  3. How can we reduce emissions in a way that is effective and fair (e.g., cost burdens, transportation access, human comfort)?

Sample project

To make bus travel faster, more reliable, and more appealing, in 2016 and 2017 the Maryland Transportation Administration (MTA) created special bus lanes on some downtown streets. A recent project showed that these lanes really do speed up bus travel, and that buses and bicyclists have been able to safely share these lanes. However the occasional illegally parked car makes the dedicated bus lanes unusable at some times. 

Team co-leads

Rahman Azari, Pennsylvania State University; and Scot Miller, Johns Hopkins University