What is CSNE?

CSNE is a public-private partnership to promote collective action to achieve a low carbon society. A common set of indicators and milestones is required to provide decision relevant information for a diverse set of stakeholders to coordinate action and track progress. The New England Carbon Index, web accessible and open source, will be developed to address this need. A collaborative process of focused working groups, annual reports, and bi-annul summits will sustain dialog and coordinate action across sectors and institutions.

Regional Action is Required . . .

Scientific evidence is clear that we must achieve an urgent and unprecedented level of carbon dioxide emission reduction over the next decade to begin to stabilize our climate system. The future climate is literally in our hands. Addressing the interdependent issues of energy and climate requires a transformational response. Our goal is to unite leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors to collaborate at an entirely new level to build a low carbon society while sustaining our unique natural and cultural resources. New England is uniquely positioned to turn this risk into an opportunity by focusing our substantial entrepreneurial and intellectual resources on this issue.

Who?

The transformational change required to build a low carbon society demands collaboration among a wide range of stake-holders including the private sector, government, non-profits, churches, and universities. Leaders from these sectors will join a collaborative learning community that will benefit all participants by producing products that are publicly accessible, transparent in purpose, method and reasoning, and valuable for creative problem solving. Participants will also benefit from a process focused on learning and innovation that adds value to both individual and collective goals while pursuing a long-term public good.

How?

CSNE has already secured seed funding to build our lead partnership network and conduct a series of rapid appraisals of the region’s carbon cycle, the potential for renewable energy, and existing institutions and initiatives working towards a low carbon society. These efforts will form the foundation for future analysis.

Carbon Cycle

Develop an integrated, web accessible computer model of New England’s carbon cycle. This will provide the foundation to assess the impact on our environment and economy of alternative strategies and policies to reduce net emissions.

Potential for Renewable Energy

Assess the natural, technological, and economic potential for renewable energy and quantify the economic impact of policies to reduce net carbon dioxide emissions.

Institutions

Develop a web accessible multi-sectoral appraisal of New England’s business and social institutions that are currently active in the area of regional energy and climate policy and action This would be a foundational inventory.

Energy Technologies

Analyze existing and emerging low carbon and energy efficiency energy technologies in New England.

CSNE Leadership Team

CSNE™ brings together four separate UNH programs in a unique collaboration. Leaders from each of these programs form the leadership team.

• John Aber, Professor of Natural Resources
• Tom Kelly, Chief Sustainability Offcier & Director, Office of Sustainability
• Berrien Moore, Director, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans & Space (EOS)
• Peggy Sullivan, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations, UNH Foundation

CSNE Director

• Cameron Wake, Associate Research Professor, Climate Change Research Center, EOS

CSNE Investigators

• Taylor Eighmy, Interim Vice President for Research
• Ross Gittell, James R. Carter Professor of Management, Whittemore School of Business and Economics
• George Hurtt, Associate Professor, Complex Systems Research Center, EOS
• Stacy VanDeveer, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science