Jump to main content or area navigation.

Contact Us

Office of Research and Development

Air, Climate, and Energy Research

Clear sky and clouds over a field

American communities face serious health and environmental challenges from air pollution and the growing effects of climate change, which are both intricately linked with energy options.

Building on 40 years of achievement in air pollution research that has led to landmark outcomes—including healthier communities and longer life expectancies—EPA researchers are exploring the dynamics of air quality, global climate change, and energy as a set of complex, yet interrelated challenges.

Research Focus Areas

Air, Climate, and Energy (ACE) research is being captured in three broad research areas with underlying objectives. They are:

1.  Assess Impacts
The goal of this research is to assess human and ecosystem exposures and effects associated with air pollutants and climate change at the individual level as well as community, regional, and global levels. This theme includes the following objectives:

  • Assess multipollutant exposures and effects and integrated impacts of climate change on air and water quality and human and ecosystem health.
  • Develop innovative approaches to assess human and environmental exposures and effects of pollutants in the atmosphere.
  • Identify characteristics of populations and ecosystems susceptible to effects from exposure to air pollutants and climate change impacts.
  • Inform review of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

2. Prevent and Reduce Emissions
The goal of this research is to provide the scientific basis to prevent and reduce emissions of pollutants to the atmosphere in ways that are environmentally sustainable, cost effective, and innovative. This research includes the following objectives:

  • Support the management of air pollution problems to better account for regional and daily or yearly differences in air pollution.
  • Develop methods and data for life-cycle analyses of alternative pollution reduction and energy options regarding the most sustainable and cost effective uses of resources.
  • Provide innovative technologies to support the implementation of management strategies to prevent and reduce air pollution.
  • Conduct evaluations of integrated, sustainable pollution reduction and prevention solutions.
  • Support implementation of NAAQS.

3. Respond to Changes in Climate and Air Quality
The goal of this research is to provide modeling, monitoring, metrics and information needed by individuals, communities, and governmental agencies to adapt to the impacts of climate change and make public health decisions regarding air quality. This research includes the following objectives:

  • Evaluate alternative adaptation strategies, focusing on the most vulnerable individuals, communities, and ecosystems.
  • Devise innovative methods to inform individual- and community- level adaptation to climate change and decision making regarding air quality.

Evaluate social, behavioral, and economic factors that may hinder the ability of communities and individuals to implement adaptation strategies for climate change and make informed decisions regarding air quality.

Resources

The Research Framework will be used to develop a Research Action Plan that will provide more details of the research to be conducted.

Top of page