Description
Our approach
The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) produces data-driven research that advances society’s understanding of the global energy challenge and translates research insights into real-world impacts through strategic outreach and training for the next generation of global energy leaders.
EPIC’s research focuses on three themes that define the global energy challenge: energy markets, the environment, and climate change. Within those overarching themes, EPIC-affiliated faculty conduct groundbreaking research on a range of specific topics.
In addition to faculty research, EPIC has developed several affiliated centers that target critical aspects of the global energy challenge.
The Climate Impact Lab is a first-of-its-kind, multidisciplinary effort working to measure the real-world costs of climate change at a local level. It is also developing the world’s first empirically derived estimate of the global social cost of carbon, which can be used by governments around the world to set climate policy.
The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) is an air quality metric that converts particulate air pollution measurements into perhaps the most important factor that exists—their impact on life expectancy. The AQLI allows users to zoom in on any district in the world to see the effects of that district’s air pollution levels on residents’ lifespans.
The Energy & Environment Lab partners with civic and community leaders to identify, rigorously evaluate, and help scale programs and policies to improve the environment and ensure access to reliable and affordable energy.
Because the global energy challenge is especially pressing for large, rapidly growing countries, EPIC also has teams on the ground in India and China. The teams at EPIC-India and EPIC-China work hand in hand with government and industry partners to devise and experimentally test potential solutions to pressing energy and environmental challenges. Through these innovative partnerships and projects, research insights can lead to lasting policy change.
Donations are applied to...
Your gift on Giving Day will support EPIC’s groundbreaking research, education, real-world impact, and outreach efforts, as exemplified by the above initiatives at UChicago and around the world.
Why are donations necessary?
To meet the global energy challenge, humanity must address the need for reliable, affordable energy to foster economic growth while averting climate change and damages to the environment. EPIC is a global leader in these efforts.