Innovative new tool helps leaders predict the impact of climate solutions through data-driven decision making

A cutting-edge modeling tool from MIT offers the opportunity to predict the potential impact of specific climate actions, empowering leaders to better prioritize – and communicate – their plans to address a warming climate.?

At the Mountain Town 2030 Climate Solutions Summit in Jackson, WY, Bethany Patten , Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management and Executive Director of the MIT Climate Policy Center, showcased the En-ROADS Climate Policy Simulator, designed to engage stakeholders—from policymakers to local communities—in crafting and visualizing impactful climate actions.

Speaking to leaders from dozens of mountain towns across America, Patten emphasized the growing cost of climate inaction, citing staggering numbers: since 1980, the U.S. has faced over 400 major weather events, costing a cumulative $2.6 trillion. As communities face rising economic and social pressures from climate impacts, the need for tools that facilitate data-driven decision-making has never been more urgent.

The simulator, co-developed by MIT and the non-profit think tank Climate Interactive, helps users visualize the outcomes of various climate strategies, empowering them to prioritize actions based on evidence and shared goals.

“We have this mental mindset around, if we do work on climate, it’s going to be so costly, or we’re going to lose money,” she said. “I want you to think about and challenge your assumptions about what investments in climate can really look like – it’s actually possible to actually create value out of what we do.”?

Patten highlighted several unique aspects of the simulator:

• Accessibility and Transparency: The model is free and open to the public, with all assumptions and equations available for scrutiny.
• Real-Time Outputs: Users can instantly see the effects of proposed policies, making it easier to iterate and understand potential trade-offs.
• Flexibility: Users can adjust assumptions—such as technology development rates or economic growth projections—to reflect their perspectives, encouraging open and constructive dialogue.
• Global Applicability: While the model is built to address global emissions, it’s designed to resonate with local priorities, making it equally useful for community workshops and high-level policy discussions.

Climate Interactive offers a free, self-guided training course on how to use the simulator here – and Patten stressed that “it’s really for everyone.”

One of the key themes of the session was “multi-solving”—a concept where climate solutions address multiple societal challenges simultaneously. Patten illustrated this with a story from Asheville, North Carolina, where solar panels and battery systems installed for clean energy also provided critical backup power during a hurricane, preventing severe flood damage to a local home.

“This multi-solving concept can really drive us to be more creative in our solutions,” she explained, adding that in the North Carolina example, “We dream of an investment payback time of a few months, and for this family, the investment paid back through avoided costs in just a couple of days.”?

This example highlights how investments in climate adaptation can deliver immediate and unexpected benefits beyond emission reductions.

Patten stressed that the En-ROADS tool is deliberately nonpartisan, enabling constructive discussions across ideological divides. It has been used in settings ranging from Congress to elementary schools, reflecting its flexibility and universal appeal.

“We’ll speak to anyone who wants to have a reasonable conversation about climate,” she said.

The simulator’s ability to model co-benefits—such as reduced air pollution, economic growth, and improved public health—makes it particularly effective for demonstrating how climate policies can align with broader community values.

Patten highlighted examples of successful local initiatives, including:

• Aspen’s Organics Waste Policy: Diverting organic waste from landfills to composting significantly reduces methane emissions.
• Energy Efficiency Projects: Retrofitting buildings to reduce energy consumption lowers costs while improving housing quality.
• Nature-Based Solutions: Projects like regenerative agriculture and reforestation sequester carbon while boosting ecosystem health.

Patten encouraged participants to think beyond individual actions and explore opportunities for collaboration. She emphasized the importance of policy ecosystems, where businesses, local governments, and civil society work together to amplify their impact.

The session underscored that while no single policy will solve the climate crisis, collective action, informed by data and grounded in community values, can drive meaningful progress. By leveraging tools like En-ROADS, communities can craft climate strategies that are not only effective but also equitable and inclusive.

Full talk from Mountain Towns 2030: