National Aeronautics and Space Agency 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency
National Science FoundationUSC Climate Change Research
There is consensus amongst scientists that humans are changing the Earth's climate, and that these alterations are having significant impacts on natural ecosystems. The Challenge before the scientific community is no longer to document whether climate is affecting nature, but rather to forecast where, when, and how severe these impacts will be so that we can better prepare for the future.
Research and education at USC on global climate change, and the impacts of these changes on humans and natural ecosystems, encompasses a wide variety of expertise and approaches. Faculty in The Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences and Biological Sciences monitor changes in the Earth's climate, and explore the mechanisms underlaying these changes and their impacts on ecosystems. Faculty associated with the Belle W. Baruch Institute conduct basic research on environmental processes, tidal, estuarine and coastal environments. The Ecological Forecasting team, comprising of faculty from Biological Sciences and The Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, uses biological and physical approaches to predict where and when damage to natural ecosystems is most likely to occur, a form of adaptation to climate change. Faculty in the Geography Department, School of Law and Darla Moore School of Business examine the physical, socio-economic, political, and economic consequences of climate change to people around the world. Many faculty working in the area of climate change are associated with the USC Environment and Sustainability Program and the Marine Science Program, which draws together faculty from across campus to exchange ideas, train students, and reach out to the community at large. Most recently, the E&SP has served as a hub of the University's focus on sustainability and the environment: Sustainable Carolina.