Cornell Institute for Climate Smart Solutions

The Cornell Institute for Climate Smart Solutions (CICSS) is hosted by the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. This interdisciplinary research and Extension Specialist team aims to build climate resilient agricultural, environmental, and social systems, through research, stakeholder engagement, education and outreach. CICSS priorities specifically are to:

• Facilitate Research related to climate science and policy, environmental and agricultural systems, food security, and environmental and social resiliency.
• Conduct Education and Outreach to stakeholders, decision makers and the public using trusted, science-based information to increase sustainability and resiliency to climate change.
• Build Partnerships and engage stakeholders to share information and develop climate change solutions.

CICSS is developing an Extension Climate Steward Volunteer Program to train Extension volunteers who can support their communities to engage in climate change adaptation, resiliency, and mitigation projects at the local level. Funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the program will address the climate change implications on NIFA’s priorities of food safety, nutrition, and health; natural resources and environment; and agricultural economics and rural communities.

The Cornell Climate Smart Farming Program focuses specifically on developing agricultural decision support tools and resources to help farmers better manage the risks of climate change. The Climate Smart Farming website is an interactive platform that supports decision-making at a farm or agricultural-system scale within a specific region.

Phone: (607) 254-4942

Sectors:

• Agriculture and food
• Biodiversity and ecosystems