Data-Driven EnviroLab

AGU25 in New Orleans: Advancing Urban Climate Research - Data-Driven EnviroLab

New blog, by #DDL researcher Sarah Berk detailing her trip to AGU25 this past December. She highlights key takeaways, emerging themes, and her own urban heat work.

Read her reflection here -> datadrivenlab.org/conferences/...

Climate Action Accountability System In this video, Angel explains the UN’s Recognition and Accountability Framework (RAF) and how it strengthens climate action. Learn how data, AI, and governance improve transparency, enforce…

In collaboration with Sustainability Unlocked, @profangelhsu.bsky.social, Associate Professor at @UNC and founder of @datadrivenlab.bsky.social unpacks how data driven insights and innovation are transforming the climate accountability space.

Accelerating Climate Progress with AI: From Science to Action Workshop Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly advancing frontiers in climate science, providing new insights into our understanding of the climate system and helping to transformation climate science into a...

#DDL Director Angel Hsu is giving the keynote address at the National Academies of Sciences Virtual Workshop. Join her tomorrow 1/13 at 12 pm EST to discuss avenues for #AI use in the advancement of climate science.

Thanks for being part of our community—whether you’ve partnered with us, followed our work, shared feedback, or helped amplify it. We look forward to staying connected with you as we welcome the new year.

Sign up for our lab's newsletter -> eepurl.com/i3OSCA

Our final newsletter of the year is out now!

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re excited to share some highlights from this past month, including our new website and brand refresh, funding to launch our climate-AI projects, and our latest community meeting for our NASA-funded heat stress work.

Hsu, DDL awarded $1 million to advance AI accountability in climate reporting - UNC Institute for the Environment The grant will expand the DDL’s work through its CLAIM center.

A new grant from the Hewlett Foundation expands the work of the Data-Driven EnviroLab in addressing misinformation and greenwashing in AI as well as the societal impacts of generative AI.

Read the full story ⬇️

ie.unc.edu/news/hsu-ddl...

@profangelhsu.bsky.social | @datadrivenlab.bsky.social

🗓️ Thursday, December 4, 2025
⌛ 4:30 PM EST
🛜 Webinar

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: A New Chapter in U.S.-China Relations? After the Trump-Xi Meeting in Korea. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webin... What’s next for U.S.-China relations following the October 2025 meeting of Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Busan, Korea? The Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations invites five o...

A New Chapter in U.S.-China Relations? After the Trump-Xi Meeting in Korea

Dr. Angel Hsu has been invited to speak on what’s next for U.S.-China relations following the October 2025 meeting of Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Busan, Korea?

For the first time in 10 years, since Angel Hsu, PhD, founded our lab in 2016, we are introducing a new brand identity! Designed by Louis Charron, DDL’s refreshed identity expresses the centering of people in our work, transforming messy, complex datasets into clear, actionable insights.

The funding will enable the expansion of DDL's work through the Center for Climate Leadership and AI-driven Integrity in Mitigation (CLAIM), which aims to address misinformation and greenwashing in AI as well as the societal impacts of generative AI on corporate climate action.

Exciting News! ✨ DDL is honored to receive a $1 million grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to further our work in advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) accountability as it relates to climate commitments.

Read more about the grant and CLAIM here: datadrivenlab.org/featured/dat...

"The Dual Burden of Energy Poverty and Climate Exposure"

🕐 Next Friday October 10th at 2pm in Sitterson Hall Room F009 DDL's own Dr. Zhang Yuetong will be presenting research for the UNC Department of Public Policy's Research Group Seminar Series!

Flier below! ⬇️

Climate Action Accountability System In this video, Angel explains the UN’s Recognition and Accountability Framework (RAF) and how it strengthens climate action. Learn how data, AI, and governance improve transparency, enforce…

In collaboration with Sustainability Unlocked, @profangelhsu.bsky.social, Associate Professor at @UNC and founder of @datadrivenlab.bsky.social unpacks how data driven insights and innovation are transforming the climate accountability space.

🌐 CLAIM (Data-Driven EnviroLab) seeks 1–2 students for a semester-long independent study on AI & climate in the Central African Republic 🇨🇫. French required 🇫🇷. Apply: ddl@unc.edu | More info on the flyer below.

Webinar Alert!
Listen to DDL Director Dr. Angel Hsu discuss consumer/corporate use of AI, environmental information sharing's potential role in consumer and corporate behavior, and the insights social science provides to achieve the economic/environmental goals of consumers and firms.

Join here ⬇️

Take a look at the latest Net Zero Tracker analysis, which highlights the growing nexus between carbon-intensive trade and global decarbonization — with a focus on India.

BREAKING: India's exports and jobs hinge on accelerating the clean transition

Our latest report, the third in our series of four exploring the Net Zero–Trade Nexus, explores how carbon intensity is shaping India’s export outcomes.

📘 Read here: zerotracker.net/analysis/ind...

We're excited about the new Yale Environmental Data Science Certificate.

The course has an online flexible format, generous scholarships, and great instructors including DDL Director Angel Hsu. Applications are open and rolling.

Apply below 👇
Applications close 7/31
Program starts 10/2/2025

Following the release of our 2025 Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor, it's time to spotlight the @netzerotracker.bsky.social — a project that monitors the credibility of 4,000+ net-zero targets.

The 2025 Net Zero Stocktake is coming soon.
🔗 zerotracker.net

Check out more details on our lab's Urban Heat work here: datadrivenlab.org/project/expl...

Our early heat monitoring data in Raleigh, pictured below, showed our sensors measuring daytime Heat Index - a measure that combines air temperature and humidity - with average heat index exceeding 110 and some locations experiencing heat index values greater than 120!

Recently, the Southeastern US has been experiencing a heat dome phenomenon, with some of the highest temperatures here in the Triangle, exceeding 100°F. This photo, captured by Katherine, shows pavement on 15-501 in Durham buckling under the heat after several consecutive days of extreme heat.

We're testing whether reflective road coatings like titanium dioxide can reduce heat stress at the neighborhood scale. Using our low-cost sensor methodology, we’re monitoring air temp, humidity, and heat index on Raleigh's cool pavements, being installed this summer. 🌡️🌆

☀️This summer, DDL RAs Katherine Burley Farr & Scout Correa are continuing our work on urban heat stress in the Triangle. They're leading our new Cool Pavements analysis in Raleigh, NC.

🧵Read more below 👇

Storm Response Information for Carrboro, NC -- Tuesday, July 8, 2025

ℹ️ https://monkeylink.co/a8ae2a

Durham's Historic Hayti considered an urban heat island Experts said the historic Hayti community is considered an urban heat island, which means temperatures there could be anywhere from four to seven degrees hotter than anywhere else in the city.

🏙️ 🌡️ What makes an urban heat island (UHI)?

In an ABC11 WTVD-TV interview, Sarah Berk a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the DDL, highlights key factors that cause Durham's historic Hayti community to be designated as a UHI.

📽️ Watch the full interview here: abc11.com/videoClip/16...

🔔 Volunteer remotely for an hour a week with the @netzerotracker.bsky.social‬ zerotracker.net/volunteering

🌏 Gain practical experience collecting climate policy data

📝 Apply now to kickstart your own climate career

🌟 Meet our Summer RAs! 🌟

Scout Correa & Andrew Martin bring expertise in env. health, policy & defense to DDL. Excited for their work on cool pavements & UESI!

👉 Learn more: datadrivenlab.org/featured/int...

🌍📉 NEW REPORT OUT NOW

🔍 What happens when a country’s trade partners move faster on net zero than it does? Our analysis finds South Africa faces rising economic and risk as major export markets tighten climate standards.

Read the full report here: zerotracker.net/analysis/sou...