Educational objectives

The Doctoral Programme aims to train experts equipped with wide and in-depth scientific and economic education and a proven original research activity related to climate change dynamics and techniques for its assessment and management. The educational activities included in this programme are held in English. The programme may be broken down into two different curricula: one is called 'dynamic' and the other 'political'. They include common educational activities aimed to create a sound scientific and economic background for the general understanding of climate change, together with specific educational activities related to the particular curriculum chosen by the doctoral student.

Research topics

In-depth analysis of the climate system and its different components (qualitative approach);

In-depth analysis of climate-related issues for the understanding of climate physics and its variability: process studies and real cases related to atmospheric/ocean dynamics in key regions;

Study of climate theories and trends in far-off and recent times, sudden climate changes, extreme phenomena and natural disasters;

Identification of physical, chemical and biological indicators for reconstruction of past climate aspects and analysis of current climate aspects and their variability;

Analysis of economic systems reactions to climate shocks, through computational general economic equilibrium models;

Creation of global integrated climate/economy-related models; analysis of the geographical distribution of costs of climate changes and mitigation policies;

Creation of models for the study of emission permit markets and their potential integrations;

In-depth analysis of environmental issues for the understanding of impacts and risks of climate changes on natural ecosystems and human health;

Creation of decision-making support systems for the management of impacts and risks related to climate change and the implementation of adaptation and mitigation policies;

Analysis of the relationship between global changes and socio-environmental systems based on multi-agent models.