Boston University Medical Campus (BUMC): Climate Change Impacts & Mitigation Strategies

Researchers: Maria Kristina, Jiaoxue (Michelle) Liu, and Yujue (Caroline) Tan  (with John Maleyeff and Dave Weidman)

Climate change is one of the growing risk factors for society. Global climate change will not only affect businesses (e.g., manufacturing supply chains) but also poses challenges to the operation of many educational and scientific institutions. Many of these organizations are
beginning to pay attention to climate change impacts and plan mitigation strategies. The readiness plan at the BUMC is under development. In the meantime, disruptions are possible that will cause challenges to students, staff, and other partners.

This project is sponsored by Boston University Campus Climate Lab (Institute for Global Sustainability). The researchers will examine how climate change will impact the ability of the BUMC to effectively serve its stakeholders and what mitigation strategies should be undertaken to create necessary resiliency. The process includes meta-analysis of published literature and data analysis of past climate events impacts on BUMC’s operations. The four methodology stages are of the researchers’ focus: risk identification, risk assessment, business impact analysis, and strategy recommendation.

Based on the research analysis results, the team will provide recommendations to enhance the mitigation plan of BUMC’s climate adaptation and an implementation of controls that address risk assessment projections based on all analysis results.