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.

#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.

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.

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

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! ⬇️

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: [email protected] | 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

☀️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

🏙️ 🌡️ 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...

🎙️New Podcast! In this conversation, @profangelhsu.bsky.social‬, Associate Professor at University of North Carolina and founder of @datadrivenlab.bsky.social‬, joins ‪@tomraftery.com to delve into pressing climate and sustainability issues. 🔗

The Future of Climate AI: Insights from CLAIM Last week, DDL hosted our CLAIM workshop—Climate Action in the Age of AI: Can Intelligent Systems Save the Planet? The star-studded event featured far too many insights to fit in a single skeet, so check them all out on our LinkedIn!

🎧 Listen to this week's ClimateConfident podcast with @tomraftery.com featuring DDL director @profangelhsu.bsky.social! Description below 🧵 🎙️ Watch the pod here on YouTube: youtu.be/N2329FCrzM8?...

The AI Climate Tools You Can Actually Trust: ChatNetZero and ChatNDC Explained AI tools have revolutionized many fields but often provide inaccurate climate information. Researchers developed ChatNetZero.ai and ChatNDC.org to ensure reliable climate data, countering misleading AI outputs. As…

Climate Action in the Age of AI: Can Intelligent Systems Save the Planet? 🗓️ Tuesday, May 27 ⏰ 8:30 am – 12:30 pm 📍 Hyde Hall (University Room), UNC Chapel Hill Register: eventbrite.com/e/claim-work...

🚨 One Week Left To Sign Up! 🚨 Climate Action in the Age of AI: Can Intelligent Systems Save the Planet? Register here for the in-person event in Chapel Hill: lnkd.in/gt_XjxqC The event will also be livestreamed! Sign-up to view the livestream here: lnkd.in/ejsTH5a3

Say Hello to ChatNetZero 2.0! ✨ The world's first AI-powered large language model dedicated to demystifying climate and net-zero commitments is getting smarter, sharper, and more evidence-driven. Learn more here: datadrivenlab.org/featured/evi...

🚨 We're Hosting an Event - Register Today! 🚨 Read the whole thread 🧵 Climate Action in the Age of AI: Can Intelligent Systems Save the Planet? 📅 Tue, May 27th ⌚ 8:30 am - 12:30 pm 📍 University Room in UNC's Hyde Hall 🎓 CLE credit for UNC students 🥗 Free catered lunch for registered participants

🚨 We're Hosting an Event - Register Today! 🚨 Read the whole thread 🧵 Climate Action in the Age of AI: Can Intelligent Systems Save the Planet? 📅 Tue, May 27th ⌚ 8:30 am - 12:30 pm 📍 University Room in UNC's Hyde Hall 🎓 CLE credit for UNC students 🥗 Free catered lunch for registered participants

CLAIM Workshop - Center for Climate Leadership & AI-driven Integrity & Mitigation! Take part in interactive panels with experts in AI, climate policy, corporate sustainability, & science comms as we explore credible, responsible uses of AI in climate action. 📍 Hyde Hall | May 27th 🎟️ Register below

Curious about Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)? Try ChatNDC, an innovative platform designed to transform the analysis and understanding of global climate policies! Ask questions, get insights, and learn more: chatndc.org/home

Don't miss out on the chance to learn from leading experts in AI, climate policy, corporate sustainability, and science communication! Join us for the CLAIM Workshop on Tuesday, May 27th at 9:00 AM. Secure your spot now: 🔗 www.eventbrite.com/e/claim-work...

🚨Excited to share our publication in @natureportfolio.nature.com: "Bridging local and global scales in urban climate change assessments." 🧵Thread⬇️ 🔗 Read the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s44...

With Trump’s administration ripping up climate commitments, now is the time for the #philanthropy sector to reinforce accountability. ‪@johnlang.bsky.social‬ explores this in a new article in Alliance magazine, 'Climate commitments without consequences?' 🔗 www.alliancemagazine.org/blog/climate...

On April 5, our lab tabled on the quads surrounding the Morehead Planetarium as part of the UNC Science Expo. Our hands-on, family-friendly experiment was a big success! We helped dispel common cooling misconceptions and shared helpful tips for battling the heat on hot days. ☀️❄️

We are incredibly excited to announce our director, @profangelhsu.bsky.social's membership in the Committee of 100's #NextGenerationLeaders Class of 2025! Along with other young leaders, she'll be developing projects focused on positive social impact & community building. More here: bit.ly/NGL2025

Stop by the UNC Science Expo today and check out our table! We'll host a hands-on science activity for learning and fun for the whole family. 🕚 11:00 am to 4:00 pm 📍 The quads around the Morehead Planetarium Explore, learn, and have fun with us! More details here ⤵️

2024 Fellow Sarah studied urban flood risks using Hurricane Harvey in Houston as a case study, modeling risk across census tracts. Read her findings here 🔗: buff.ly/yFaDV1Y Congrats, Sarah, & thanks to @datadrivenlab.bsky.social

2024 Fellow Sarah (she/her) studied the impacts of flooding on urban communities, using Hurricane Harvey in Houston as a case study. Partnered with @datadrivenlab.bsky.social her research models risk across different areas. More on her findings this week! buff.ly/OuUIaNH

Net Zero Tracker was featured in the "Act" section of the critically acclaimed play Kyoto's webpage. The site is highlighted as a way to get involved in climate negotiations, the play's topic, by holding climate actors accountable. ⬇️ Explore the reposted thread to see how you can get involved!

📍 DDL Research Assistant Izzy Bukovnik is presenting her poster this Thursday at the 2025 NC GIS Conference! 🗺️ Title: MAPPING URBAN HEAT: A GIS-BASED SENSOR DEPLOYMENT STRATEGY IN DURHAM, NC ☀️ If you're attending, stop by, check out her work, and discuss GIS strategies for tackling urban heat.

"Facing even stronger setbacks this time around, will a new, reinvigorated bottom-up movement emerge to sustain and advance climate action in the world’s two biggest greenhouse gas emitters?" From @profangelhsu.bsky.social's latest blog on subnational cooperation in the U.S. and China.

On March 1st, DDL's Director @profangelhsu.bsky.social joined @greenlawchina.bsky.social, Jennifer Turner, and Jackson Ewing for a panel at the 15th Duke-UNC China Leadership Summit. They discussed future U.S.-China climate collaboration, and pathways to overcome recent policy reversals.

🚨 Happening Tomorrow! 🚨

Check out the quoted post below to read Net Zero Tracker's latest newsletter, which highlights the launch of ChatNDC, an AI-powered platform from DDL and Arboretica designed to streamline the analysis and understanding of global climate policy. Try ChatNDC here: chatndc.org/home

🗓️ Saturday, March 1 🕐 2:00-3:00 pm EST 📍 Duke University's Gross Hall Rm 107 Come hear DDL's @profangelhsu.bsky.social discuss US-China climate policy and potential areas of environmental collaboration with other experts at the Duke-UNC China Leadership Summit. More info here: www.dukeunccls.com

Thanks to @science.org for covering the U.S. absence from this week's @ipcc.bsky.social meeting and its withdrawal from the IPCC technical support unit on mitigation. The article features DDL Director @profangelhsu.bsky.social's reaction to this troubling news: www.science.org/content/arti...

NZT shows global coverage of #netzero shrunk from 93% to 78% following Trump orders. But this figure misses a key angle - targets at the subnational level. @johnlang.bsky.social's latest infographic breaks down US targets, revealing when US states are accounted for, this figure ⬆️ from 78% to 84%.