James Rising

James Rising is an Associate Professor at the University of Delaware's School of Marine Science & Policy within the College of Earth, Ocean & Environment, with additional affiliation at the Data Science Institute. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Sustainable Development from Columbia University (2015), building on earlier MA and MPhil degrees from the same institution (2013), and a BS in Philosophy from MIT (2003).

Dr. Rising's research focuses on the economics of environmental systems, with particular emphasis on climate change impacts, social cost of carbon estimation, and agricultural resilience. His work bridges empirical climate data with economic modeling to assess risks and develop policy solutions for complex environmental challenges, especially in food systems and marine resources.

His publication record reveals a strong trend toward increasingly sophisticated integration of climate science with economic analysis, with recent work focusing on meta-analytical approaches to social cost of carbon estimation, climate impacts on agricultural systems (particularly perennial crops like coffee), and cross-boundary effects in marine ecosystems. His methodological contributions include developing practical climate econometrics tools and advancing integrated assessment models.

Dr. Rising actively mentors students through project-based courses, guiding research on topics including marine conservation, offshore wind development, and coral reef management. His work with the Climate Impact Lab and other research groups demonstrates his commitment to translating complex climate economics into actionable policy insights.

His research has significant policy implications, particularly in climate risk assessment for national economies (including the UK and Delaware), with findings regularly informing discussions about appropriate carbon pricing and adaptation strategies. His work on the social cost of carbon suggests substantially higher values ($283 per ton of CO2) than official estimates, with important ramifications for climate policy.