Brown's Equitable Climate Futures initiative is making significant strides in bringing research and community action closer together. This initiative, which kicked off on Nov. 22 with a town hall for interested faculty members, aims to create a more sustainable future through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Uniting Science and Community for a Greener Tomorrow

Creating Working Groups for Community-Oriented Climate Research

ECF plans to establish two or three working groups that will bring together researchers from different disciplines and community members. This approach aims to bring a fresh perspective to traditional project structures led by a single principal investigator. Elizabeth Fussell, a faculty director of ECF and professor of population studies and environment and society, explains that these working groups will consist of at least two lead investigators guiding transdisciplinary teams.This initiative recognizes the importance of community input. As Fox-Kemper, a faculty director and professor of earth, environmental and planetary science, emphasizes, "You can't just do science and then say, 'Here's what we know, somebody else figure out how to use that knowledge to design a solution.' We need to figure out the solutions in conjunction with community partners." Partners can include advocacy groups, government agencies, corporate partners, and other community organizations.

Incorporating Voices from Historically Marginalized Communities

ECF is committed to including the voices of historically marginalized communities. Fussell points out that in the past, these communities have shouldered a significant environmental burden. "We recognize that a lot of environmental burden has been placed on communities that are already overburdened or have been marginalized, either socially, economically or in any number of ways. They've been excluded from the conversation about how we're going to, as a society, solve some problem." To address this, ECF will have a dedicated community partner specialist to identify and integrate community perspectives and expertise.

Funding and Sustainability

ECF has received funding from the Office of the Provost from Jan. 1 through December 2026. Each year, it will receive $180,000 to $200,000. Working group proposals and funding will be held in two rounds, one this year and one in 2025, with each working group receiving $20,000 to $60,000 per year. Donor support is also hoped to add to the long-term sustainability of the initiative. There will be additional funding for postdoctoral and undergraduate researchers to join the working group teams.ECF plans to hold a conference in the spring to inform and engage the Brown community about the initiative and its progress. As a two-year project, the ultimate goal is to facilitate the creation of these interdisciplinary working groups and provide them with the resources to get started, with the hope that they can continue to grow on their own. As Fussell notes, "Nobody's expected to finish a research project during the course of ECF. What we expect is for them to have space and opportunity and resources to initiate a new kind of research and then go and apply for funding to support the continuation of that research."

US equity futures witnessed an upward trend on Friday, accompanied by gains in Treasuries. This was largely influenced by speculation that president-elect Donald Trump would moderate his most extreme trade policies, which led to the dollar experiencing its largest weekly loss in three months. The S&P 500 futures contracts rose by 0.3%, indicating potential modest gains in the shortened post-holiday trading session on Wall Street. In November alone, the S&P 500 has already surged by 5%, on track to achieve its best month since February. According to EPFR Global data, investors have poured a substantial $141 billion into US equities, marking the heaviest inflows for a four-week period in history.

Tech Titans and Fed Rate Cuts: Driving US Stock Gains

A select group of tech titans has played a significant role in the 26% year-to-date gains in US stocks. The prospect of Federal Reserve rate cuts, coupled with the continuous growth of the American economy, has been a major catalyst. These tech giants have been at the forefront of this upward movement, demonstrating their resilience and ability to drive market performance. As the Fed considers a more accommodative stance, it has provided a favorable environment for stock markets to thrive.

Trump's Treasury Secretary Pick: Boosting Markets

Trump's choice for his Treasury secretary has instilled optimism among investors. The expectation that tariffs will be implemented in a more measured manner has had a positive impact on US stocks and bonds. This has led to a decrease in dollar strength, as evidenced by the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index extending its weekly decline to more than 1% and snapping eight weeks of gains. The sentiment of measured trade policies has created a more stable and favorable market environment, allowing stocks and bonds to perform well.

After Thanksgiving: Treasury Yields and European Stocks

After the Thanksgiving holiday, cash trading resumed, resulting in a fall in Treasury yields. European stocks remained relatively unchanged, although miners such as Anglo American Plc outperformed. The optimism surrounding China's potential adoption of further economic stimulus measures has provided a boost to these miners. This shows that while global markets are influenced by various factors, there are specific sectors and regions that can benefit from certain developments. Investors are closely monitoring these trends to make informed decisions and navigate the ever-changing market landscape.