Kaplan studies the ways ice sheets, mountain glaciers, climates and landscapes changed in the past.
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Columbia Climate News
Geologist Mike Kaplan Named 2026 Guggenheim Fellow
Abatify Summary
Nature & Climate Perspective
**The academic validation of glacial and landscape evolution research is fundamental to establishing the scientific baselines required for high-integrity Nature-Based Solutions (NbS). **
- Paleoclimate research provides the historical context necessary to accurately model LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry) carbon sequestration capacities over geological timescales.
- Understanding past mountain glacier dynamics is critical for assessing the long-term stability and permanence of high-altitude ecosystems used in carbon offset projects.
- Mike Kaplan’s research into landscape change informs the environmental baseline against which 'additionality' is measured in modern reforestation and conservation efforts.
Market & Policy Outlook
**Scientific rigor in paleoclimatology directly supports the ICVCM Core Carbon Principles by reducing uncertainty in climate transition risks and permanence assessments. **
- Enhanced geological data strengthens the 'permanence' pillar of the ICVCM Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) by providing better risk modeling for catastrophic landscape shifts.
- Academic recognition of climate change research through fellowships like the Guggenheim increases the credibility of data used in Article 6.2 ITMO (Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes) negotiations.
- The insights gained from past ice sheet behavior are increasingly integrated into SBTi-aligned corporate transition plans to mitigate long-term supply chain risks related to water scarcity.
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