Internships

Nicholas Lim ’24

Major

School of Public and International Affairs

Project Title

Social Norm Dynamics and Behavior and Organizational Change Toward Net-Zero Carbon Emissions

My project aimed to identify behavioral barriers to decarbonization in the United States and Europe. I investigated the integration of low-carbon technology. The project’s foundation is a survey given to various stakeholders in the net-zero transition. I identified areas where progress was lacking and supplemented this with information on how polarization has impacted the integration of low-carbon technology. The data illustrated that there has been some progress — perceived levels of investment are high, as is prioritization of implementing low-carbon technology. However, the data indicated that levels of sharing of intellectual property is comparatively low, and levels of sharing of technological information were lower in polarized countries. Through this project, I gained experience with the program R, and how to analyze and present data. I enjoyed the opportunity to combine my passion for sustainability with my academic interest in polarization and I now have a greater understanding of the harmful effects of polarization in society. This research illustrates the importance of sharing information and intellectual property in the net-zero transition.