Steven Davis
Professor Earth System Science | UC Irvine
Irvine, CA, UNITED STATES
Steven Davis is interested in studies of coupled human and natural systems and sustainable systems analysis.
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Biography
Prof. Davis works to understand and find ways to meet the challenge of satisfying global demand for energy, food, and goods without emitting carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
He is interested in studies of coupled human and natural systems and sustainable systems analysis, including: energy technology and policy; of pollution and resources embodied in international trade; of socio-economic inertia and “lock-in” of environmental problems; and of the complex interactions of energy systems, agriculture, climate change, and global ecology.
Areas of Expertise (5)
Agriculture
Economy
Climate
Energy
Trade
Accomplishments (4)
Highly Cited Researcher (professional)
2019
ESA Sustainability Science Award (professional)
2017
AGU James B. Macelwane Medal (professional)
2018
Cozzarelli Prize (professional)
2015
Education (3)
Stanford University: PhD, Geological and Environmental Sciences 2008
Virginia School of Law, University of Virginia: JD 2001
University of Florida: BA, Political Science and Philosophy 1998
Phi Beta Kappa
Affiliations (6)
- AGU Mentoring Network : Mentor
- IPCC : Contributing Author of AR6
- Global Carbon Project : Member of Scientific Steering Committee
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Geophysical Union : Fellow
- State Bar of California
Links (7)
Media Appearances (11)
Can Submerging Seaweed Cool the Climate?
Eos online
2024-01-16
The ecological allure of macroalgae lies in its growth rate. Under ideal conditions, one species of seaweed, giant kelp, can elongate by more than half a meter (2 feet) per day. “It feels like you can almost sit there and watch it [grow],” said physical coastal oceanographer Kristen Davis from the University of California, Irvine. … Steven Davis, an Earth system scientist from the University of California, Irvine [said] assessing the effect of sinking seaweed, “is hard enough, even if you know how much seaweed you’ve harvested and sunk.” Having the seaweed drifting around will make it harder.
The Foods the World Will Lose to Climate Change
Wired online
2023-12-29
A study published in 2020 confirmed that crop relocation is already happening. Across the globe between 1973 and 2012, corn, wheat, rice, and soybean crops all shifted northward, escaping the most damaging effects of climate warming on what were their home ranges. But adaptation by migration has limits, says Steven Davis, an Earth system scientist and professor at UC Irvine who helped lead that work. You can, for instance, move a crop in search of lower temperatures but not find the water that it needs to grow. Soil quality is another concern, Davis says.
Fifth national climate assessment emphasizes mitigation
Phys.org online
2023-12-14
The latest National Climate Assessment highlights historic emissions reductions and outlines new guidance for achieving a net-zero emissions pathway. … Led by Steven J. Davis, Professor of Earth System Science at the University of California, Irvine … the mitigation chapter authors combined their expertise in earth science, economics, and climate modeling to outline options for greater emissions mitigation. As part of the chapter, the authors also invite industry contributors to propose usable net-zero emissions pathway models, which will be added to an open database of decarbonization scenarios.
Climate Changes Threatens Every Facet of U.S. Society, Federal Report Warns
Scientific American online
2023-11-14
While U.S. emissions are falling … far more dramatic cuts are needed, according to the assessment. … That would require widespread societal transformation …. Many of these options are already economically feasible, the report states. For example, the country could ramp up the share of renewables and expand the use of electric vehicles and heat pumps, said Steven Davis, an earth system scientist at the University of California, Irvine, and lead author of the report’s chapter on climate mitigation. “Those are the clear first steps if we want to respond and curtail emissions to meet those longer-term goals,” he said.
Science team shows how to eat our way out of the climate crisis
World News online
2023-11-11
In a study published in Nature Sustainability, the UCI-led team of scientists assess the potential for widescale synthetic production of dietary fats through chemical and biological processes. The raw materials for this method are the same as those used by plants: hydrogen in water and carbon dioxide in the air. “Large-scale synthesis of edible molecules through chemical and biological means without agricultural feedstocks is a very real possibility,” said lead author Steven Davis, UCI professor of Earth system science. “Such ‘food without the farm’ could avoid enormous quantities of climate-warming emissions while also safeguarding biodiverse lands that might otherwise be cleared for farms.”
National Climate Assessment predicts growing threats to society, economy
E&E News online
2023-11-14
While U.S. emissions are falling … far more dramatic cuts are needed, according to the assessment. … That would require widespread societal transformation …. Many of these options are already economically feasible, the report states. For example, the country could ramp up the share of renewables and expand the use of electric vehicles and heat pumps, said Steven Davis, an earth system scientist at the University of California, Irvine, and lead author of the report’s chapter on climate mitigation. “Those are the clear first steps if we want to respond and curtail emissions to meet those longer-term goals,” he said.
‘Every bit matters’: Six key takeaways from the latest U.S. climate report
Los Angeles Times online
2023-11-14
The Fifth National Climate Change Assessment, released Tuesday by the White House, reveals the high stakes for Americans as the nation confronts global warming. … “I feel good, as a Californian, about the way California has backed mitigation efforts,” said Steven Davis, a professor of Earth System Science at UC Irvine, lead author of the report’s mitigation chapter. “I think we’re definitely at the fore — and probably pulling a lot of other states along with us.”
The Toll of Climate Disasters Is Rising. But a U.S. Report Has Good News, Too.
The New York Times online
2023-11-14
Nearly every cherished aspect of American life is under growing threat from climate change and it is effectively too late to prevent many of the harms from worsening over the next decade, a major report from the federal government has concluded. … “People sometimes focus so much on the stuff that we don’t know how to do that it paralyzes them in thinking about the options that we have today,” said Steven J. Davis, a professor of earth systems science at the University of California, Irvine, and another author of the report. … Dr. Davis expressed optimism that the hurdles could be navigated.
Edible fats and oils could be synthesized from fossil fuels
CBC radio
2023-11-10
Considering the amount of fossil fuels that go into modern industrial agriculture, some analysts have suggested that we are, in a sense, eating oil. Now, a group of researchers is suggesting we skip the middleman and do this literally. They say we can convert hydrocarbons, including coal and natural gas, into edible fats and oils, which scientists say will have a smaller environmental footprint than growing them. Steven Davis, a professor of Earth System Science at the University of California, Irvine, was part of the team, and the research was published in Nature Sustainability.
How to eat our way out of the climate crisis
KUCI - Get the Funk Out! radio
2023-11-07
Coming up November 8th at 9:00am LIVE on KUCI 88.9fm - Janeane speaks with Steven Davis, UCI professor of Earth system science, who shares details about the UC Irvine-led science team and how to eat our way out of the climate crisis.
Time to Get Dietary Fats from Factories Instead of Farms?
Futurity online
2023-11-07
In a study published in Nature Sustainability, a team of scientists assesses the potential for widescale synthetic production of dietary fats through chemical and biological processes. The raw materials for this method are the same as those used by plants: hydrogen in water and carbon dioxide in the air. “Large-scale synthesis of edible molecules through chemical and biological means without agricultural feedstocks is a very real possibility,” says lead author Steven Davis, professor of earth system science at the University of California, Irvine. “Such ‘food without the farm‘ could avoid enormous quantities of climate-warming emissions while also safeguarding biodiverse lands that might otherwise be cleared for farms.”
Articles (5)
Impacts of ozone and climate change on yields of perennial crops in California
Nature FoodChaopeng Hong, Nathaniel D. Mueller, Jennifer A. Burney, Amir AghaKouchak Yang Zhang, Frances C. Moore, Yue Qin, Dan Tong, Steven J. Davis
2020 Changes in temperature and air pollution affect agricultural productivity, but most relevant research has focused on major annual crops (for example, wheat, maize, soy and rice). In contrast, relatively little is known about the effects of climate change and air quality on perennial crops such as fruits and nuts, which are important to dietary diversity and nutrition, and represent ~38% of California’s agriculture by economic value.
Climate adaptation by crop migration
Nature CommunicationsLindsey L. Sloat, Steven J. Davis, James S. Gerber, Frances C. Moore, Deepak K. Ray, Paul C. West, Nathaniel D. Mueller
2020 Many studies have estimated the adverse effects of climate change on crop yields, however, this literature almost universally assumes a constant geographic distribution of crops in the future. Movement of growing areas to limit exposure to adverse climate conditions has been discussed as a theoretical adaptive response but has not previously been quantified or demonstrated at a global scale.
Climate effects of aerosols reduce economic inequality
Nature Climate ChangeYixuan Zheng, Steven J. Davis, Geeta G. Persad, Ken Caldeira
2020 The climate effects of anthropogenic aerosols have masked some of the warming induced by GHGs1 along with some impacts of that warming2. These temperature effects may be beneficial but are almost certainly overwhelmed by aerosols’ negative health impacts3. Recent analyses of economic impacts have concluded that warming harms economies in warm climates, but provides economic benefits in cold climates.
Global urban expansion offsets climate-driven increases in terrestrial net primary productivity
Nature CommunicationsXiaoping Liu, Fengsong Pei, Youyue Wen, Xia Li, Changjiang Wu Shaojian Wang, Yiling Cai, Jianguo Wu, Jun Chen, Klaus Hubacek Kuishuang Feng, Junguo Liu, Steven J. Davis, Wenping Yuan, Le Yu, Zhu Liu
2019 The global urbanization rate is accelerating; however, data limitations have far prevented robust estimations of either global urban expansion or its effects on terrestrial net primary productivity (NPP). Here, using a high resolution dataset of global land use/cover (GlobeLand30), we show that global urban areas expanded by an average of 5694 km2 per year between 2000 and 2010.
Inequality of household consumption and air pollution-related deaths in China
Nature CommunicationsHongyan Zhao, Guannan Geng, Qiang Zhang, Steven J Davis, Xin Li, Yang Liu, Liqun Peng, Meng Li, Bo Zheng, Hong Huo, Lin Zhang, Daven K Henze, Zhifu Mi, Zhu Liu, Dabo Guan, Kebin He
2019 Substantial quantities of air pollution and related health impacts are ultimately attributable to household consumption. However, how consumption pattern affects air pollution impacts remains unclear. Here we show, of the 1.08 (0.74–1.42) million premature deaths due to anthropogenic PM2.5 exposure in China in 2012, 20% are related to household direct emissions through fuel use and 24% are related to household indirect emissions embodied in consumption of goods and services.
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