The Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment (C-PREE) was created in the Fall of 2018. It was born out of the environmental and energy component of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs' long-standing Science, Technology and Environmental Policy (STEP) program, which began in 1993. STEP continues as the educational arm of science policy at the School.
C-PREE provides a nexus for interdisciplinary research and policy analysis aimed at addressing the world’s environmental problems. C-PREE tackles key issues such as global climate change, air and water pollution, loss of biodiversity, psychology of decision making, and sustainable agriculture. Its faculty consists of experts across a range of disciplines who are both leading scholars and have served as practitioners in government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector. The real-world relevance of C-PREE’s research also derives from its home in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, enabling C-PREE to connect the School's expertise in policy and social science with the natural science and engineering research of the High Meadows Environmental Institute, the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, and other departments across Princeton University. C-PREE faculty's research, teaching, and public outreach provide an opportunity for students, researchers and faculty to become engaged citizens and future leaders in pursuit of a sustainable planet.
C-PREE is led by Faculty Director, Michael Oppenheimer, and guided by a group of seven core faculty members. The center also has 10-15 postdoctoral researchers and three full-time staff.