After a short tour of the historic Telegrafenberg and a visit to PIK's high-performance computer in the new research building, the Minister met Ottmar Edenhofer and the Secretary General of the MCC, Brigitte Knopf, for a discussion in the Michelson building. The Potsdam Institute is grateful for the active support of the State of Brandenburg, Edenhofer said. Always committed to both excellence and relevance, the institute operates worldwide from its research base in Brandenburg. For just as climate risks do not stop at national borders and affect Cottbus as much as China, climate science also transcends borders. "But we know what we´ve got here in Brandenburg," said Edenhofer. "And I say that as someone who comes from Bavaria."
Minister Schüle said of the meeting: "Climate change not only affects distant areas such as the Arctic or the Pacific islands - it also affects us in Brandenburg noticeably and directly. The drought damage suffered by farmers in recent years, the increasing number of severe forest fires and the damage to trees in our large landscapes are evidence of this. With its interdisciplinary climate impact research and the conclusions it draws for society, politics and the economy, PIK has been one of the leading international research institutions in this field for almost 30 years. Dealing with the consequences of climate change is a global issue of the future - and PIK is an outstanding future institute in our country. Brandenburg can be proud that this internationally renowned institute is at home with us".
