2008 — Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

Tipping elements, sea level rise and costs of climate protection outlined in Poznań

10/10/2008 - In four side events at the United Nation’s climate change conference in Poznań, Poland, researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) have reported new findings in their fields of research. Hermann Held reported on tipping elements in the Earth’s climate system. Stefan Rahmstorf gave an account of latest scientific findings about global sea level rise. During two other side events Brigitte Knopf and Ottmar Edenhofer, who is co-chair of the IPCC's Working Group "Mitigation of Climate Change", described the feasibility of the European Union’s two degrees goal and the costs of climate policy in general from an economic perspective.

Klaus Bellmann Obituary

11/18/2008 - The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research deeply regrets the loss of its co-founder and honorary member, Dr. habil. Klaus Bellmann. He passed away unexpectedly on November 10, 2008, at 79 years of age. Bellmann brought to the institute his lifetime experience in systems ecology and mathematical modelling, thereby providing one of the scientific cornerstones of PIK, as well as the core of its Department of Global Change and Natural Systems. Bellmann is remembered by his colleagues as an engaged and concerned scientist, worrying about environmental degradation as well as about what he perceived as a great loss of human values in modern society. Klaus Bellmann was an inspired and humorous leader, constantly ready to assist his colleagues with advice and motivation.

Federal Minister greets Edenhofer’s professorship at the Berlin Institute of Technology

11/05/2008 - On Tuesday, Ottmar Edenhofer, chief economist and deputy director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), held his inaugural lecture at the Berlin Institute of Technology (BIT). In his speech on the occasion, the German Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel applauded Edenhofer as an outstanding scientist. Gabriel also stressed the importance of university education to the challenge of securing sustainable economic success in developed countries.

Three new partners for PCF Pilot Project

07/21/2008 - The Pilot Project "Product Carbon Footprint" Germany presents three new corporate partners from the wholesale, retail and chemicals sectors. DSM, REWE Group and the Tengelmann Group join the project to measure greenhouse gas emissions for selected products.

Against the Global Bluff

07/08/2008 - Ottmar Edenhofer, chief economist and deputy-director at the Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research (PIK), was appointed professor of “Economics of Climate Change” at the Technische Universität Berlin (Technical University Berlin, TU Berlin). The professorship, a collaborative effort of PIK and TU Berlin, was co-initiated by the Michael Otto Foundation, who supports it with approximately Euro 520,000. By establishing the first professorship on the economics of climate change, the university and the foundation commit themselves to groundbreaking climate policy research, and react to the associated new demands on research and teaching.

Barroso opens European-Indian climate talks in Potsdam

05/28/2008 – The President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso met the Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change and a delegation of Indian experts in Potsdam. The participants of the workshop discussed how climate protection, economic growth, and poverty alleviation could be combined in a fair global deal.

International emissions trading needs harmonization

05/07/2008 - A PIK study of the future of international emissions trading shows how emissions trading can be globalized in order to reach climate protection goals like the European Union’s two degree target. Christian Flachsland, Ottmar Edenhofer and other scientists of PIK’s research domain “Sustainable Solutions” investigated ways to link the EU’s emissions trading system with emerging trade systems in the USA, Australia and New Zealand and looked at where these systems need to be further harmonized. The study was sponsored by the German Federal Foreign Office.

Girls's Day at the PIK

04/24/2008 - Which questions do natural and social scientist as well as economists try to answer in the context of climate change? Which instruments do they use? How are strategies for dealing with global warming being developed? How can the cost for climate protection be calculated? How effective is the trade with emission allowances and how could it be organized?

Online lesson for Ukrainian students

02/29/2008 - PIK researcher Dr. Gunnar Luderer this Friday answered Ukranian students’ questions about climate change via the web. A Canadian teacher from the Meridian International School in Kiev had initiated the online-lesson with PIK scientist as interview partner.

Summer School "Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services"

02/08/2008 - The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research organises the third summer school of the Network of Excellence "ALTER-Net" (A Long-Term Biodiversity, Ecosystem and Awareness Research Network) from 2-14 September in Peyresq, Southern France. Up to 32 graduate students and young scientists can participate in the summer school, the deadline for application is 15 April 2008.