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2012

Media published in English 2012

Scientists warn US coast over accelerated sea level rise

PIK-scientist Stefan Rahmstorf and a team of international researchers present to the Guardian their recent findings. Depending on the rise in temperature the sea levels are estimated to rise between 1.5 and 4 meters by 2300. Source: The Guardian, 24.06.12

Coal and gas boom likely to increase CO2 emissions

PIK chief economist Ottmar Edenhofer states to DeutscheWelle, that the current rise in emissions might continue. The largest coal renaissance in human history make it seem as if there has never been any climate change conference. Source: DW, 21.06.12

Learning from Europe's heat waves

PIK-scientist Stefan Rahmstorf draws a connection between unprecedented weather extremes in recent years and climate change in DeutscheWelle's article on heat waves as troubling sign for future weather developments. Source: DW, 29.05.12

Evidence linking climate change to extreme wheather mounts

PIK-scientist Dim Coumou presented his new findings, published recently in Nature Climate Change, to Euractiv which fortify the link between climate change and wheather extremes made by the recent IPCC-report SREX. Source: Euractiv, 29/03/12

Reports link heat waves, deluges to climate change

PIK-scientist Dim Coumou describes in the Washington Post the newest way to look at weather extremes and human-made climate change. The question is not if extreme events can be blamed on climate change but whether they were heigthened by it or not. Source: Washington Post, 28/03/12

Loss of Greenland ice could become irreversible

PIK-scientist Alexander Robinson spoke to the LA Times about his recently published study about the Greenland ice and its complete melting at lower temperatures than previously thought. Source: LA Times Blog, 12/03/12

World's water footprint linked to free trade

Dieter Gerten comments for Nature News Blog on a study that highlights how patterns in international commerce create disparities in water use. The new findings are significant as they bring attention to “the increasing disconnect” between production, regional water use and global consumer markets. Source: Nature News Blog, 13/02/12

Models hone pictures of climate impact

The international weekly journal of science, Nature, reports on the newly launched comprehensive model comparison (ISI-MIP) coordinated by PIK and IIASA. The project aims at producing papers detailing the impact of climate change on global agriculture and water supplies, vegetation and health, by 2013. Source: Nature, 13/02/12

Why is Europe so cold?

Al-Jazeera refers to the Potsdam Institute and a recent study to offer some explanations for the big freeze affecting much of the continent. The study by PIK-scientist Vladimir Petoukhov, conducted in 2009, links the warming of the Arctic Ocean and the subsequent melting of sea ice to cold winters in Europe. Source: Al-Jazeera English, 12.02.12

Science behind the big freeze: is climate change bringing the Arctic to Europe?

Stefan Rahmstorf explains to the British Independent the link between the current cold period and the loss of Arctic sea ice. He points to a study, carried out by his colleague Vladimir Petoukhov and other scientist, who were among the first to suggest such link. Source: The Independent, 04.02.12

Little Ice Age was caused by volcanism

Georg Feulner commented on Nature News Blog on a paper that links the 'little' ice age to four volcanic eruptions. The paper was recently published in Geophysical Research Letters. Source: Nature News Blog, 31.01.12

March on green warriors

The Indian newspaper Hindu reported on the Green Week Programme organised by PIK and no2co2. Five different Indian schools already participated in the workshop where children can among other things calculate their own carbon footprint. Source: The Hindu, 30.01.12

The Cost of Lowering Greenhouse Gases

Ottmar Edenhofer and Brigitte Knopf spoke with ScienceWatch.com about their as this month's New Hot Paper elected study - The Economics of Low Stabilization: Model Comparison of Mitigation Strategies and Costs - which shows different transformation pathways of the global energy system. Source: ScienceWatch.com, 03.01.12

Climate Change as Source of Future Wars Draws UN Attention

Imagine India in 2033. It has overtaken China as the most populous nation. Yet with 1.5 billion citizens to feed, it’s been three years since the last monsoon. Without rain, crops die and people starve. This is one of the scenarios Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, presented today to members of the United Nations Security Council in New York to show the connection between climate change and global security challenges. Source: Washington Post, 15.02.2013.

Climate Change’s Links to Conflict Draws UN Attention

Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, presented certain scenarios today to members of the United Nations Security Council in New York to show the connection between climate change and global security challenges. In an interview he said: Either rich nations will find a way to supply needy nations suffering from damaging climate effects “or you will have all kinds of unrest and revolutions, with the export of angry and hungry people to the industrialized countries”. Source: Bloomberg News Agency, 15.02.2013.

New map pinpoints cities to avoid as sea levels rise

Mahé Perrette of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany has calculated local sea level rises in 2100 for the entire planet. While the global average rise is predicted to be between 30 and 106 centimetres, he says tropical seas will rise 10 or 20 per cent more, while polar seas will see a below-average rise. He offers a warning to tropical countries and he says: "Build defences.". Source: New Scientist, 07.02.2013.

Qatar to set up climate centre

PIK director Hans Joachim Schellnhuber signed a memorandum of understanding during a brief ceremony held on the sideline of the UN Climate Change Conference in Qatar. Qatar Foundation, in partnership with PIK, will establish a pioneering Climate Change Research Institute and a Global Climate Change Forum in Qatar by 2014. Source: Gulf Times, 06.12.2012.

"You cannot negotiate with nature"

PIK director Hans Joachim Schellnhuber said: "With the current pledges made by countries and their measures, we are on the course of 3.5 or 4 degrees Celsius warming towards the end of the century". Source: Xinhua, 24.11.2012.

Kyoto Protocol extended to 2020 to fight climate change

PIK director Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, who observed the talks, said "China is sitting on the fence" as hopes that China - the world's largest carbon emitter and second-largest economy - would take the lead to save the talks this year had quickly faded. Source: South China Morning Post, 09.12.2012.

Merkel Climate Advisor Blasts Global Inaction

Politicians need to get their act together on climate change, says Chancellor Angela Merkel's leading climate advisor and PIK director Hans Joachim Schellnhuber just days before the global warming conference in Qatar. The World Bank agrees, releasing a report on Monday highlighting the serious consequences that await should global temperatures continue rising unchecked. Source: Spiegel, 19.11.2012.