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2014

"Developing countries need to be compensated"

While an investment of annually US$ 100-150bn in low carbon technologies were necessary to aim 2C target, a future climate agreement would also need to include compensating mechansims to developing countries for part of their abatement effort, PIK-researcher Elmar Kriegler says. Source: International Business Times (USA), 16.12.2014.

"Europe capable of cutting more emissions"

While Chinas announcement to establish a nation-wide carbon-market is an extremely promising sign, Europe has more capability to reduct greenhouse-gas emissions than it pledges. PIK-scientist Brigitte Knopf about worldwide perspectives in climate policies. Source: Xinhua News Network (China), 01.12.2014.

"Save more than forests"

Changes of land-use lead to roughly one tenth of overall man-made greenhouse gas emissions, explains PIK-scientist Alexander Popp. Why forest protection alone is not enough to mitigate these emissions and why further management is necessary to aim integrated climate protection. Source: Voice Of America (USA), 19.11.2014.

"We have a choice"

It's like an overweight person who is worried about their long-term health, explains PIK-economist Ottmar Edenhofer about the necessity of action to head off climate change. It's a choice as to how quickly we act, he resumes with regard to the IPCC-report 2014. Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia), 04.11.2014.

"Price band for CO2 emissions is necessary"

If the ETS is to be saved, EU policymakers must take the bold step of establishing a price band for CO2 emission rights, argues Brigitte Knopf of Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Ottmar Edenhofer of PIK and the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC). Source: Energypost (The Netherlands), 21.10.2014.

"How to predict floods with Mathematics"

Floods and related landslides can be some of the most devastating natural disasters for populations, both in terms of immediate danger and also long term and economic impacts. PIK-scientist Niklas Boers tells BBC Science in Action about a straightforward mathematical tool that could be used to predict these heavy rainfall events. Source: BBC World Service (UK), 15.10.2014.

"Nobel laureates offer ideas on battling climate change"

For the third time, PIK organizes the Nobel Laureates Symposium which brings together the world's top scientists to discuss about global challenges. Participants about the effects of climate change and how disaster might be averted. Source: Post Magazine (South China Morning Post, Hong Kong), 04.10.2014.

"When the Rainforest burns"

In her doctoral thesis at PIK, the environmental scientist Ana Cano Crespo is looking into the question of how the fires in Amazonia influence the climate and which factors favour their development. Source: HU Wissen - Humboldt Research Magazine (Germany), October 2014.

Antarctica May Lift Sea Level Faster in Threat to Megacities

Antarctica glaciers melting because of global warming may push up sea levels faster than previously believed, potentially threatening megacities including New York and Shanghai, researchers in Germany said. Source: The Washington Post, 14.08.2014

Global warming: Rapid rise in Arctic temperatures linked to changes in extreme weather and global wind patterns

Scientists have linked the rapid rise in Arctic temperatures over the past two decades to weather extremes in the northern hemisphere such as heatwaves in the US and flooding in Europe. Source: The Independent, 11.08.2014

Extreme weather becoming more common, study says

Rise in blocking-patterns – hot or wet weather remaining stuck over regions for weeks – causing frequent heatwaves or floods. Source: The Guardian, 11.08.2014

Extreme summer heat, rain on rise as weather gets trapped: study

Summer heatwaves and downpours have become more frequent in the northern hemisphere this century, apparently because extreme weather can get trapped for weeks in the same place in a warming world, a study showed on Monday. Source: Chicago Tribune, 11.08.2014

Melting glaciers a ‘climate tipping point’, Bonn meeting told

Collapse of Antarctica ice sheets would cause catastrophic sea level rise, warns scientist. Source: The Irish Times, 14.06.2014

Fallout of reactive nitrogen

Human activity and the use of fossil fuel have created a spectre that is leading to the melting of polar ice, rising sea levels, changing climate and demographic upheaval. But even if alternate fuels were found and warming were reversed, the effects that the nutrition demands of a rising population have on the environment could make survival difficult before the end of the century. Source: The Statesman, 04.06.2014

China climate adviser urges emissions cap

“If China would indeed set an absolute national cap on greenhouse gas emissions, this would mean a boost for finding global solutions to tackle the climate challenge,” said Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. Source: Financial Times, 03.06.2014

Ice sheet melt threatens coastal chaos

Parts of the vast ice sheet of East Antarctica - which collectively holds enough water to raise global sea levels by 53m - could begin an irreversible slide into the sea this century, causing an unstoppable process of global coastal destruction, scientists have warned. Source: The New Zealand Herald, 07.05.2014

New Antarctic melt causing science concerns

New concerns are being raised about an area of the Antarctic which has the potential to raise sea levels by up to four metres. Source: ABC Radio Australia, 06.05.2014

EU emissions cuts could herald climate turning point

The European Union is considering steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. The EU only accounts for a fraction of total global emissions, but its actions could nevertheless have a big impact on future warming. Source: New Scientist, 25.03.2014

Sydney Opera House and Statue of Liberty 'will be lost to sea level rise'

Nearly one-fifth of world cultural heritage sites would be affected by global warming of a further 3C, scientists warn. Source: The Guardian, 05.03.2014

Heating it up

Climate projections are predicting water scarcity in vulnerable regions and seem to paint a picture of extreme results even if the climate changes by even two degrees, writes Quirin Schiermeier. Source: Deccan Herald, 04.03.2014