The PM Group focusses on solving immediate and near-term environmental (health and ecosystems impacts from pollution), climate (non-CO2 greenhouse gases), and social (widening inequality gaps) problems in a cost-effective way, providing support to policymaking at local and regional scales.
The PM Group addresses sustainability challenges in the near and long term through an improved understanding of the multiple benefits of policies and their distribution across society. The group has a strong focus on the development of new approaches for multi-sectoral policy interventions to manage pollution across different media (air, water, and soil) at various scales to address near-term concerns and enable long-term transformations and their public support towards a sustainable future. In particular, the group endeavors to enhance the systems perspective approach to address and explore issues such as the interactions and environmental impacts of pollution; assessment of sources of non-CO2 greenhouse gases; mitigation opportunities; approaches to address nutrient and material cycling; options for more equitable solutions; and improved methods for estimating the health and economic benefits of policy interventions.
Models, tools, datasets
Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS)
Model for Energy Supply Strategy Alternatives and their General Environmental Impact (MESSAGEix)
ENGAGE Scenario Explorer
Projects
Finding solutions to pollution caused by shipping in Europe (EMERGE)
Development of a global integrated assessment modeling system for climate-air pollutants management focused on Northeast Asia (GUIDE)
Development of a collaborative, integrated management framework to improve future air quality in Northeast Asia (AQNEA)
Exploring National and Global Actions to reduce Greenhouse gas Emissions (ENGAGE)
Staff
Thiago Brito
Researcher (PM)
Katrin Kaltenegger
Researcher (PM)
Flora Brocza
Researcher (PM)
Gregor Kiesewetter
Senior Research Scholar (PM)
News
30 August 2023
Performing artists and scientists take the stage at Vienna’s MuTh theatre
An Austrian choreographer, an American playwright, and a Dutch composer have collaborated with scientists to shed light on various dimensions of the ecological crisis in artistic ways. On 6 October 2023 at 20:00 CET, they will present some of their work in an engaging program titled “What We Want” at the MuTh, one of Vienna’s well-known concert halls.
08 August 2023
Decarbonizing India's road transportation brings major co-benefits, notably reducing air pollution
India's road transport transition requires energy efficiency and cleaner energy sources to combat emissions growth and air pollution.
26 July 2023
Ammonia reduction should be prioritized in Europe’s fight against air pollution
Europe still faces numerous challenges in reducing air pollution. A new study by an international team of researchers identified the reduction of ammonia emissions as a cost-effective measure to reduce concentrations of fine particulate matter in the atmosphere.
Events
12 July 2023 IIASA, Laxenburg
CATALYSE Meeting
11 July 2023 Archimedes Center, Tel Aviv University, Israel
Workshop on MESSAGEix and GAINS models at the new Archimedes Center
20 June 2023 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
NCGG 9th International Symposium on Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases
Focus
26 June 2023
Improving air pollution and public health in South Asia
Options Magazine, Summer 2023: The World Bank's newest report features a collaboration with IIASA researchers in combating air pollution in South Asia.
23 June 2023
Japan and IIASA
Options Magazine, Summer 2023: Japan and IIASA have a long history of collaboration, dating back to the institute’s foundation in 1972. Over the years, the partnership has resulted in a multitude of research projects, workshops, and conferences, tackling complex issues on a global scale.
22 February 2023
Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling (CIAM)
Since 1999 IIASA has been hosting the Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling (CIAM), one of the four centres assigned for the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution.
Publications
Rychła, A., Amon, B., Hassouna, M., van der Weerden, T.J., & Winiwarter, W. (2023). Costs and effects of measures to reduce ammonia emissions from dairy cattle and pig production: A comparison of country-specific estimations and model calculations. Journal of Environmental Management 344 e118678. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118678. Lutz, W. & Pachauri, S. (2023). Systems Analysis for Sustainable Wellbeing. 50 years of IIASA research, 40 years after the Brundtland Commission, contributing to the post-2030 Global Agenda. IIASA Report. Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) 10.5281/zenodo.8214208. Kaltenegger, K. , Bai, Z., Dragosits, U., Fan, X., Greinert, A., Guéret, S., Suchowska-Kisielewicz, M., Winiwarter, W. , Zhang, L., & Zhou, F. (2023). Urban nitrogen budgets: Evaluating and comparing the path of nitrogen through cities for improved management. Science of the Total Environment e166827. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166827. (In Press) Yang, T., Shu, Y., Zhang, S. , Wang, H., Zhu, J., & Wang, F. (2023). Impacts of end-use electrification on air quality and CO2 emissions in China's northern cities in 2030. Energy 278 e127899. 10.1016/j.energy.2023.127899. Ru, M., Shindell, D., Spadaro, J., Lamarque, J.-F., Challapalli, A., Wagner, F. , & Kiesewetter, G. (2023). New concentration-response functions for seven morbidity endpoints associated with short-term PM2.5 exposure and their implications for health impact assessment. Environment International 179 e108122. 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108122.
Policy applications
22 February 2023
Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling (CIAM)
Since 1999 IIASA has been hosting the Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling (CIAM), one of the four centres assigned for the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution.
22 February 2023
GAINS analyses for the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference - COP15 in Copenhagen
As input to the climate negotiations at COP15 in Copenhagen 2009, IIASA has developed a coherent international comparison of greenhouse gas mitigation efforts among Annex I Parties in 2020. This web site provides interactive access to an on-line calculator, underlying input data, and documentation of the methodology.
22 February 2023
Pollution Management in Developing Countries
There is an urgent need in the developing world for increased support on pollution management in order to respond to the magnitude of the threat to human health and economies. Responding to pollution is a challenge that is solvable in the near term to save lives and unlock economic opportunity through action at the local, national, regional and global levels.
The methods developed by the IIASA AIR program offer an integrated perspective on cost-effective policy interventions that improve air quality, reduce negative health impacts, and deliver benefits for a wide range of development goals.
