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.
Themes
Nutrient cycling
Non-CO2 greenhouse gas sources
Scenario Services and Scientific Software
Models, tools, datasets
Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS)
Global emission fields of air pollutants and GHGs
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 PM Group 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.
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
Roja Ganji
Research Assistant (PM)
Maximilian Posch
Guest Research Scholar (PM)
Chris Heyes
Emeritus Research Scholar (PM)
Pengnan Jiang
PKU-IIASA International Postdoctoral Fellow (PM, CDAT)
News
21 February 2025
Vietnamese Ambassador and IIASA discuss strengthening research collaboration
On 14 February 2025, IIASA welcomed H.E. Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang, Permanent Representative of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the International Organizations in Vienna, to explore advancing research cooperation between IIASA and Vietnam.
20 December 2024
Increase in electric vehicles could create unwanted pollution hotspots
While electric vehicles have become a cornerstone of the global energy transition, a study by researchers from Princeton University and IIASA has demonstrated that refining the critical minerals needed for electric vehicle batteries could create pollution hotspots near manufacturing hubs.
19 November 2024
IIASA researchers recognized on Clarivate’s 2024 Highly Cited Researchers™ List
The 2024 Highly Cited Researchers™ list by Clarivate celebrates individuals whose research has had a profound and wide-reaching impact. IIASA is proud to have its Director General, Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, as well as 10 additional exceptional researchers associated with the Institute recognized for their contributions in various fields.
Events
CICERO Center for International Climate Research, Oslo
HYway Kick-off meeting
Focus
30 March 2024
Transforming waste into a valuable resource
As the world marks the International Day of Zero Waste, Adriana Gómez-Sanabria highlights that the path to zero waste will require a shift in society’s current consumption and production patterns. Originally conceived to shield humanity and the environment from the fallout of our actions, waste management systems must now evolve into engines of sustainability.
04 October 2023
ENGAGE Summary for Policymakers
As the world faces the risks of dangerous climate change, policymakers, industry and civil society leaders are counting on Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) to inform and guide strategies to deliver on the objectives of the Paris Agreement (PA) and subsequent agreements.
Publications
Wang, J., Wang, Y., Zhang, S. , & Yi, B. (2025). Drivers of environmental externality reduction in China's electric power industry: A spatial-temporal analysis. Journal of Environmental Management 373 e123612. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123612. Ren, K., Tang, X., Huang, C., Willerström, J., & Höök, M. (2025). Prospective metal requirements assessment of China's wind-power and photovoltaics: Implications for emerging anthropogenic mines. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 215 e108088. 10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.108088. Ren, M., Zhu, B., Huang, C., Wang, J., & Dai, H. (2025). Multidimensional sustainability implications of alternative iron and steel industry decarbonization strategies in China. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 215 e108136. 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108136. Cui, J., Gao, Y., van Grinsven, H., Zheng, M., Zhang, X., Ren, C., Ma, T., Xu, J., & Gu, B. (2025). Adaptive Mitigation of Warming-Induced Food Crisis and Nitrogen Pollution. Environmental Science & Technology 10.1021/acs.est.4c05531. (In Press) Zusman, E., Akahoshi, K., Hanaoka, T., Malley, C.S., Wangwongwatana, S., Onmek, N., Paw-armart, I., Nguyen Thi, K.O., Nguyen Huy, L., Kuylenstierna, J.C.I., Hirayama, T., Goto, Y., Kazumasa, K., Amann, M., Klimont, Z. , & Slater, J. (2025). The truth about co-benefits: a multidimensional feasibility assessment for thailand and beyond. Environmental Research Communications 7 (2) e025009. 10.1088/2515-7620/adae5e.