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

Air Pollution in India

Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS)

gas pipeline

Model for Energy Supply Strategy Alternatives and their General Environmental Impact (MESSAGEix)

Photo 134399877 © Designer491 | Dreamstime.com

ENGAGE Scenario Explorer

Projects

Tanker at sea, aerial view. Large blue and white ship in the bay at sunset

Finding solutions to pollution caused by shipping in Europe (EMERGE)

Photo 260785013 © Mirko Kuzmanovic | Dreamstime.com

Development of a global integrated assessment modeling system for climate-air pollutants management focused on Northeast Asia (GUIDE)

Photo 260785013 © Mirko Kuzmanovic | Dreamstime.com

Development of a collaborative, integrated management framework to improve future air quality in Northeast Asia (AQNEA)

Beige and colored pawns grouped together

Exploring National and Global Actions to reduce Greenhouse gas Emissions (ENGAGE)

Staff

Binh Nguyen profile picture

Binh Nguyen

Research Scholar/Software Engineer (PM)

Chen Huang profile picture

Chen Huang

Guest PKU-IIASA International Postdoctoral Fellow (PM)

Wolfgang Schöpp profile picture

Wolfgang Schöpp

Guest Senior Research Scholar (PM)

Shaohui Zhang profile picture

Shaohui Zhang

Research Scholar (PM)

News

solar panels and sunlight

06 November 2023

IIASA analysis underpins the IEA World Energy Outlook, revealing rapid energy transition benefits

IIASA researchers contributed to the latest edition of the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s World Energy Outlook, which shows that there are set to be almost 10 times as many electric cars on the road, renewables are nearing half of the global power mix, and much stronger policies are needed to achieve the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement.
Performers on the stage during a performance of Breath

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.

Events

Focus

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.
ENGAGE Summary for Policymakers

03 October 2023

Stakeholder engagement in climate change solutions

Policy Brief #42, October 2023. Workshops bringing scientists together with stakeholders from various backgrounds have shown the importance of dialogue for co-designing climate pathways and highlighted the need for physical meetings and capacity building.
policy  brief 42

Publications

Policy applications

22 February 2023

The Arctic Council

The Arctic has been warming at an alarming pace, double the global warming. Since 2008 AIR scientists have been involved in a number of activities associated with the Arctic, including contribution to the work of the Arctic Council Task Force on Short-Lived Climate Forcers, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), The International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI).
clean air

22 February 2023

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

In the '“Integrated Assessment of Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone” of UNEP and WMO, IIASA identified 16 practical measures that would improve human health, secure crop yields and, at the same time, reduce global temperature increase in the near-term by up to 0.5 degrees. To initiate concrete action on these measures, US State Secretary Hillary Clinton launched a 'Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants' in February 2012,  complementing efforts on CO2 emissions taken by countries under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. By early 2018, the Coalition was joined by more than 50 countries and more than 60 non-state partners.
CCAC

22 February 2023

Task Force on Integrated Assessment Modelling (TFIAM) under the LRTAP Convention

The Task Force’s main focus is to combine information produced by the various scientific working groups of the LRTAP Convention and through computer models assist in the development of legal instruments.
Task Force on Integrated Assessment Modelling (TFIAM) under the LRTAP Convention