Johannes Bednar
Research Scholar
Exploratory Modeling of Human-natural Systems Research Group
Advancing Systems Analysis Program
Biography
Johannes Bednar is a research scholar in the Exploratory Modeling of Human-natural Systems Research Group of the IIASA Advancing Systems Analysis Program. He recently defended his DPhil in Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford, UK.His research focuses on the intersection of modeling and governance in the context of climate overshoot and net-negative emissions. He has made significant contributions to the academic and policy discourse through publications in leading journals as well as policy reports on carbon dioxide removal, focusing on the development of innovative governance approaches and advancing our understanding of the feasibility of net-negative emissions.
With master's degrees in physics and European studies, Bednar brings a diverse skill set to his research. In addition to his academic pursuits, he has practical experience as a project manager at a leading Austrian energy utility firm. He has also worked as a software engineer specializing in energy portfolio optimization with a focus on utilizing stochastic linear optimization techniques.
Last update: 27 MAR 2026
Publications
Bednar, J., Baklanov, A. , Macinante, J., Hall, J.W., Gasser, T. , & Obersteiner, M. (2026). Stabilizing time-lagged climate impacts requires net-negative emissions for centuries. Environmental Research Letters 21 (2) e021002. 10.1088/1748-9326/ae34ca.
Bednar, J. & Baklanov, A. (2025). A Reduced-Complexity Model of Process-Based IAMs. IIASA Working Paper. Laxenburg, Austria: WP-25-001
Bossy, T., Gasser, T. , Lecocq, F., Bednar, J., Tanaka, K., & Ciais, P. (2024). Least-cost and 2 °C-compliant mitigation pathways robust to physical uncertainty, economic paradigms, and intergenerational cost distribution. Environmental Research: Climate 3 (2) e025005. 10.1088/2752-5295/ad34a8.
Bednar, J., Macinante, J., Baklanov, A. , Hall, J., Wagner, F. , Ghaleigh, N.S., & Obersteiner, M. (2024). Beyond emissions trading to a negative carbon economy: a proposed carbon removal obligation and its implementation. Climate Policy 24 (4) 501-514. 10.1080/14693062.2023.2276858.
Bednar, J., Höglund, R., Möllersten, K., Obersteiner, M., & Eve, T. (2023). Role of removals in contributing to the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement. Swedish Energy Agency