Climate Crisis To Cost World $59 Trillion in Worst-Case Scenario, Study Finds
A new study published in Nature suggests that even with significant reductions in CO2 emissions starting today, the global economy is poised to experience a…
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research News
The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) is a renowned research institution located in Potsdam, Germany, focusing on the study of global climate change, its causes, its impacts on ecological and societal systems, and potential solutions. Established in 1992, the institute is notable for its interdisciplinary approach, integrating perspectives from the natural and social sciences to better understand climate system dynamics and to develop strategies for sustainable development. Researchers at PIK examine a wide range of topics including the Earth system’s capacity for withstanding anthropogenic interventions, strategies for mitigating climate change through renewable energy systems, and the implications of climate policy decisions. The work of PIK has been influential in shaping both national and international climate policies, including contributions to the assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The institute serves as a vital resource for science-based policy advice and is actively involved in public discourse on climate-related issues.
Changing Food Systems Could Create Multi-Trillion Dollars of Economic Benefits Every Year
A new global policy report from the Food System Economics Commission (FSEC), authored by leading economists and scientists, reveals that worldwide changes in food systems…
Deciphering the Amazon’s Shift: From Carbon Sink to Climate Catalyst
The Amazon rainforest could approach a tipping point, which could lead to a large-scale collapse with serious implications for the global climate system. A new…
Pushing the Boundaries: How Human Activities Threaten Earth’s Critical Systems
In a recent paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers contend that tipping elements in the Earth’s system ought…
A Significant Surge: How Tropical Cyclones Increase the Cost of Carbon
Extreme events like tropical cyclones have immediate impacts, but also long-term implications for societies. A new study published in the journal Nature Communications now finds: Accounting for…
“Make or Break Moment” – Strong Policies and China Hold Key to Achieving Coal Exit
“It’s really a make-or-break moment,” says Stephen Bi from the Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Potsdam University, lead author of the study to…
New Report: Earth Is “Unequivocally” in Midst of Climate Emergency
16 of the 35 planetary vital indicators used by the researchers to measure climate change are at all-time highs. The Earth’s vital signs have deteriorated to…
The Amazon Rainforest Is in Bigger Danger Than We Thought
A new network analysis simulates the cascading impacts of rising droughts on South American ecosystems. In the Amazon rainforest, for every three trees that die…
How To Avoid Eating the World: From Degrowth to a Sustainable Food System Transformation
“Just shrinking the size of our current food system won’t cut emissions much. Instead, we need to transform the very nature of that global food…
“Microbial Protein” – Fungi-Based Meat Alternatives Can Help Save Earth’s Forests
Substituting 20% of meat from cattle with microbial protein — a meat alternative produced in fermentation tanks — by 2050 could halve deforestation, a new…
Ripple Resonance: Economic Losses From Weather Extremes Can Amplify Each Other Across the World
“Ripple resonance, as we call it, might become key in assessing economic climate impacts especially in the future,” says Kilian Kuhla from the Potsdam Institute…
Climate Change Is Making It Harder to Get a Good Cup of Specialty Coffee
Ethiopia may produce less specialty coffee and more rather bland tasting varieties in the future. This is the result of a new study by an…
Climate Change Is Making Indian Monsoon Seasons More Chaotic – Potentially Grave Consequences for Agriculture and Economy
If global warming continues unchecked, summer monsoon rainfall in India will become stronger and more erratic. This is the central finding of an analysis by…
A Vicious Circle: Ice Loss Due to Warming Leads to Warming Due to Ice Loss
The loss of huge ice masses can contribute to the warming that is causing this loss and further risks. A new study now quantifies this…
The Antarctica Factor: Model Uncertainties Reveal Upcoming Sea Level Risk
Sea level rise due to ice loss in Antarctica could become a major risk for coastal protection even in the near term, scientists say. “The…
Change in Construction Materials Could Transform Buildings Into a Global CO2 Sink
A material revolution replacing cement and steel in urban construction with wood can have double benefits for climate stabilization, a new study shows. First, it…
Computer Simulations Reveal Melting in East Antarctica Yields Unstoppable Sea-Level Rise
A new study based on computer simulations reveals that the melting of ice on East Antarctica’s shore could result in an unstoppable sea-level rise. The…