Welcome to the final issue of IIASA e-News for 2011. We aim to provide readers with a summary of select news, events and publications from the Institute. We welcome your feedback and encourage you to forward this to your collaborators and colleagues. An online version is available at www.iiasa.ac.at/newsletter.

News

Awards

Opportunities

Publications

Social Media

— News —

IIASA at COP17 Durban IIASA and the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) hosted a successful UNFCCC side event at the COP17 climate talks in Durban, South Africa on Monday 5 Dec. Responding to the question of ‘How to achieve a global transformation towards a climate-friendly, sustainable future’, speakers, H J Schellnhuber (PIK), D Messner (DIE), and IIASA's N Nakicenovic and M Obersteiner presented policy options and strategies to cut emissions and achieve sustainable land use and ecosystems management. IIASA scientists also participated in a range of other events over the two week period including the launch by the S.A. Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor, of the Southern African Young Scientists Summer Program. The Program is a joint initiative of IIASA’s NMO for South Africa the National Research Foundation, the S.A. Department of Science and Technology, and IIASA. Read more
Fast action could cut near-term climate change A new report written by an international team, including members of the IIASA GAINS project, was launched in London on 25 Nov, ahead of the COP17 climate meeting in Durban. Using the GAINS model, and other tools, the UNEP report outlines 16 measures which could, if fully implemented across the globe, save close to 2.4 million lives annually, avoid crop losses amounting to 32 million tonnes annually, and deliver near-term climate protection of about half a degree C by 2040. Implementing these measures could help keep global temperature rise below the 2°C target, at least until mid-century. Read more
IPCC report summary: Extreme events increase with climate change A Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) calls for additional efforts to adapt to the growing risks of extreme climate and weather linked to human-induced climate change. The report outlines observed and projected changes in climate extremes, such as heat waves and droughts as well as changing exposure and vulnerability, and informs decisions on early warning, land use and infrastructure planning, ecosystem management, public health, and insurance. The report’s Summary for Policy Makers, co written by IIASA’s Reinhard Mechler, was approved on 18 Nov by member governments of the (IPCC). The full report will be released in Feb 2012. Read more
7 billion people are not the issue - human development is what counts Amid concerns about the capacity of the planet to support more people, a panel of population and development experts argue that it is not the number of people that is of concern, but more so their age, education, health status, and location that is most relevant to sustainability. Any realistic attempt to achieve sustainable development must focus on human wellbeing and be founded on an understanding of the inherent differences in people in terms of their differential impact on the environment and their vulnerabilities. The expert panel, who met in Laxenburg, Austria, in Oct 2011 outline their recommendations in the The Laxenburg Declaration on Population and Sustainable Development. The statement, coordinated by IIASA, will be submitted to the Rio+20 Conference. Read more Watch the video
Global energy perspectives outlined in Washington, DC Approximately 140 people attended a lecture by IIASA’s Nebojsa Nakicenovic in Washington, DC on 31 Oct. Nakicenovic provided an assessment of global energy perspectives including a brief overview of initiatives toward universal access, decarbonization, and efficiency improvements. The focus was on multiple co-benefits of such energy transformations and the required investments, institutional and policy initiatives. The event was hosted by the AAAS, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Austrian Embassy. Watch the presentation
Saving lives and protecting our climate through clean cooking options How to respond to the serious health and environmental concerns related to dependence on dirty cooking fuels is the focus of a Special Issue of the journal Energy Policy. Co-edited by IIASA’s Shonali Pachauri, the issue on Clean Cooking Fuels and Technologies in Developing Countries explores the technical and policy options for ensuring clean cooking fuels and stoves provision become a central component of development strategies. Read more
Climate policies can help resolve energy security and air pollution challenges Policies to protect the global climate and limit global temperature rise offer the most effective entry point for achieving energy sustainability, reducing air pollution, and improving energy security. By adopting an integrated perspective on energy and climate policy, one that simultaneously addresses three of the key objectives for energy sustainability, major synergies and cost co-benefits can be realized. The article, published in the latest issue of Nature Climate Change (Issue 9, Vol 1 Dec 2011) and written by IIASA's David McCollum, Volker Krey, and Keywan Riahi, finds that policies focusing on mitigating climate change have synergistic effects as they involve massive improvements in energy efficiency and the rapid and widespread deployment of clean, secure energy sources, in particular renewables. Read more
Feasible emission scenarios to limit temperature rise A comprehensive re-analysis of ‘economically and technologically feasible’ GHG emission pathways compatible with limiting global temperature rise to 2°C finds that in scenarios that limit temperature change to below 2°C, emissions peak before 2020 then fall to 41-46 GtC and continue to fall. However, current annual CO2 emissions amount to 48 GTs and in the absence of restrictive measures, they are likely to increase by approximately 1 GT per year. If all countries who have made commitments under the UNFCC implement the reductions they promised, CO2 emissions would amount to 49-53 GTs in 2020, well in excess of the aspirational target. The study, published in the Nature Climate Change, (Issue 8, Vol 1 Dec 2011) was co-authored by IIASA’s Keywan Riahi.
Living forests report – launched in Durban In collaboration with the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF), IIASA forestry researchers have complied WWF’s Living Forest Report: REDD+ at a Crossroads. Launched in Durban 27 Nov, the report examines whether it is possible to reduce and eventually reverse forest loss and forest related carbon emissions by 2020 - and whether this can be done without compromising agricultural and other production. The Report uses IIASA's Living Forests Model to consider a range of different forest scenarios for the next half century, modified by changes in diet, biofuels, conservation policy, and fuelwood and timber demand. The report concludes that achieving and sustaining Zero Net Deforestation and Forest Degradation by 2020 (ZNDD) is possible if we act now. Read more
Reducing discrepancies in land cover information to improve land use planning Access to accurate land cover data is becoming increasingly important as nations strive to balance issues such as agricultural production for food security with, for example, their objectives regarding climate change or biodiversity conservation. How much land is under cultivation for crops, or how much is retained as natural or managed forest, is becoming more contested as some nations trade carbon while others struggle to find land suitable to grow food. In the latest issue of Environmental Research Letters (Vol. 6, Oct-Dec 2011) IIASA scientists compared the accuracy of different global land cover maps derived from satellite-based earth observations, and provide suggestions on how discrepancies between products can be explained, and importantly how discrepancies can be reduced. Read more
Inaugural Wittgenstein Symposium urges refocus of international aid efforts Improved education and health must be at the heart of global development and international aid efforts if economic development and sustainability goals are to be realized, according to international population experts speaking at the Inaugural Wittgenstein Symposium in Vienna (29 Sept). Speakers at the Symposium questioned current approaches to international development suggesting aid may be more effective if targeted toward education and health objectives. The Symposium was held to celebrate the opening of the new Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital, Founding Director is IIASA’s Wolfgang Lutz. Read more Watch the video
World Energy Outlook 2011 The IIASA GAINS model was used to assess emissions of air pollutants for the energy scenarios analyzed in the latest World Energy Outlook (OECD/IEA, 2011). The assessment covers emissions from 25 regions of the world and considers the current air pollution control legislation in each country. The analysis demonstrates large co-benefits of climate policies for air pollution. Thus, synergies between climate and air pollution control policies need to be taken into account when developing targets and strategies for reducing negative environmental impacts of air pollution. Read more
New scenarios offer alternative views of the future climate A special issue of the journal Climatic Change, co edited by IIASA’s Keywan Riahi, describes four new scenarios for the climate research community: the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs). The RCPs describe a wide range of potential futures for the main drivers of climate change: greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions and land use. The scenarios cover the range from high emission futures to scenarios consistent with the 2°C target. The RCP database is managed and maintained by IIASA on behalf of the Integrated Assessment Modeling Consortium. Read more
UNSG launches high-level group to implement “Sustainable Energy for All” Deputy Director of IIASA Nebojsa Nakicenovic has been appointed to the Technical Group of the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s (SG) High-level Group on Sustainable Energy for All. The Group is tasked with developing a Global Strategy to mobilize action among governments around the world, and the within the public and private sectors, to provide clean and affordable energy for all. The strategy will be launched by the SG at the RIO+20 Summit in June 2012. Read more
Bridging the emissions gap IIASA’s Keywan Riahi and Fabian Wagner are contributing authors to the Bridging the Emissions Gap UNEP Synthesis Report released in London 25 Nov. The report outlines how far the current commitments and pledges of developed and developing nations can take the world in terms of achieving the 2°C limit or less, and the gap that remains between ambition and reality. Read more
Energy security and access - interconnected global challenges Energy access and energy security are critical issues for policymakers globally, affecting livelihoods in the developed and the developing world. IIASA’s Shonali Pachauri is coeditor of a special edition of Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability that explores many aspects of energy including, the scale of the energy access challenge, gender dimensions, and financing options to ensure the sustainability of energy access efforts.

Vacancies at IIASA.

— Awards —

Young energy researchers shine Congratulations to two young scientists from IIASA’s Risk Policy and Vulnerability Program who were awarded the DESERTEC Thesis Award for 2011. The awards, announced at the 2nd Dii Desert Energy Conference held in Cairo (2-3 Nov), honor research achievements in the field of renewable energy from the deserts. Johan Lilliestam (IIASA and PIK) and Saskia Ellenbeck (PIK) were winners of the 1st European Award for their paper: Energy security and renewable electricity trade – Will Desertec make Europe vulnerable to the “energy weapon”? While Kerstin Damerau (IIASA and BOKU University), was awarded the 2nd European Award for her paper: Costs of reducing water use of concentrating solar power to sustainable levels: Scenarios for North Africa.   IIASA forestry scientist receives award Congratulations to IIASA’s Sabine Fuss (YSSP 2006) who received the International Boreal Forest Research Association (IBFRA) award for the “Best Presentation by a Young Scientist” at their annual science conference, held in Krasnoyarsk, Russia in August. The presentation, “Boreal forests as a carbon sink: a real options perspective”, explored the socio-economic issues associated with governance of boreal forests and was judged the best among more than 100 presentations. IBFRA is an international network of scientists from 10 countries that aims to “promote and co-ordinate research to increase the understanding of the role of the circumpolar boreal forest in the global environment and the effects of environmental change upon that role."

IIASA shares its research results with our peers, clients, and the public through industry and governmental workshops, conferences and events, and through scientific publications. Visit our Web site to access our recent scientific publications. Join our publications mailing list.

Options Magazine
Every six months IIASA produces OPTIONS, a non-technical magazine designed to provide readers with an overview of the latest research and outcomes involving IIASA and our collaborators. The latest issue of OPTIONS magazine outlines the major objectives of IIASA’s new Poverty and Equity program and aspects of our research on human and sustainable development. Read more.

POPNET Newsletter
The latest edition of IIASA’s POPNET Newsletter outlines the research objectives of the new Wittgenstein Centre for Population and Global Human Capital. Read more

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About IIASA IIASA is an international scientific institute that conducts research into the critical issues of global environmental, economic, technological, and social change that we face in the twenty-first century. IIASA is independent and funded by scientific institutions in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. About this email You have received this newsletter because you are currently subscribed to an IIASA mailing list. If you do not wish to receive future issues click UNSUBSCRIBE. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues. This E-Newsletter uses an HTML-rich media, if for any reason, your computer does not support HTML format email, please email your name and email address, and we will ensure you receive our newsletter in a plain-text format. This E-Newsletter is published by IIASA. It does not claim to be comprehensive or to render professional advice. Please direct any comments to the editor Leane Regan (+43 2236 807 316). [Copyright and Disclaimer]