Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

Geschichte

The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research is a German government-funded research institute addressing crucial scientific questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts, and sustainable development. Ranked among the top environmental think tanks worldwide, it is one of the leading research institutions and part of a global network of scientific and academic institutions working on questions of global environmental change. It is a member of the Leibniz Association, whose institutions perform research on subjects of high relevance to society.HistoryPIK was founded in 1992 by its current director, Hans Joachim Schellnhuber. About 400 people work at the institute that is located on Potsdam's historic Telegrafenberg. Researchers from the natural and social sciences analyze the earth system and develop strategies and solution pathways for a sustainable development.PartnersPIK provides information to international organizations like the World Bank as well as to regional bodies like the Federal Government of Germany and the European Commission. PIK scientists also contribute to the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC working group Climate Change mitigation is coordinated by the institute's deputy director and chief economist Ottmar Edenhofer.