The researchers of the Integrated Assessment research theme approach the topic from a wide array of disciplines, theories, methodologies, etc. This mirrors the complexity of climate change, which is at once a scientific, technological, political, economic and social problem. This complexity calls in turn for assessment methods capable of examining climate change processes, policies, strategies and actions from diverse theoretical perspectives. By linking the science and technology fields of study, we are able to model processes that involve interactions between the natural, biological and built environments, and assess feedback mechanisms that can cause significant non-linearity in the response of these systems to increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, by linking science, social science and policy fields, we can explore the effectiveness of policies and social change in driving the desired reduction in climate change risks, and the impact of a changing climate on social institutions and practices.
The integrated assessment activities include:
- Development of integrated models to allow simulation of complex, non-linear processes in the natural environment as these drive climate change
- Development of integrated models to explore the interplay between economic, environmental and energy systems
- Assessment of the effectiveness of changes in the built environment, institutional decisions and behaviour in regard to climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Assessment of the effectiveness of policies, strategies and actions in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the capture and sequestration of carbon
- Assessment of the vulnerability of ecosystems, society and public health to climate change, and of the risks posed to assets, services, health, etc
- Assessment of the secondary benefits of greenhouse gas emissions reductions; e.g. improvements in public health by reduction of co-pollutants such as particulate matter
- Design and governance of communities so they are resilient to the impacts of climate change, in both developed and developing nations
- Linking of climate change policies and strategies to the wider agenda of sustainability and of sustainable development
- Workshops and other educational activities to create institutional capacity for incorporating integrated assessment methods into decisions
