Center for International Climate and
Environmental Research-Oslo:
Research Priorities and
Interest in China
Lin Gan
SINCIERE Member Workshop
October 19, 2007
Institute Profile
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Established in 1990
Focus on climate change related research
Independent foundation at Oslo University
More than 40 staff with different background
Conduct interdisciplinary research
Key Research Areas
• Scientific basis of climate change and
international agreements
• GHG mitigation and costs
• Climate impacts, vulnerability and
adaptation
Scientific Basis and
International Agreements
– What are the key processes, both natural and
man-made, that contribute to climate change?
– What are the effects of emissions and climate
policy measures on the climate system?
– How do we translate scientific knowledge about
the climate system and future scenarios to
politically feasible actions in international
agreements?
– What role does conflicting interests, at both the
domestic and international levels, play in climate
negotiations?
GHG Mitigation and Costs
– How can we mitigate climate change cost
effectively for the short and the long term?
– How can we compare the costs and benefits of
climate policy options?
– How do international climate agreements
translate to national or regional climate policy?
– What are the impacts of greenhouse gas
mitigation options on other environmental
problems, e.g. air pollution, energy security or
social development?
Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation
– What are the specific impacts of climate
change for various regions throughout the
world?
– What makes a country or region vulnerable
to climate change?
– How can local knowledge be incorporated
in adaptation strategy?
– How do the effects of climate change
interact with other stressors, such as
globalization?
Integrated Assessment of Options for
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation
• Need to link climate change issues and
policies with pollution control, economic and
social development priorities
• Cost-benefit analysis of different policy
options on pollution abatement and CO2
emissions reduction
• Address pressing issues related to rural
development and sustainable energy and
environmental policies
Research Priorities
• Sustainable economic growth, energy security
and regional development
• Urban and regional air pollution (including acid
rain)
• Sustainable rural development: indoor air
pollution and renewable energy development
• Co-benefit analysis of abatement measures and
policy options
• Climate impact and adaptation on water
resource management , community
development and renewable energy
applications
Co-benefit Analysis
• Analyze co-benefits of GHG emissions reduction
and regional/local pollution abatement
• Assess health and environmental impacts of air
and water pollution and remidation strategies
and policy measures
• Analyze top-down and bottom-up approaches in
taking cost-effective actions
• Assessment of key technologies and financial
instruments
Projects in China
• Options for Chinese climate policy in the
second commitment period
• Benefits and costs to China of a climate
commitment
• Environmental decision making in China Development of an integrated, effect-based,
approach for supporting a comprehensive
and cost-effective air pollution abatement
policy (‘DEMAND’)
Projects in China
• An environmental cost model and estimation
• Master plan against air pollution in Shanxi Province
• Sustainable development and climate policies in a
world of economic globalization
• Atmospheric pollution effects on local, regional and
global scales – an integrated approach
• Wind energy development and policies
• Sustainable transport and greening of the auto
industry
• Climate impact and adaptation in the Himalaya region
Missing Policy Coordination in China
• SEPA: energy management and efficiency
improvement
• Ministry of Agriculture: public health related to
energy production and use
• Ministry of Health: risks of household energy
use and industry pollution on air and water
• Ministry of Finance: lack of support to
sustainable energy and environmental
protection targets
• NDRC: lack of effective coordination on key
policy priorities and abatement measures
Need for Cross-sector Actions
• Most research and policy action are conducted
in sector-oriented approach
• Lack coordination and cross-sector
understanding
• It is important to assess key environmental
problems and policies in a broader perspective
• Innovative policies should be designed to
promote cost-effective action across disciplinary
boundaries
Energy and Environment
in Rural Development
• Rural energy use and its health and
environment impacts are largely ignored
• New technologies are available
• Identify cross-sectoral and innovative
solutions, e.g. bioenergy and water resource
management, improvement in housing
conditions to reduce indoor pollution
• Promote policy intervention through finance,
commercial and community participation
Key Problems
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Water pollution
Indoor air pollution
Agriculture land degradation
Agriculture product safety
Health impact of food security
Health impact of household coal use
Measures to be Taken
• Rational use of wetlands and waste land
• Combining sustainable farming with growth
of energy crops
• Energy crops production (reed, willow)
• Pellets production and dissemination of
biomass burning stoves
• Reduced coal use in households
Co-benefits
• Reduced water pollution to agriculture land
and the sea
• Reduced CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use
• Reduced risks in agriculture products
• Reduced health impact of indoor pollution
• Income and jobs for farmers