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International Workshop Explores Global Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) Development for Sustainable Development and Climate Action in Asia

12 May 2023
AIT

By AIT Public Affairs

12 May 2023 – Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) organized an ​​​​International Workshop on Global Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) Development to provide policy-relevant insights into global environmental change and sustainable development issues. The event was organised at AIT Entrepreneurship Center in collaboration with the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) and Yonsei University and was supported by Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) through the “Climate Change R&D Project for New Climate Regime,” funded by the Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE).

The workshop brought together online and onsite student participants to explore policy-relevant insights into global environmental change and sustainable development issues. The event provided a quantitative description of key processes of human and earth systems and their interactions. South Korea and Japan, as leading nations of IAM, have developed their own models to achieve the countries’ target of 2050 Carbon Neutrality.

This workshop was designed to share South Korea and Japan’s experiences with other countries in the Asian region. Experts and developers of the IAM from these two countries made presentations based on their research findings and engaged in discussions with the participants. Furthermore, the workshop included a modeling practice session to familiarize the participants with the tools. This collaboration with young IAM researchers in the Asian region aimed to explore further opportunities for future research.

Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, Vice President for Academic Affairs at AIT, underscored the crucial role of IAM in addressing global environmental change and sustainable development concerns. “In complex issues such as climate change and energy, it requires a transdisciplinary approach involving experts from diverse dimensions to achieve the desired goal,” emphasized Prof Dhakal.

“The number of existing Integrated Assessment Models is limited; institutions such as PBL in the Netherlands, IIASA in Austria, NIES and RITE in Japan, and few others including in US have made notable contributions. Thus, it is highly encouraging that Yonsei University has taken up the challenge of developing a novel IAM model, which I believe will be an important Asian contribution to meet the growing demand for knowledge in this field,” he said.

Prof. Tae Yong Jung of Yonsei University, South Korea remarked that “Building capacity of young Asian researchers on modelling and the developing of new generation of Integrated Assessment Models is crucial for Asia”.      

Dr. Keigo Akimoto, Head, System Division, RITE highlighted the crucial role of IAM in shaping policy decisions within the Japanese government and industrial sectors in the global scenario. Its influence also extends to global communities like the IPCC.

“While the main discussions within the international community have revolved mainly around the perspectives put forth by the IAM communities based on the European and United States research institutes, it is noteworthy that most CO2-intensive industries are currently concentrated in Asian regions resulting in carbon leakage from Europe to Asia. Therefore, we must prioritize our efforts in analyzing energy systems, climate change and implement mitigation measures, particularly in Asia, which hold immense significance,” he added.