Topics

Weather, Extremes & Atmosphere

What happens high up in the sky affects everyone’s life down on the ground. This is one of our research topics.

Topics

Land Use, Food, Water & Ecosystems

Understanding the multiple interactions is key to sustainable development. This is one of our research topics.

Topics

Ice, Oceans & Sea Level Rise

Identifying long-term dynamics to assess the risks. This is one of our research topics.

Topics

Climate Policy, Economics & Energy

Finding ways to stabilize our climate and ensure equitable prosperity. This is one of our research topics.

Topics

Planetary Boundaries, Tipping Elements & Global Commons

Grand concepts put to work to tackle grand challenges. This is one of our research topics.

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Complex Networks, Machine Learning & Decision Theory

Frontier science with new methods. This is one of our research topics.

Topics

Health, Security & Development

Keeping people safe in the face of climate impacts. This is one of our research topics.

From natural science to social science, from risks to solutions, from identifying Planetary Boundaries to managing Global Commons: The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) is advancing the frontier of integrated research for global sustainability, and for a safe and just climate future. A member of the Leibniz Association, the institute is based in Potsdam, Brandenburg and connected with the global scientific community. Drawing on excellent research, PIK provides relevant scientific advice for policy decision-making. The institute’s international staff of about 480 is led by a committed interdisciplinary team of Directors. This is science – for a safe tomorrow.

News

Earth’s heat imbalance reaches record high as human-caused warming hits 1.37°C

Press Release

Human activities accelerate changes in the freshwater cycle

Press Release

Carbon dioxide removal might need to scale faster than solar to meet climate targets

News

PIK Director Ottmar Edenhofer receives BAUM Environmental and Sustainability Award 2026

Press Release

How the EU’s carbon price on imports strengthens climate policies globally

Press Release

A new approach to urban planning with less car traffic and lower carbon emissions

Press Release

Redirecting investment from new coal steel plants before 2030 half the price of decarbonisation later on

News

Climate research and the energy transition brought to life: PIK & Ariadne at Potsdam Science Day

Press Release

Deforestation lowers threshold for Amazon degradation to below 2°C warming

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Videos

Video series: “Core research topics at PIK”

Episode 2: How can we clean up the atmosphere? PIK Director Ottmar Edenhofer highlights the importance of going beyond zero emissions in the second half of the century. Just as we fund waste collection in cities, we must create systems to fund atmospheric carbon removal.

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To be continued.

Video series: “Core research topics at PIK”

Episode 1: How stable is our planet? PIK Director Johan Rockström explains the “Planetary Boundaries” scientific framework. These limits refer to the stability of the Earth, its capacity to support life – and ultimately the safe operating space for humanity.