Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change explained

Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change
Other Name:MCC
Founders:
Type:Economic research, social sciences
Director:Ottmar Edenhofer
Academic Staff:circa 50
City:Berlin
Country:Germany

The Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) conducts research and fosters dialogue about how the global commons, such as the atmosphere and the oceans, might be used and shared by many yet nevertheless be protected. In 2021, the International Center for Climate Governance ranked MCC among the top ten think tanks worldwide for the fourth consecutive year.

Organization

Based in Berlin, the institute was founded in 2012 by Stiftung Mercator and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).[1] The research team is composed of an interdisciplinary group of scientists from economics and the social sciences. Directed by the climate economist Ottmar Edenhofer,[2] MCC currently employs some 50 staff.[3] In 2015 the MCC was designated as the world's second best climate think tank.[4]

Work

The work of MCC falls into two main areas: research and policy dialogue. The aim is to gain interdisciplinary insights and to provide a basis for decision-making in politics, industry and civil society. The theme spanning across all the work is the global commons (i.e., natural resources such as the atmosphere, land, oceans and forests) and the premise that international cooperation is indispensable for the sustainable use of the commons.

For example, when the atmosphere is understood as a global commons, it is seen to belong to everybody despite its physical presence at the national, local and regional levels. In this case, overarching rules are needed to prevent this resource from being overused (see "tragedy of the commons"). Other examples include the overfishing of the oceans or the exploitation of wildlife.

The lack of availability of public goods, which provide access to health care, education, clean water and much more, the so-called social commons, comprises a core focus of the work of MCC. Based on scientific findings, potential solutions are identified, evaluated and provided.

Research

The research of MCC is divided into seven working groups and one task force:[5]

In addition to scientific research, policy advice is central to the work of MCC. Moreover, these two focal points build on each other and give rise to a self-perpetuating cycle: The scientific research findings form the basis of the consulting work ("policy dialogue"), while the consulting becomes the subject of research in that it is subjected to scientific evaluation.

Policy dialogue

Climate protection and sustainable development are areas that are intricately interwoven over the long term. For example, using biomass to produce "clean" energy to limit global warming could potentially result in increasing deforestation, biodiversity loss or rising food prices.[9]

The complexity of the possible consequences of these (climate) policy actions requires a forward-looking, international perspective. Here, the role of science could be to provide a sound informational basis without prescribing policy decisions.

The target groups of the policy advice of MCC are, among others, decision-makers from international organizations, parliaments and public administration as well as stakeholders from private-sector companies and NGOs.[10]

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stiftung Mercator and PIK initiate new institute with EUR 17m budget . 28 November 2011 . Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). 27 July 2016.
    Web site: A new kind of dialogue at the science-policy interface. 16 November 2012. Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). 27 July 2016.
    Web site: New prospects for the planet . Stiftung Mercator . 27 July 2016.
  2. Web site: Is it time for reform at the IPCC? . theguardian.com . 4 November 2015 . 2 June 2016.
  3. http://www.mcc-berlin.net/en/about.html Website MCC
  4. Web site: Technische Universität Berlin . MCC Berlin designated as the world's second best climate think tank . 30 June 2015 . 27 July 2016.
    Web site: Climate Think Tank Ranking 2015 . 23 June 2016 . International Center for Climate Governance(ICCG) . 25 July 2016.
  5. http://www.mcc-berlin.net/en/research/working-groups.html MCC Working-groups
  6. Web site: Fixing Climate Change May Add No Costs, Report Says. The New York Times. 16 September 2014 . 2 June 2016.
  7. Web site: Low-energy urbanisation 'can help climate goals' . bbc.com . 13 January 2015 . 2 June 2016.
  8. Web site: Food for thought on hunger – Globalization . dw.com . 2016-05-26 . 29 May 2016.
  9. Web site: Leave fossil fuels buried to prevent climate change, study urges . theguardian.com . 8 January 2015 . 2 June 2016.
  10. http://www.mcc-berlin.net/fileadmin/data/B2.1_Events/MCC%20organized/Evaluation%202016/MCC%20Evaluation%20Report.pdf MCC Evaluation Report

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