Delivering the Next Generation of Open Integrated Assessment Models for Net Zero Sustainable Development
Recent literature has underlined the interplay among climate mitigation, adaptation, and finance, as well as between climate action and other development agendas, including sustainable resource use, human development and equity, and environmental pressures. Such an interconnected policy environment requires an integrated ecosystem of disciplines, methods, and tools. Despite the significant evolution of integrated assessment models (IAMs) in the last decade, there remain several criticisms on their design, use, and adequacy to respond to unaddressed and emerging questions in the light of the Paris Agreement and net-zero ambition. These include openness, legitimacy, and ownership, as well as technical feasibility to represent demand-side and broader societal transformations, cross-sectoral interactions, physical impacts and adaptation, climate finance and labour dynamics, and other sustainability goals. DIAMOND will update, upgrade, and fully open six IAMs that are emblematic in scientific and policy processes, improving their sectoral and technological detail, spatiotemporal resolution, and geographic granularity. It will further enhance modelling capacity to assess the feasibility and desirability of Paris-compliant mitigation pathways, their interplay with adaptation, circular economy, and other SDGs, their distributional and equity effects, and their resilience to extremes, as well as robust risk management and investment strategies. This will be done via integration of tools and insights from psychology, finance research, behavioural and labour economics, operational research, and physical science. We will develop a transdisciplinary scientific approach to legitimise the implementation process and co-create research questions that stretch the frontiers of climate science, as well as establish vibrant communities of practice to transparently open model enhancements and to develop capacities, thereby lowering the entrance barriers to the established IAM community.
Feedback Overview:
The DIAMOND initiative presents a highly innovative approach to addressing the complexities of climate change and sustainable development through the enhancement and integration of IAMs. To further increase its business value, it is recommended to establish partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations to ensure wide adoption and impact. Additionally, focusing on user-friendly interfaces and comprehensive training programs for stakeholders will help in lowering the entry barriers and promoting widespread use.
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Leadership in environmental science organizations, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement.
How can we ensure the wide adoption of the updated IAMs across different sectors?
To ensure wide adoption, it is critical to establish partnerships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and private sector entities. Additionally, providing comprehensive training and support will help stakeholders understand and effectively use the models.
What are the potential challenges in integrating multidisciplinary tools into IAMs?
One of the main challenges is ensuring seamless integration and interoperability among different tools and methodologies. It requires a robust framework and ongoing collaboration among experts from various disciplines to address any technical and conceptual issues.
How can we measure the impact of these enhanced IAMs on climate policy and decision-making?
The impact can be measured through a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics, such as the number of policy decisions influenced, the extent of stakeholder engagement, and the improvements in climate outcomes as a result of using these models.