Ottmar Edenhofer

Summary

Ottmar Georg Edenhofer (born 8 July 1961) is a German economist who is regarded as one of the world's leading experts on climate change policy, environmental and energy policy, and energy economics. His work has been heavily cited.[1] Edenhofer currently holds the professorship of the Economics of Climate Change[2] at the Technical University of Berlin. Together with Earth scientist Johan Rockström, economist Ottmar Edenhofer is scientific director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), representing the interdisciplinary and solutions-oriented approach of the institute. Furthermore, he is director of the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC). From 2008 to 2015 he served as one of the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group III "Mitigation of Climate Change".

Ottmar Edenhofer
Edenhofer in 2008
Born
Ottmar Georg Edenhofer

(1961-07-08) 8 July 1961 (age 62)
Alma mater
Known for
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsEconomics
Institutions

Edenhofer is a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and of the German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech). In 2020 Professor Edenhofer was honoured with the most prestigious environmental prize in Germany the Environment Prize (German Environment Foundation) for his groundbreaking work in the field of carbon pricing.[3] Before, he was awarded the Romano-Guardini-Prize by the Katholische Akademie in Bayern.[4]

Education edit

Edenhofer was born in Gangkofen, Lower Bavaria, Germany. He completed his diploma in economics with honors at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. He belonged the Jesuit Order from 1987 to 1994 and following his novitiate earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy at the Munich School of Philosophy. During this time he also founded an enterprise in the public health sector and led a humanitarian aid organization in Croatia and Bosnia from 1991 to 1993. After leaving the Order, Edenhofer worked as a research assistant from 1994 to 2000 and completed his PhD in economics summa cum laude at the Technical University of Darmstadt in 1999 under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Carlo C. Jäger.[5]

Career edit

In 2018, Edenhofer was appointed director[6] of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research with Earth scientist Johan Rockström. Previously, Edenhofer was deputy director and chief economist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), where he headed Research Area III ("Sustainable Solutions Strategies").

Since June 2020 Edenhofer is project lead[7] of the major Copernicus research activity Ariadne[8] on the German energy transition. The project is investigating options how climate targets can be met with socially accepted policy instruments [9]

From 2008 to 2015 he served as a co-chair of Working Group III "Mitigation of Climate Change" of the (IPCC). Under his leadership as co-chair, the IPCC published the Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation[10] (SRREN), and the Fifth Assessment Report on Climate Change in 2014.[11] In 2012 he became director of the newly founded Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC).

From 2004 to 2008 Edenhofer was a lead author of the Fourth Assessment Report on Climate Change published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007. The IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in the same year.[12]

Since 2008, Edenhofer holds the professorship for the Economics of Climate Change at the Technical University of Berlin.

Other activities and advisory roles edit

Edenhofer has advised German Chancellor Angela Merkel,[13] and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier[14][15] on carbon pricing. Edenhofer was asked to submit an expertise on carbon pricing [16] options to the German Council of Economic Experts.[17] In 2021, Edenhofer was appointed to the Vatican's Dicastry for Promoting Integral Human Development by Pope Francis.[18]

Edenhofer is a member of the OECD Advisory Council “Growth, Investment and the Low-Carbon Transition”.[19] At the invitation of Ségolène Royal and Feike Sijbesma, co-chairs of the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC) High Level Assembly, he became a member of the High-Level Commission on Carbon Prices – co-chaired by Joseph Stiglitz and Nicholas Stern – in 2019/20. In June 2021, he was appointed to the World BankInternational Monetary Fund High-Level Advisory Group (HLAG) on Sustainable and Inclusive Recovery and Growth, co-chaired by Mari Pangestu, Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, and Nicholas Stern.[20]

In addition, Edenhofer holds the following unpaid or paid honorary positions:

Besides his teaching and research activities, Edenhofer actively contributes to public debates about political climate protection measures in Germany and the European Union.

Research interests edit

Edenhofer's research explores the impact of induced technological change on mitigation costs and mitigation strategies, the value capture and distribution of land rents,[40] and the design of instruments for climate and energy policy. He specializes in the economics of atmospheric stabilization, social cost-benefit analysis, land value tax,[41] sustainability theory, economic growth theory, environmental economics, welfare theory, and general intertemporal equilibrium theory.

Philosophy and position on climate change edit

Edenhofer says that his interest in philosophy and economics was influenced by his readings of the works of Henry George,[42] Karl Marx, Max Weber, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and John Dewey. Regarding climate change he says: "Denying out and out that climate change is a problem for humanity, as some cynics do, is an unethical, unacceptable position."[43]: 304 

Edenhofer is a proponent of carbon pricing. He points out that both cap-and-trade and a direct carbon tax can be implemented to reduce greenhouse emissions and encourage innovation to preserve the climate.[44] He feels strongly that moving the global economy to a low-carbon threshold requires huge increases in the use of renewable energy across all economic sectors.[43]

Edenhofer is a strongly anti-nuclear and has advised Angela Merkel on the German nuclear phase-out.[citation needed]

Publications edit

  • Ottmar Edenhofer publications indexed by Google Scholar
  • List of publications by Ottmar Edenhofer

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Highly Cited Researchers". Clarivate Web of Science. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  2. ^ "ILAUP: Prof. Dr. Ottmar Edenhofer". www.climatecon.tu-berlin.de. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  3. ^ "German President recognises German Environmental Award as "a particularly important message"". German Federal Environmental Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt DBU). Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Edenhofer honored with Romano Guardini Prize". Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Prof. Dr. Carlo C. Jaeger – Global Climate Forum". Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Neue Direktoren für Klima-Institut". Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Kopernikus-Symposium diskutiert Wege zur Klimaneutralität in Deutschland | 9.-10. Juni 2021 | Ariadne". ariadneprojekt.de (in German). 9 June 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Ariadne | Kopernikus-Projekt". ariadneprojekt.de (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Kopernikus-Projekte: Ariadne". www.kopernikus-projekte.de. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  10. ^ "IPCC - SRREN". archive.ipcc.ch. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  11. ^ Lynn, Jonathan (28 November 2014). "IPCC launches full report on mitigation of climate change" (PDF). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
  12. ^ Schiermeier, Quirin; Tollefson, Jeff (12 October 2007). "Climate change: a Nobel cause: peace prize awarded to climate scientists and politician filmstar". Nature. doi:10.1038/news.2007.164. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  13. ^ "CO2-pricing: German chancellor Angela Merkel visited PIK for a scientific briefing — Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research". www.pik-potsdam.de. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Climate Protection & Sustainability: German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visits PIK — Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research". www.pik-potsdam.de. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  15. ^ Zeitung, Süddeutsche (29 June 2021). "Klimaschutz: Steinmeier hält "gewaltige Schritte" für nötig". Süddeutsche.de (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  16. ^ Edenhofer, Ottmar; Flachland, Christian; Kalkuhl, Matthias; Knopf, Brigitte; Pahle, Michael (2019). Optionen für eine CO2-Preisreform: MCC-PIK-Expertise für den Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung (PDF). Berlin: Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) gGmbH.
  17. ^ Aufbruch zu einer neuen Klimapolitik [Sondergutachten] (PDF). Wiesbaden: Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung. 2019. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  18. ^ Kixmüller, Jan (13 January 2021). "Ottmar Edenhofer berät den Vatikan". Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  19. ^ http://www.oecd.org/environment/cc/advisory-council-members-project-growth-investment-lowcarbon-transition.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  20. ^ World Bank, IMF Launch High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable and Inclusive Recovery and Growth International Monetary Fund, press release of 15 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Prof. Dr. Ottmar Edenhofer". Akademie der Wissenschaften in Hamburg. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  22. ^ Münchener Rück Stiftung: Vom Wissen zum Handeln — Report 2012 [Munich Re Foundation: from knowledge to action — Report 2012] (PDF) (in German). Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  23. ^ "Green Growth: World Bank appoints Edenhofer as an advisor — Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research". www.pik-potsdam.de. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Advisory Committee". Green Growth Knowledge Platform. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  25. ^ "Policy advice for EU decision makers: Edenhofer chairs new Energy Platform — Press release". Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  26. ^ "Ottmar Edenhofer Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung e.V. (PIK)". acatech (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Advisory Council – Carbon Mitigation Initiative". cmi.princeton.edu. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  28. ^ Volkswagen Group appoints international Sustainability Council Volkswagen, press release of 28 September 2016.
  29. ^ "Review of Environmental Economics and Policy: Editorial Board". www.journals.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  30. ^ High-Level Commission on Carbon Prices (2017). Report of the High-level Commission on Carbon Prices. New York: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and International Development Association/The World Bank.
  31. ^ "List of Members". Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften Leopoldina. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Advisory Board". EIEE. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  33. ^ Projektträger, Redaktion: WPKS Geschäftsstelle / DLR. "Mitglieder des Lenkungskreises - WPKS". Wissenschaftsplattform Klimaschutz - WPKS (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  34. ^ "Scientific Advisory Council - ZEW Mannheim". www.zew.de. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  35. ^ "People | laudato-si". lsri.campion.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  36. ^ "The Commission". FSEC. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  37. ^ "ZdK-Wahl abgeschlossen: Das sind die neuen Mitglieder des Komitees". katholisch.de (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  38. ^ "Aus Verantwortung gegenüber kommenden Generationen: Landesregierung beruft Nachhaltigkeitsbeirat". Landesregierung Brandenburg (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  39. ^ "World Bank, IMF Launch High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable and Inclusive Recovery and Growth". IMF. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  40. ^ Edenhofer, Ottmar (18 February 2013). "Hypergeorgism: When is Rent Taxation as a Remedy for Insufficient Capital Accumulation Socially Optimal?" (PDF). doi:10.2139/ssrn.2232659. S2CID 12300440. SSRN 2232659. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) Edenhofer writes, "Extending and modifying the tenet of georgism, we propose that this insight be called hypergeorgism." "From a historical perspective, our result may be closer to Henry George’s original thinking than georgism or the neoclassical Henry George Theorems."
  41. ^ Edenhofer, Ottmar (25 June 2013). "Financing Public Capital Through Land Rent Taxation: A Macroeconomic Henry George Theorem" (PDF). doi:10.2139/ssrn.2284745. S2CID 14024952. SSRN 2284745. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  42. ^ Edenhofer, Ottmar. "The Triple Dividend Climate Change Mitigation, Justice and Investing in Capabilities" (PDF). Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  43. ^ a b Schiermeier, Quirin (19 September 2013). "The Climate Chairman" (PDF). Nature. 501 (7467): 304–306. doi:10.1038/501303a. PMID 24048052. S2CID 4451211. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  44. ^ Edenhofer, Ottmar; Flachsland, Christian; Kalkuhl, Matthias; Knopf, Brigitte; Pahle, Michael (2019). "Options for a Carbon Pricing Reform Expertise by MCC and PIK for the German Council of Economic Experts" (PDF). Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) (in German). Retrieved 13 July 2021.

External links edit

  • Chair of Economics of Climate Change at the Technical University of Berlin
  • IPCC Working Group III
  • Michael Otto Foundation
  • Ottmar Edenhofer at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
  • Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) – Research Domain III (Sustainable Solutions)
  • Stiftung Mercator