The problem

The linked problems of air pollution and climate change present increasing challenges for policy-makers. Meeting those challenges will require policies that can achieve effects on a global scale without damaging economic prosperity. More information is needed on the linkages between policies in the technical and economic areas, and between the effects of air pollution and climate change. There is also an urgent need to increase international collaboration among policy-makers, as they face a challenge that operates across national borders.

Overview:

GAINS-Asia will examine the interaction between technical and market-based policies on air pollution and climate change, seeking synergies to maximise the benefits of initiatives in these policy areas.

The project will:

• Develop existing modelling methods into a practical policy assessment framework
• Apply the assessment framework to real examples, using data from 43 European countries, as well as China and India
• Reach conclusions on the cost-effectiveness and benefits of a wide range of technical and market-based policy options
• Recommend joint air pollution and climate change policy strategies for Europe, China and India, up to 2030

Contribution to policy development:

• GAINS-Asia will create a new policy assessment tool for the analysis of existing policies and the development of new policies.
• It will identify synergies among technical and market-based policy options.
• The project will improve communications between science and policy specialists in Europe and Asia

Project deliverables

• Development of initial database – January 2006
• Reports on linkages among existing models of air pollution and climate change – November 2006
• Final reports on policy analysis – June 2007
• GAINS-Asia software completed and made available online – October 2007
• Training course on using the GAINS-Asia software – October 2007

Dissemination

• Project website – from January 2006
• Publication of methodology and findings in scientific journals – as results become available
• Participation of project partners in the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change – ongoing
• Stakeholder workshop and training course – October 2007
• Presentations to conferences of scientific and policy communities – as opportunities arise

Technical information

Project acronym: GAINS-Asia
Project’s official full title: Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies – with special emphasis on South-East and East Asia
Research priority: Environmental assessment (soil, water, air, noise, including the effects of chemical substances)
CORDIS ref: http://cordis.europa.eu/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=proj.simpledocument&PJ_RCN=7917978&CFID=1648124&CFTOKEN=97364590
Specific webpage: http://www.iiasa.ac.at/rains/gains_asia
Proposal/contract no: 022652
Start date: 1 November 2005
Kick off meeting: 17 November 2005
Completion date: 31 January 2007
European Commission scientific officer: Wolfram Schrimpf, wolfram.schrimpf@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator:
Name: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
Abbreviated name: IIASA
Address: Air Pollution, Schlossplatz 1, Laxenburg
Country: Austria
Tel: +43 223 680 7432
Fax: +43 223 680 7503
Website: http://www.iiasa.ac.at

Partners

Name: Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Joint Research Centre
Abbreviated name: JRC-IES
Country: Italy

Name: University of Bern
Abbreviated name: UBERN
Country: Switzerland

Name: Chinese Energy Research Institute
Abbreviated name: ERI
Country: China

Name: The Energy and Resource Institute
Abbreviated name: TERI
Country: India