The Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC), an affiliated institute of TU Berlin, was designated by the International Center for Climate Governance (ICCG) as the second best scientific think tank in the field of climate change. The first place of the ICCG’s Standardized Ranking, which measures output with respect to institute size, was given to the Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC) in Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA. A total of 244 non-university think tanks were assessed for the ranking.
Unlike many other rankings, the ICCG’s Standardized Ranking is based on a solid quantitative method and on solid analytical data. This means that the distinction given to the MCC, namely for its substantial number of scientific publications and professional events as well as its intensive participation in international institutions such as the IPCC, was made in consideration of the relatively small size of the institution.
“The result reflects the enthusiasm of the staff of our Institute to face scientific challenges,” says MCC director Ottmar Edenhofer, who is also Professor of the Economics of Climate Change at the Technical University Berlin. “Even a small—but superbly positioned—organization can contribute to the advancement of science and have a high impact on policy-makers in the field of climate policy.”
With its ICCG ranking, the MCC is ahead of some internationally very renowned research institutions, such as the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany, and the Institute Resources for the Future (RFF) in Washington, an organization that is especially relevant in the US-American context. Nevertheless, in the ICCG non-standardized Absolute Ranking, these institutes outrank the MCC, which lags behind due to its size of only 40 employees.
The MCC explores sustainable economic development as well as the use of common goods such as global environmental systems and social infrastructures against the background of climate change. Its seven working groups are active in the fields of economic growth and development, resources and international trade, cities and infrastructures, governance and scientific policy advice. The MCC initiates assessments and creates knowledge maps that are intended to inform political decision-makers about the opportunities and risks of different paths to sustainability.
“The award shows that the Institute is nearly without equal in the world as a platform that assists outstanding young and early-stage researchers in advancing their careers,” says TU President Prof. Dr. Christian Thomsen. “We are delighted that the scientific policy advice of the MCC is producing such exceptional results at the international level.”
The International Center for Climate Governance (ICCG) was founded in 2009 as a joint initiative of Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) and Fondazione Giorgio Cini. Its current director is Professor Carlo Carraro. Having launched the Think Tank Map project in 2011, the Center has since produced one Think Tank Map every year. These maps identify, catalogue and evaluate institutes throughout the world that are active in the field of climate change economics and policy. The mapping is also intended to promote the networking and cooperation between the institutions.
Additional information:
To view the complete ranking including details and explanations about the http://www.iccgov.org/HighlightDetail.aspx?IDHighlight=98&IDSM=64&IDM=182
Media Contact:
Fabian Löhe
Press and Public Relations
Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) Telephone: +49 (0) 30 338 5537 201
Email: www.mcc-berlin.net