Associate Research Scientist, Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions, Columbia Climate School
Deputy Director, Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions
475 Riverside Drive Ste 401-O New York, NY 10115
BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Pushker Kharecha is a climate scientist who is fascinated by many aspects of Earth science. His interests encompass a wide range of temporal and spatial scales and his primary motivation is conducting policy-relevant scientific research. Although his doctoral work related to astrobiology and the Earth’s primeval biosphere, when he joined NASA GISS and Columbia Earth Institute in 2005 he shifted his focus to human-caused climate change. His research focuses on the human dimensions of the global carbon cycle, including the impacts of fossil fuel use and land use on climate. He is particularly interested in analyzing empirical data on energy and land use and developing climate change mitigation scenarios. Dr. Kharecha has lead/co-authored multiple high-profile scientific papers and has served as a lead author on a major UNEP publication (Global Environment Outlook-5). He has also participated in numerous education, public, and media outreach activities.
Last 10 years
Kharecha, P.A. and M. Sato, 2019: Implications of energy and CO2 emission changes in Japan and Germany after the Fukushima accident. Energy Policy, 132, 647-653, doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.05.057
Hansen, J.. and P. Kharecha, 2018: Cost of Carbon Capture: Can Young People Bear the Burden? Joule, 2, 1405-1407, doi: 10.1016/j.joule.2018.07.035.
Hansen, J., M. Sato, P. Kharecha, K. von Schuckmann, D.J. Beerling, J. Cao, S. Marcott, V. Masson-Delmotte, M.J. Prather, E.J. Rohling, J. Shakun, P. Smith, A. Lacis, G. Russell, and R. Ruedy, 2017: Young people's burden: requirement of negative CO2 emissions. Earth Syst. Dynam., 8, 577-616, doi:10.5194/esd-8-577-2017.
Harris, C., P. Kharecha, P. Goble, and R. Goble, 2016: The Climate is A-Changin': Teaching civic competence for a sustainable climate. Soc. Stud. Young Learner, 28, no. 3, 17-20.
Taylor, L.L., J. Quirk, R.M.S. Thorley, P.A. Kharecha, J. Hansen, A. Ridgwell, M.R. Lomas, S.A. Banwart, and D.J. Beerling, 2016: Enhanced weathering strategies for stabilizing climate and averting ocean acidification. Nature Clim. Change, 6, no. 4, 402-406, doi:10.1038/nclimate2882
Hansen, J., P. Kharecha, and M. Sato, 2013: Climate forcing growth rates: Doubling down on our Faustian bargain. Environ. Res. Lett., 8, 011006, doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/1/011006.
Hansen, J., M. Sato, G. Russell, and P. Kharecha, 2013: Climate sensitivity, sea level, and atmospheric carbon dioxide. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A, 371, 20120294, doi:10.1098/rsta.2012.0294.
Kharecha, P.A., and J.E. Hansen, 2013: Prevented mortality and greenhouse gas emissions from historical and projected nuclear power. Environ. Sci. Technol., 47, 4889-4895, doi:10.1021/es3051197.
Kharecha, P.A., and J.E. Hansen, 2013: Response to comment on "Prevented mortality and greenhouse gas emissions from historical and projected nuclear power". Environ. Sci. Technol., 47, 6718-6719, doi:10.1021/es402211m.
Kharecha, P., and J.E. Hansen, 2013: Response to comment by Rabilloud on "Prevented mortality and greenhouse gas emissions from historical and projected nuclear power". Environ. Sci. Technol., 47, 13900-13901, doi:10.1021/es404806w.
Jäger, J., N. Patel, V. Ryabinin, P. Kharecha, J. Reynolds, L. Hislop, and J. Röckstrom, 2012: An Earth system perspective. In Global Environment Outlook 5: Environment for the Future We Want. United Nations Environment Programme, 193-214.
Hansen, J., Mki. Sato, P. Kharecha, and K. von Schuckmann, 2011: Earth's energy imbalance and implications. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 13421-13449, doi:10.5194/acp-11-13421-2011.
Kharecha, P.A., C.F. Kutscher, J.E. Hansen, and E. Mazria, 2010: Options for near-term phaseout of CO2 emissions from coal use in the United States. Environ. Sci. Technol., 44, no. 11, 4050-4062, doi:10.1021/es903884a.
Kharecha, P.A., 2009: Drastically altered energy use is needed to stabilize future climate. Earth, 54, no. 6, 86
CONTACT
pak2111@columbia.edu
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EXPERTISE
FIELDS OF INTEREST
Human-caused climate change, energy and land use, energy use and air pollution, mitigation