Dr. Pushker A. Kharecha

Associate Research Scientist, Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions, Columbia Climate School
Deputy Director, Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions
475 Riverside Drive Suite 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.

PROJECTS

Only select projects listed below

Name	Start Date	End Date
Use of GRACE to estimate terrestrial carbon fluxes	9/1/10	8/31/13

3 PUBLICATIONS ON COLUMBIA | ACADEMIC COMMONS

Only select publications listed below

Name	Published Date
Implications of energy and CO2 emission changes in Japan and Germany after the Fukushima accident.	2019
Ice melt, sea level rise and superstorms: evidence from paleoclimate data, climate modeling, and modern observations that 2 °C global warming could be dangerous	2016
Assessing “Dangerous Climate Change”: Required Reduction of Carbon Emissions to Protect Young People, Future Generations and Nature	2013

PUBLICATIONS

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

Staff and Affiliates Directory

Dr. Pushker A. Kharecha

PROJECTS

3 PUBLICATIONS ON COLUMBIA | ACADEMIC COMMONS

PUBLICATIONS