The Earth League

News from the Earth League

At COP24: Earth League and Future Earth submit joint statement to UNFCCC

The statement "10 New Insights in Climate Science" is presented at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24) on 10th of December. It is published by future Earth and The Earth League, and will be distributed to negotiators in Katowice.

10 New Insights in Climate Science

Global warming, ice ages and CO₂

News | 17 April 2019

A new study led by researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) investigates the relation between important climate variables and the atmospheric CO₂ concentration. For the first time, a model was run perpetually for the last 3 million years, allowing to simulate the transient effects during begin and evolution of this period. The comparison of the results with data shows that the model well represents fundamental processes of the climate system.
One conclusion is that the CO₂ content was, aside of the Milankovitch cycles, decisive for the development of ice ages. Moreover, the study reveals how sensitive the climate system reacts to CO₂ fluctuations. This dependency on CO₂ is concerning especially in light of today's atmospheric concentration - as the authors found, it probably has not been as high as it is now in the last three million years.

PIK study on Glacial cycles and CO₂ content: relevance for global warming

Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC) partner in dialogue on Africa and the SDGs

News | 27 March 2019

Just recently, the "Second African Dialogue on The World in 2050" took place in Kigali, Rwanda. It was organised by the SDG Center for Africa in partnership with Swedbio and the SRC, and focused on agriculture and food systems.
The report gives insight into how a peaceful and prosperous future can be realised, despite the enormous challenges through, e.g., population growth and environmental changes.

Report on "Second African Dialogue on The World in 2050"

Campaigns, reports and more by Greenpeace

News | 21 March 2019

Greenpeace International not only conducts expeditions and actions to actively protect wildlife habitats, but also develops numerous ways to inform the public and to empower them to get active in safeguarding the environment. Activities comprise campaigns and petitions, plus research for and the compilation of reports on specific topics under the overarching themes energy, nature and people.

Greenpeace International

European energy - fossil fuel free by 2050?

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News | 20 March 2019

The European Climate Foundation (ECF) published a report on the technical feasibility and possible socio-economic effects of decarbonisation pathways for the European energy system. The study, conducted by Element Energy and Cambridge Econometrics, illustrates several scenarios with different combinations of, e.g., green hydrogen and electrification, showing that a fossil-free European energy system by 2050 is not only possible, but can also be beneficial for the society.

ECF report on energy

Climate impact models and climate extremes

News | 7 March 2019

A new study by an international team of researchers, lead by PIK scientists, investigated how well observed impacts of the 2003 European heat wave can be simulated by climate impact models. For different sectors, the models underestimated the effects of the event, thus underpinning the need for further model improvement when it comes to impacts from climate extremes, in contrast to changes of the mean.
PIK study on climate extremes and impact models

Earth Doc Jonathan Donges awarded with Heinz Mayer-Leibnitz Prize

News | 5 March 2019

Jonathan Donges, researcher at PIK, is among the winners of the most important German prize for young researchers. He contributed decisively to the advancement of the field of climate and Earth System sciences, explained the selection committee, e.g., through the use of "network-based approaches and methods from complexity theory" in climate research.
Jonathan Donges honoured with Heinz Mayer-Leibnitz Prize

Human methane sources dominate over those from Arctic soils

News | 18 February 2019

A new study under the lead of IIASA scientists reveals the relative contribution of natural versus human sources of methane to the overall emissions of greenhouse gases in future scenarios. While quantifying the relative portions for the first time, it supports earlier findings that human methane emissions dominate. Emissions could become manageable through reducing the use of fossil fuel and through changing agriculture towards climate friendly practices.
IIASA study on the effects of human versus natural sources of methane

Transformation, cities, and 1.5°C global warming

Cities, IPCC SR1.5, Sustainable Development Goals

News | 11 February 2019

Earth League member Youba Sokona, Senior Adviser for Sustainable Development at the South Centre, shared insights in consequences of the IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C global warming for cities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the "Forum on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, held in Shenzhen, China in January 2019.
Cities need to consider both climate mitigation and adaptation, yet this should go hand in hand with striving for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals - integrating all aspects can lead to better livelihood for all.
The South Centre

How are climate, conflict and migration interrelated?

News | 24 January 2019

New research under the lead of IIASA scientists investigates the links between climatic conditions, political conflicts and migration. It shows that for regions with difficult preconditions, e.g., weak democracy and drought prone economy, climatic stress can increase the potential for conflict, and thus migration.
IIASA study on climate, conflict and migration

IIASA research shows mitigation potential of the agricultural sector

Study on agriculture and greenhouse gas emissions

News | 17 January 2019

A new study lead by scientists from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) investigated the influence of different mitigation measures on carbon emissions from the agricultural sector. By using several models, they compared the effects of carbon pricing and how these could modify dietary behaviour, thereby finding that non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by up to 50%.
IIASA study on emissions from agriculture

South Centre contributes to research on gender and energy

News | 8 January 2019

Youba Sokona, Senior Advisor for Sustainable Development at the South Centre, participated in the 2018 annual meeting of the research programme ENERGIA, for which he is also a member of the Technical Advisory Group. Findings show that the consideration of the different needs of women and men in terms of energy interventions can support the empowerment of women, and can help reduce poverty.
South Centre and ENERGIA

Interactive scenario explorer for 1.5°C pathways

News | 12 December 2018

IIASA researchers contributed to the generation of emission scenarios, with underlying socio-economic development, energy system transformations and land use change until the end of the century, for the IPCC SR1.5 which was published on the 8th of October in South Korea.
In order to enable not only a free download of the scenario data, yet also their analysis and visualisation, IIASA developed "The 1.5 Degree Scenario Explorer" on behalf of IPCC and the Integrated Assessment Model Consortium (IAMC).
The 1.5 Degree Scenario Explorer

Statement by new PIK leaders on the IPCC Special Report on 1.5 degrees (SR1.5)

News | 11 October 2018

On the occasion of the approval of the SR1.5, Johan Rockström and Ottmar Edenhofer, the new directors of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), gave a statement on the most important aspects of the special report. PIK researcher Elmar Kriegler was involved in the process of creating the SR1.5 on the basis of 6000 cited references.
Op-ed in The Guardian by Rockström and Edenhofer

Climate mitigation policies and food security

News | 28 August 2018

New research, led by researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), investigated how global, uniform climate mitigation measures influence the agricultural sector, finding that such schemes can seriously impact food security - even more than the projected climate change would do.
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How to design sustainable cities

News | 23 August 2018

Sustainability experts from Arizona State University (ASU) appear on a podcast, explaining novel approaches that will help to keep cities habitable, also in face of climate change, growing population and shortage of resources. The interdisciplinarity of research is a key factor, gathering here an architect, a geographer and an urban planner.
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Risk of irreversibly hot climate?

News | 10 August 2018

A paper with contribution by Stockholm Resilience Centre and PIK researchers finds that stabilising climate warming at 1.5 to 2 degrees C might not be possible at carbon emission reductions estimated for the Paris Agreement. Instead, a 'hothouse climate' might develop, with average temperatures being 4 to 5 degrees warmer than pre-industrial conditions.
paper

Importance of fighting inequality

News | 27 April 2018

The TERI school of advanced studies held a conference on 'Reducing Inequalities in India by 2030: Challenges and Way Forward in Implementing SDG 10' in April in New Delhi, India. The event gathered participants from diverse working fields, to address the many aspects of inequality in the country, which is also essential for the achievement of the Paris Agreement.
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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is dangerous for many reasons

News | 27 April 2018

AMR, though often not perceived, is a major problem for global health, and affects the effectiveness of antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and antimalarials. The South Centre is active in research and advice to decision making related to the AMR topic, e.g., through organising a South-east Asian workshop on AMR.
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Slowdown of the Atlantic overturning?

News | 20 April 2018

A new study by researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) investigates observations of the North Atlantic ocean, diagnosing a weakening of the Atlantic overturning circulation since the middle of the 20th century. In concurrence with earlier modelling and observational studies, the results hint to first effects of global warming on the important oceanic currents. more

Europe under 1.5 degrees C

News | 16 April 2018

New research with scientists of the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS) contributing, lead by Earth League Ex-officio member Daniela Jacob, analyses projected consequences of a climatic warming of 1.5 degrees C for Europe. The publication uses novel approaches, as compared to the 'classical' time slices analysis, aiming at providing valuable advice to decision makers. more

Winners of the 7-days challenge - sustainability in practise

News | 22 March 2018

In January, TERI School of Advanced Studies, the Embassy of Sweden and the Eco-Club initiative (Department of Environment, Government of NCT of Delhi), held the 7-days challenge for young people, aiming at sustainability in everyday life. The most innovative ideas were awarded at the Swedish Embassy on March 6. more

New study utilizing game theory

Graphic: J. Heitzig, U. Kornek

News | 9 March 2018

Researchers from Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) investigate the development of coalitions in CO2 pricing between countries. The novel apporach deploys game theory in order to simulate how collaborative and egoistic countries behave, thus assessing how emission pricing and climate action would evolve in the longer term. more

New lead for the PIK in Potsdam

New PIK leaders: Edenhöfer and Rockström

News | 6 March 2018

Earth League chair Johan Rockström and Earth League member Ottmar Edenhofer are assigned to become new directors of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) this September, following founding director Hans Joachim Schellnhuber. A dual leadership of one natural and one social scientist will further strengthen the interdisciplinarity of the insitute. more

Sustainability in practice

News | 5 March 2018

The TERI School of Advanced Studies, in association with the Swedish Embassy, organised a 7 Days Challenge, held in schools and colleges in New Delhi in late January, which encouraged to try to 'Eat, move, live' in a sustainable manner. The aim is to seek for practical solutions in all these categories of everyday life, be that getting to and from work or consuming energy for cooking. more

Report on South-South climate partnerships

News | 19 January 2018

At COP23, the United Nations Southern Climate Partnership Incubator published a report on South-South cooperation and sustainable development with respect to climate and climate change. The report, jointly produced by the South Centre and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, gives a comprehensive overview of ongoing adaptation and mitigation activities in the Global South. more

New method for identification of uncertainties

News | 17 January 2018

In many fields, such as socio-economics, biology or climate, time series of data are analysed in order to learn how variables act and react. To disentangle actual changes from variability is a persistent challenge in research. Scientists from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) now published a new method to identify uncertainties in time series. more

Sub-Saharan rainfall patterns and energy supply security

News | 10 January 2018

New research, lead by Grantham Institute's scientist, investigates the dependency of hydropower generation on rainfall patterns for Sub-Saharan Africa, and how this could develop considering planned hydropower constructions. Given the projected changes in precipitation, the research can support the planning of power generation infrastructure. more

Ice shelves impacted by small losses at the fringes

News | 14 December 2017

Researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) investigated effects of melting ice at the margins of Antarctic ice shelves, finding the influence reaches far inland. This has effects on the stability of the ice, and thus is important with respect to sea level rise. more

European Climate Foundation (ECF) compiles key publications

News | 5 December 2017

Publications on topics such as energy, ecology, economics, and transformation can be found at the ECF web page, compiled for the previous year. Contributions are sampled from many major institutions and organisations throughout Europe. more

10th anniversary of the Grantham Institute

News | 29 November 2027

The Grantham Insitute - Climate Change and the Environment at the Imperial College in London celebrates its 10th anniversary. 'A Decade of Difference' reports on research, education and advocacy that has been undertaken during these ten years, and gives an outlook into the future. more

What best serves economy - and climate

News | 22 November 2017

On the end of the COP23 in Bonn, the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) published a statement by its director, Earth League member Ottmar Edenhofer. It gives a summary of what is considered to be most important with regard to the interrelationships between economy and climate change. more

Health and money

News | 15 November 2017

Generics of biological origin importantly contribute to the supply of medical treatment worldwide. The South Centre published new research summmarizing the history and current conflicts around the use of such products. more

Earth League and FutureEarth submit statement to UNFCCC at COP23

News | November 2017

At the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP23) in Bonn, the Earth League and FutureEarth hand over a joint statement to UNFCCC executive secretary Patricia Espinosa. The document compiles the latest and most important knowledge from climate research, economics, and technology, delivering the relevant information to the delegates of the climate negotiations during COP23 (read more).
Click here for watching the recorded event.

The 10 Science Must-Knows on Climate Change

Schellnhuber honoured with Blue Planet Prize

Earth League member Hans Joachim Schellnhuber

News | 8 November 2017

Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), received the "Nobel prize in environmental science", the Blue Planet Prize, together with Gretchen Daily of Stanford University, USA. more

Crossroads: On the nexus between development, climate, and environment

News | 7 November 2017

Right before the COP23, this year taking place in Bonn, Germany, IIASA and the German Development Institute jointly organised a high-level event in Bonn to specifically discuss how to juggle climate action and human wellbeing. more

COP23 is coming closer

News | 2 November 2017

The European Climate Foundation (ECF) is co-organising an event during COP23 in Bonn, entitled "Moving beyond coal after Paris: Can the US and the EU retire their coal plants in time to deliver on Paris Targets?". Earth League members Jennifer Morgan and Laurence Tubiana will be part of the panel. more

New partnership for the Arctic

News | 26 October 2017

Climate change will be, and already is, more pronounced in the Actic than elsewhere, model simulations show. IIASA's Arctic Futures Initiative (AFI) and the Arctic Circle have founded a partnership to approach the impacts in an inter- and transdisciplinary way. more

Quantifying the impacts of climate change

News | 12 October 2017

The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), while also celebrating its 25th anniversary, hosts the Impacts World conference in Potsdam. The event aims at assessing the "true costs of climate change", gathering around 500 researchers. more

Development and the Agenda 2030

News | 5 October 2017

The South Centre held a side event at the UN General Assembly in September, entitled "Rethinking development in the context of the Agenda 2030". The discussions showed how challenging it is, and will continue to be, to bring both development and the SDGs in line. more

How to address rural electrification

News | 29 September 2017

A large part of the world's population has no proper access to electricity. The Grantham Intsitute developed the CLOVER tool for simulating and optimising minigrids, thus supports in finding sustainable solutions for rural communities in the lesser developed countries. more

How to realize the NDCs

News | 27 September 2017

Recently published results from the IDDRI research project MILES discuss means to realise the PA goals. The project focussed on the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for seven key countries and regions, such as Brazil or the European Union.
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Visualising our CO2 emissions

News | 15 September 2017

A new movie, co-produced by PIK, illustrates the history of human use of fossil fuels, of resulting greenhouse gas emissions, and of the effects this has on the planet. Based on recent CO2 data, it applies sophisticated geographical visualisation methods. more

Training of green engineers for India

News | 14 September 2017

A post-graduate course for the education of solar engineers was installed with the collaboration of TERI University, starting this October. In order to meet the increasing demand for experts in solar energies, professionals will be educated for the commissioning of the 2022 renewable targets. more

2017 sees dramatic hurricane season

News | 7 September 2017

Within less than a month, two severe hurricanes hit the US and (to date) the Carribean. While the frequencies of tropical cyclones do not increase, their intensities are linked to global warming, as reported by researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Reseach (PIK). more

Resilience 2017 in Stockholm

News | 6 September 2017

From August 20 to 23, the Resilience 2017 conference took place in the Swedish capital, co-hosted by Stockholm Resilience Centre. Scientists and interested people from the public learned and discussed on the most recent themes and findings from the resilience and sustainability arena, more

Importance of collaboration and trust for ecosystem reservation

News | 31 August 2017

Stockholm Resilience Centre researchers, jointly with Canadian colleagues, investigated the build-up of a marine reserve network in Jamaica, finding that collaboration and trust are key conditions for a successful implementation of conservation areas. more

Water use and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

News | 16 August 2017

A new study, featuring authors from PIK and IIASA, shows that a large portion of irrigation water is used in an unsustainable way. However, improved water and crop management techniques can significantly help to achieve SDGs that today come into conflict as both depend on the same resource. more

New study shows: There is enough wind for many of us

News | 10 August 2017

Grantham Institute (Imperial College, London) and ETH Zürich researchers combined data on wind energy generation with long-term weather data, finding that a better distribution of the production sites over Europe would make wind energy more stable and efficient. more

New publication on 'coal transition'

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News | 12 July 2017

The think tanks IDDRI and Climate Strategies jointly released a project report that compiles case studies of historical transitions of industrial regions from coal to other sectors. The review provides advice for a just transition in the light of the need to change from fossil to renewable energies. more

How to rapidly curb down CO2 emissions

News | 7 July 2017

A Nature publication with the collaboration of PIK director Professor Schellnhuber suggests a way how decarbonisation could actually function. A stepwise process for the years until 2020 would lead to the dramatic CO2 emissions' decrease needed to fence anthropogenic climate change. more

India fosters renewable energies

News | 26 June 2017

The Indian government aims for renewable energies to make a 40 % share of the total energy production by 2013. This shall be accompanied by a decline of about 35 % in emissions, as TERI Vice Chancellor Leena Srivstava explains. more

UN report on global ocean science released in New York

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News | 21 June 2017

During the UN Ocean Conference, the first global report on the status of science of the oceans was published. It shows that knowing the oceans is not merely important for their protection, but also for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). more

Hans Joachim Schellnhuber honored with Blue Planet Prize

News | 14 June 2017

Together with Prof. Gretchen Daily (Stanford University, Natural Capital Project), founding director and head of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, PIK, wins the Blue Planet Prize 2017. more

40 years of research on resilience

News | 8 June 2017

The scientific director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre summarised the history of resilience research, now lasting more than 40 years, and published it as part of the Oxford Research Encyclopedia programme. more

Recommendations for Carbon pricing by high-level economists

News | 30 May 2017

A committee of 13 eminent economists, with the participation of PIK scientists, reviewed and compiled the current status on carbon pricing and on their effects on climate and economies. more

Fostering a low-carbon technology has positive effects on economy

News | 24 May 2017

At the Imperial College in London, experts met to discuss challenges and opportunities through decarbonisation. Low-carbon technologies will, despite investments in the beginning, have positive impacts on societies in the long run. more

Sustainability dossier published

News | 18 May 2018

The dossier compiles current knowledge and debates on the topic, and was published by regardssurlaterre.com, a platform fostering sustainable development, with contributions from IDDRI researchers. more

New research on the impacts of the financial crisis for the Global South

News | 17 May 2017

The South Centre published a comprehensive analysis of the financial crisis and of its effects for emerging and developing economies. more

System transformation can help fighting poverty

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News | 10 May 2017

Considering environmental conditions and cultural knowledge is an important asset in development aid, a new study under the lead of scientists from the Stockholm Resilience Centre shows.
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Research investigated effects of use of Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) for China

News | 28 April 2017

Using SNG in the residential sector has the largest benefit for public health, a new study with the participation of former IIASA scientists reveals.
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New paper shows ways towards decarbonisation

News 28 | March 2017

A publication by Earth League chair Johan Rockström and colleagues in Science intends to develop a roadmap for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement (PA).
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Earth League Symposium at PIK

News | 10 January 2017

From 23-24 January, the annual meeting of the Earth League took place the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, with the theme being Transformation Now!
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Before the Flood

News | 17 October 2016

Earth League Chair Johan Rockström appears alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in documentary Before the Flood (2016), as DiCaprio tour the world to see the impacts of climate change first-hand.
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Earth League authors on "The World's biggest gamble"

News | 05 December 2016

Earth League members published a paper on conclusions that can be made from the Paris Agreement (PA), showing that although the overall goals of the PA are in line with science.
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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could dampen world's population growth

News | 05 December 2016

A new study by IIASA scientists shows that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would dampen population growth through reducing poverty and development of health and education sectors.
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IIASA Study maps the impact of agriculture on climate

News | 29 November 2016

Research published in Nature Climate Change provides first global assessment of how GHGs from different crops and management practices contribute to climate change
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South Centre at the COP22 in Marrakech

News | 23 November 2016

The South-South Cooperation has been linking public as well as private actors throughout countries in the South in order to foster development and increase resilience to climate change
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"The world's biggest gamble"

News | 23 Novemebr 2016

Earth League members published a paper pointing at the danger of missing the Paris-COP21 goals,
and promoting a zero-carbon roadmap.
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Project ENHANCE published results

News | 23 November 2016

The EU funded research project ENHANCE just published its main results as a book:
'Novel Multi-Sector Partnerships in Disaster Risk Management - Results of the ENHANCE Project'
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Air pollution emerges as a top killer globally

News | 16 November 2016

News from the South Centre reveals that air pollution causes 6.5 million worldwide deaths as well as being a major cause of climate change
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Between 1.5°C and 2°C — analysing the global warming targets

News | 8 November 2016

IIASA Policy Brief #14, analyse the two temperatures most prominent in the Paris Agreement: 1.5°C and 2°C, and find substantially different climate impacts
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How fast is the carbon clock ticking?

News | 7 November 2016

MCC carbon clock shows how much carbon can be released into the atmosphere if global warming is to be capped at 1.5°C, or 2°C, and you can see how much time remains in each scenario
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Informing action on a historic climate agreement

News | 4 November 2016

Paris Agreement went into force 4th November, but scientists say there is a long way to go to achieve it. IIASA research suggests pathways to get the world on track
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