Applications

IMAGE has been used for a variety of purposes and studies as shown in the following examples.

Input to global integrated assessments of environmental issues

Application/Project	Description	References
Beyond 2015 (2009) project	IMAGE role: The GISMO model is used to make a comprehensive and consistent assessment of long-term (2015 and 2030) development dynamics and the implications for MDG achievement. MDGs analysed include poverty and inequality, education, access to food, water and energy, and child mortality, as well as the role of the environment. Summary: More than a billion people live in poverty, without adequate food, safe drinking water or clean energy. Aimed at providing basic quality of life, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are leading on the agenda for development policies. Although substantial progress has been made over the last 15 year, the report shows this to be insufficient for achieving all goals in all regions by 2015. Many of the goals will not even be achieved by 2030. Reducing child mortality by two-thirds seems to be the most difficult target, requiring substantial additional policy efforts.	PBL, 2009
CD-LINKS	IMAGE role: IMAGE is one of the IAMs in this multi-model Horizon 2020 research project. Summary: The CD-LINKS project has four overarching goals: (i) to gain an improved understanding of the linkages between climate change policies (mitigation/adaptation) and multiple sustainable development objectives, (ii) to broaden the evidence base in the area of policy effectiveness by exploring past and current policy experiences, (iii) to develop the next generation of globally consistent, national low-carbon development pathways, and (iv) to establish a research network and capacity building platform in order to leverage knowledge-exchange among institutions from Europe and other key players within the G20. CD-LINKS combines multiple streams of research – empirical analysis, model enhancement and scenario development – to achieve its multiple objectives.
FOODSECURE
Global Environmental Outlook - GEO3 (2002) project	IMAGE role: The GEO outlooks focused on environment for human well-being as the central theme linking environment and development. IMAGE contributed to the energy outlook, and calculated the land-use change and climate consequences of the four updated GEO scenarios. Summary: Global Environment Outlook (GEO) is a consultative, participatory process that builds capacity for conducting integrated environmental assessments for reporting on the state, trends and outlooks of the environment. GEO is also a series of products that informs environmental decision-making and aims to facilitate the interaction between science and policy.	UNEP/RIVM, 2004
Global Environmental Outlook - GEO4 (2007) project	IMAGE role: The GEO outlooks focused on environment for human well-being as the central theme linking environment and development. IMAGE contributed to the energy outlook, and calculated the land-use change and climate consequences of the four updated GEO scenarios. Summary: Global Environment Outlook (GEO) is a consultative, participatory process that builds capacity for conducting integrated environmental assessments for reporting on the state, trends and outlooks of the environment.	Kok et al., 2009
Global Land Outlook 1		Van der Esch et al., 2017
Global Land Outlook 2		Van der Esch et al., 2021
IPCC SRES (2000) project	IMAGE role: The SRES scenarios were elaborated by IMAGE 2.0 Summary: The SRES team defined four narrative storylines, labelled A1, A2, B1 and B2, describing the relationships between the forces driving greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions and their evolution during the 21st century for large world regions and globally . Each storyline represents different demographic, social, economic, technological, and environmental developments that diverge in increasingly irreversible ways.	IPCC, 2000
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment - MA (2005) project	IMAGE role: Assessment of four global scenarios on the development of ecosystem services up to 2050. The IMAGE framework was used to focus on the role of ecosystem services to support human development. Summary: The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment project assessed the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being. From 2001 to 2005, the MA involved the work of more than 1,360 experts worldwide. Their findings provide a state-of-the-art scientific appraisal of the condition and trends in the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide, as well as the scientific basis for action to conserve and use them sustainably.	MA, 2005
OECD Environmental Outlook to 2030 (2008) project	IMAGE role: IMAGE was used to develop the environmental baseline according to the economic projections of the OECD economic model ENV Linkages, and to analyse selected policy intervention cases. Summary: The OECD Environmental Outlook to 2030 provides analyses of economic and environmental trends to 2030, and simulations of policy actions to address the key challenges. Without new policies, we risk irreversibly damaging the environment and the natural resource base needed to support economic growth and well-being. The costs of policy inaction are high.	OECD, 2008
OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050 (2012) project	IMAGE role: IMAGE was used to develop the environmental baseline according to the economic projections of the OECD economic model ENV Linkages, and to analyse selected policy intervention cases. Summary: The Environmental Outlook to 2050 looks ahead to the year 2050 to ascertain what demographic and economic trends might mean for the environment. It concludes that urgent action is needed now, so that the significant costs of inaction can be avoided, both in economic and human terms.	OECD, 2012
Roads from Rio+20 (2012) project	IMAGE role: Alternative scenarios were explored with IMAGE to reach international development and environment targets, such as halting biodiversity loss and limiting climate change. In reaching these targets, alternative pathways were assumed for globally coordinated or regionally differentiated strategies, by either relying primarily on technology solutions or combining these with changes in dominant consumer preferences and behaviour (diets, transport mode). Summary: Roads from Rio+20 analyses how combinations of technological measures and changes in consumption patterns could contribute to achieving a set of sustainability objectives, taking into account the interlinkages between them. The potential exists for achieving all of the objectives.	PBL, 2012