WorldTrans - Transparent Assessments for Real People
WorldTrans aims to unpack the mystery of Integrated Assessment modelling and make the process of using such models more democratic and inclusive. UiB will lead the development of a new IAM with interactive learning environments and facilitate co-production processes with stakeholders.
About the research project
WorldTrans is designed to address four specific objectives: (1) To build new communities of integrated assessment modeling experts and users (citizens and stakeholders alike), based on a transparent approach to integrated assessments; (2) To unpack and quantify the potential importance of including heterogeneous human behaviour in integrated assessment models, (3) To identify main feedback loops and policy leverage points for climate-neutrality oriented policies; and (4) To produce quantitatively consistent results for various assessment processes including all three working groups of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Contributions of the System Dynamics Group, UiB
- UiB leads work package 3 in developing the WorldTrans - FRIDA model as a highly aggregated pedagogically focused IAM focused on capturing the feedback processes which link nature, human behaviour, and the technology-energy-economy domains; as well as the interactive learning environment to enhance the transparency of the project’s modelling work.
- UiB co-leads work package 2 in including a fully endogenous representation of behavioural feedback loops between human and Earth systems in integrated assessment modelling and investigate the implications of these on mitigation pathways, with a particular focus on shifts in value systems.
- In work package 4, UiB will identify ways of democratizing integrated assessment models by using the project’s models in stakeholder engagements and codeveloping processes for mutual envisioning and understanding of models and their uses.
- UiB also supports WorldTrans in all work packages with participatory system dynamics methods (e.g., verification and validation of models as well as scenario/policy formulation and analysis).
Publications
Publications
Schoenberg W, Blanz B, Rajah JK, Callegari B, Wells C, Breier J, Grimeland MB, Lindqvist AN, Ramme L, Smith C, et al. (2025). An overview of FRIDA v2.1: a feedback-based, fully coupled, global integrated assessment model of climate and humans. Geoscientific Model Development 18(21): 8047–8069. doi: 10.5194/gmd-18-8047-2025
Ramme L, Blanz B, Wells C, Wong TE, Schoenberg W, Smith C, Li C. 2025. Feedback-based sea level rise impact modelling for integrated assessment models with FRISIAv1.0. Geoscientific Model Development 18(24): 10017–10052. doi: 10.5194/gmd-18-10017-2025
Wells CD, Blanz B, Ramme L, Breier J, Callegari B, Muralidhar A, Rajah JK, Lindqvist AN, Eriksson AE, Schoenberg WA, et al. 2026. The representation of climate impacts in the FRIDAv2.1 Integrated Assessment Model. Geoscientific Model Development 19(3): 1229–1260. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-1229-2026
Rajah JK, Blanz B, Kopainsky B, Schoenberg W. (2025). An endogenous modelling framework of dietary behavioural change in the fully coupled human-climate FRIDA v2.1 model. Geoscientific Model Development 18(18): 5997-6022. doi: 10.5194/gmd-18-5997-2025
Rajah JK, Kopainsky B. (2025). A Systematic Method to Integrate Co-Produced Causal Loop Diagrams Based on Feedback Stories. System Dynamics Review 41(1): e1794. doi: 10.1002/sdr.1794
Conference Presentations
Rajah JK, Blanz B, Kopainsky B, Schoenberg W. (2025 November 11-13). Modelling feedback-based dietary behavioural change in FRIDA v2.1 integrated assessment model. Abstract presented at: The 18th Integrated Assessment Modeling Consortium (IAMC) Annual Meeting. Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Li C, Koberle A, Russo A, Trigo R, Wells C, Schoenberg W, Rajah JK. (2025 November 11-13). Incorporating fire extremes into the fully coupled Earth-human system Integrated Assessment Model FRIDA. Abstract presented at: 18th Integrated Assessment Modeling Consortium (IAMC) Annual Meeting. Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Rajah JK, Blanz B, Kopainsky B, Schoenberg W. (2025 August 4-7). A system dynamics modeling framework for endogenizing human behavior change in global-scale integrated assessment models. Paper presented at: 2025 International System Dynamics Conference. Boston, MA, USA (virtual).
Schoenberg W, Blanz B, Breier J, Callegari B, Grimeland MB, Nicolaidis Lindqvist A, Rajah JK, Ramme L, Wells C, Mauritzen C. (2025 August 4-7). FRIDA v2.0: Modeling the two-way coupling of the climate and humans. Paper presented at: 2025 International System Dynamics Conference. Boston, MA, USA (virtual).
Mohammad M, Rajah JK, Schoenberg W, Kopainsky B. (2025 August 4-7). Developing an Interactive Learning Environment to teach the two-way coupling of climate-human system. Poster presented at: 2025 International System Dynamics Conference. Boston, MA, USA (virtual).
Eriksson A, Breier J, Collste D, Gerten D, Nilsson LJ, Schoenberg B. (2025 August 4-7). Towards an Internally Consistent Representation of All Planetary Boundaries - Using the World-Earth Model FRIDA. Paper presented at: 2025 International System Dynamics Conference. Boston, MA, USA (virtual).
Eriksson A, Gerten D, Nilsson LJ, Breier J, Schoenberg WA. (2025 May 5-8). Assessing Planetary Boundary Transgressions and Their Causes – Using the FRIDA System Dynamics Model. Abstract presented at: Cross-sectoral OptimESM and ISIMIP Workshop 2025. Potsdam, Germany (Virtual).
Wells C, Smith C, Blanz B, Ramme L, Callegari B, Adakudlu M, Rajah JK, Eriksson A, Schoenberg W. (2025 May 5-8). Implementing ISIMIP-derived global climate damage functions in a new Integrated Assessment Model. Abstract presented at: Cross-sectoral OptimESM and ISIMIP Workshop 2025. Potsdam, Germany (Virtual).
Eriksson A, Gerten D, Nilsson LJ, Breier J, Schoenberg WA. (2025 April 27-May 2). Assessing Planetary Boundary Transgressions and Their Causes – Using the FRIDA System Dynamics Model. Abstract presented at: EGU General Assembly 2025. Vienna, Austria.
Wells C, Smith C, Blanz B, Ramme L, Callegari B, Adakudlu M, Rajah JK, Eriksson A, Schoenberg B. (2025 April 27-May 2). Implementing global climate damage functions in a new Integrated Assessment Model. Abstract presented at: EGU General Assembly 2025. Vienna, Austria.
Rajah JK, Tusch B, Hammerseng G, Kopainsky B. (2024 November 4-6). Conceptualising an endogenous representation of human behaviour change in a feedback-based, global-scale integrated assessment model. Poster presented at: The 17th Integrated Assessment Modeling Consortium Annual Meeting. Seoul, South Korea.
Schoenberg, W. A., Mauritzen, C., Adakudlu, M., Blanz. B., Breier, J., Grimeland, M. B., Mashhadi, S., Rajah, J. K., Ramme, L. & Wells, C. (2024, August 4-8). Towards a “fit for purpose”, fully coupled, integrated, and interdisciplinary world-Earth model – FRIDA Version 1.0. Paper presented in International System Dynamics Conference 2024, Bergen, Norway [Plenary].
Rajah, J. K., Tusch, B., Hammerseng, G. & Kopainsky, B. (2024, August 4-8). Towards Modelling (Pro-)Environmental Human Behaviour in Integrated Assessment Models from a Systems Approach. Abstract presented in International System Dynamics Conference 2024, Bergen, Norway.
Rajah, J. K. & Kopainsky, B. (2024, August 4-8). Human behavioural drivers of meat consumption: Using group model building to capture lived realities. Paper presented in International System Dynamics Conference 2024, Bergen, Norway.
Rajah, J. K. & Kopainsky, B. (2024, June 4-6). Co-producing Models of (Pro-)Environmental Human Behaviour with Citizens: Feedback Stories Surrounding Meat Consumption. Paper presented in The 16th Nordic Environmental Social Science Conference, Turku, Finland.
Technical Reports
Rajah JK, Blanz B, Kopainsky B, Schoenberg W. (2025). Report on environmental value-shifts. EU Deliverable 2.6. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Mohammad M, Rajah JK, Schoenberg B. (in preparation). Report on the FRIDA “Interactive Learning Environment” tool. EU Deliverable 3.8. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Schoenberg W, Rajah JK, Blanz B, Callegari B, Breier J, Grimeland MB, Mahu F, Ramme L, Wells C, Smith C, et al. (2025). Report on FRIDA V3.0: Final report summarizing the key feedback processes that must be represented in FRIDA model. EU Deliverable 3.7. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Eriksson AE, Collste D, Lindqvist AN, Rouwette EAJA, Kopainsky B, Rajah JK, Wells C, Blanz B, Koberle A. (2025). Scientific synthesis: usefulness of IAM approaches in real world contexts. EU Deliverable 4.6. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Wells C, Blanz B, Ramme L, Callegari B, Adakudlu M, Rajah JK, Eriksson A, Smith C, Schoenberg WA. (2025). Report on feedback in the full natural-human climate system. EU Deliverable 1.8. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Breier J, Wells C, Ramme L, Eriksson A, Rajah JK, Schoenberg W, Gerten D. (2025). Report on inclusion of land use, water cycle and biodiversity in FRIDA. EU Deliverable 1.7. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Wells C, Blanz B, Ramme L, Callegari B, Adakudlu M, Rajah JK, Eriksson A, Smith C, Schoenberg WA. (2025). Report on climate damage functions for use in FRIDA. EU Deliverable 1.6. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Prawitz H, Schwarz L, Eker S, Rajah JK, Donges J. (2025). Report on the macroscopic formulation and quantification of social norms dynamics. EU Deliverable 2.4. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Schoenberg WA, Blanz B, Breier J, Callegari B, Grimeland MB, Adakudlu M, Nicolaidis A, Rajah JK, Ramme L, Smith C, Wells C, Mauritzen C. (2025). Report on FRIDA v2.0: Modeling the two-way coupling of the climate and humans. EU Deliverable 3.5. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Rajah JK, Kopainsky B, Eker S, Prawitz H, Breier J, Donges J. (2024). Report on conceptualization of pro-environmental value shifts for modeling human behavioral changes. EU Deliverable 2.3. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Schoenberg WA, Mauritzen C, Adakudlu M, Blanz B, Breier J, Callegari B, Collste D, Cornell S, Donges J, Eker S, Gerten D, Gjermundsen A, Grimeland MB, Kopainsky B, Li C, Mashhadi S, Rajah JK, Ramme L, Smith C, Wang Erlandsson L, Wells C, Ye Q. (2024). Report on FRIDA V1.0. EU Deliverable 3.4. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Lindqvist AN, Cornell S, Collste D, Palm C, Rajah JK, Kopainsky B. (2024). Scientific synthesis: fitness for purpose of current IAM approaches. EU Deliverable 4.3. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Collste D, Rajah JK, Cornell S, Palm C, Kopainsky B. (2024). Learning and Training — External engagement with Citizens. EU Deliverable 4.4. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
Swamy D, Eker S, Rajah JK, Kopainsky B, Callegari B, Breier J, Donges J. (2023). Preliminary Conceptualization of Modeling Human Systems in Integrated Assessment. EU Deliverable 2.1. WorldTrans – Transparent Assessments for Real People, EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101081661.
People
Project manager
Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway) Project coordinator
Project members
Birgit Kopainsky Professor
Jefferson K. Rajah PhD Candidate