Using research to combat climate change

With just under 50 employees, the Institute, which was established in 2012 by the Mercator Foundation and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, carries out research into the challenges of climate change and the sustainable use of global community assets such as for example the oceans, forests and the atmosphere. In addition to the scientific examination of climate change, the Institute researches in the fields of economic growth, urban and infrastructure development and the global handling of resources. The central goal of research at the Institute is to see the climate and the economy from a holistic point of view – which means to look for concrete solutions as to how one can contain climate change without jeopardizing global social and economic development.

Climate change is progressing at an alarming pace

Most recently, the Institute received global attention. The specialist journal Nature published an extensive and scientific study carried out by the Institute on climate change. The study, which was produced in cooperation with the Climate Research Institute Climate Analytics, deduced that at least 85 percent of the world population are influenced by climate change.

To this end, the team behind the study entitled Machine learning-based evidence and attribution mapping of 100,000 climate impact studies has developed a new research technique: using artificial intelligence & modules, an amazing number of 100,000 empirical studies featuring extensive model and observational data on temperate changes and rainfall, caused by the use of fossil fuels or other carbon emissions, were merged. Above all this data represents scientific work documenting the recorded impact of climate. It is important and valuable: from social risks to influences on the environment, for example on fresh water lakes, ecosystems and glaciers.

An algorithm and the effects on the climate crisis

Thanks to the algorithmic analysis of many different results, which also concentrate on events such as harvest failures, flooding and heat waves, the research team came to the realization that there is a connection between weather extremes and human activity. Thus, the study also comes to the conclusion that global warming already affects 80 percent of the land area of the world. All in all the result of the study paints a global picture of the previous effects of human-induced climate change. „Our study leaves no doubt that the climate crisis can already be noticed almost everywhere in the world“, Max Callaghan, the leading author of the study, sums up.

Although the result of the study reveals the shocking extent of climate change, the data bank which will emerge from this will be a unique resource and orientation guide for climate political measures. MCC-researcher, Max Callaghan, summarizes: „Our map of the world on climate impacts is a guide in the global battle against global warming, for regional and local risk assessments and also for concrete measures of adjustment.“

Lenzing AG is working continuously with academic Institutions and Institutes. A short time ago we reported on the collaboration between VEOCEL™ and the SCRIPPS Institution of Oceanography der University of San Diego. In our series Research Institutes across the globe we will present other Universities and Institutes from around the globe on itsinourhands.com who deal with sustainability and the topic of climate change and other relevant ecological themes of our times.

Further links:

https://www.mcc-berlin.net/