Research on Climate Protection and Climate Change

Greenhouse gases cause an increase of the earth's temperature. As a consequence, extreme weather incidents such as severe storms, floods and draught periods occur with increasing frequence. This is the conclusion of the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the UNO. In 1992, 189 states agreed upon the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. This led to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 with the aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Today it is realised, that strategies for the adaption to climate change are necessary. BMBF now supports the development of strategies oriented towards practical needs.

Since the industrial revolution, man has actively influenced the earth system. Greenhouse gases cause an increase of the earth's temperature. As a consequence, extreme weather incidents such as severe storms, floods and draught periods occur with increasing frequence. The report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the UNO states on the basis of numerous data gathered around the world: Within the last 100 years, earth's temperature has risen 0,74°C on year's average.  Of the 12 years between 1995 - 2006, 11 were amongst the twelve hottest years recorded so far. Today's level of of greenhouse gases is significantly higher than the natural level over the last 650.000 years. Global warming and the rise of sea level has accelerated as well as the melting of glaciers and polar caps. Between 1961 and 2003, the rise of sea levels occured at an annual average rate of 1,8 mm. Between 1993 and 2003 sea level inceased by 3,1 mm per year.

The foreseeable climatic changes require the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the consequences anticipated for the time beyond 2020 can be reduced or decelerated. The more ambitious and earlier emissions are reduced, the higher is the probability from a scientific point of view, that the consequences of climate change can be dimished. On 20th February 2007, EU's Ministers for Environment have agreed to reduce  CO₂ emissions in the Union by 20 per cent of 1990's level until the year 2020. Germany's EU Presidency took a precursor role for Europe and in the world.

But even stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations until the year 2100 will - according to scientific consensus - inevitably alter world's climate beyond the 21st century and especially lead to rising sea levels. An adaption to cope with the consequences is necessary.

In recent years, BMBF has funded research on the climate system. Additional research is needed to reach the goals identified as necessary - that is the development of practice-oriented strategies.

Klimazwei" - Research on Climate Change

The secretaries of the environment of the European Union agreed on 20th February 2007 that the EU will lower its CO₂-Emissions around 20% of the levels of 1990 up to the year 2020.

The development of practice-oriented strategies for a course of action is at the center of the new BMBF supporting measure "klimazwei - research for climate protection and the protection from climate change effects" of the master program "research for sustainability" (Forschung für Nachhaltigkeit - FONA). The past basic research on the climate system will be supplemented with application orientated aspects from climatic protection and grappling with a changing climate. In "klimazwei", research projects on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions will be supported as well as projects on the adaption to climate change.Aktionsprogramm Forschung zum Klimawandel

Former Funding Priorities

These issues were already addressed by the former funding priorities in the area of atmospheric and climate research:

• In the Atmospheric Research Programme AFO2000 (concluded 2004), cross-cutting issues on atmosphere system analysis were funded. The results now allow reliable  forecasts of weather and climate.
  
• The German Climate Research Programme DEKLIM (concluded 2005) was oriented to improving our understanding of the climate system and to identifying human influence on it.