Servicenavigation

Project Details

Index

Projekt Print View

EXC 2037:  Climate, Climatic Change, and Society II (CLICCS II)

Subject Area Atmospheric Science, Oceanography and Climate Research
Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine
Geography
Computer Science
Social Sciences
Economics
Term since 2019
Website Homepage
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 390683824
 
The Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society II (CLICCS II) provides substantive scientific answers to the question: Which climate futures are plausible, and how can desired climate futures be realized? As the future of Earth's climate is deeply entwined with the future of humanity, the climate futures we are studying represent the joint futures of climate and society. While climate science provides detailed simulations of future warming climates, large parts of society still envision futures that lack mitigation and adaptation to a warming climate. Our integrating approach characterizes climate futures by focusing on two key dynamics and their coupling: The natural dynamics of the climate system and the social dynamics of society, which are coupled through mitigation and adaptation efforts. CLICCS II brings this approach to life by its combined disciplinary depth and a cross-disciplinary breadth, unmatched by any other research center. CLICCS has successfully combined the results of different epistemic systems. We have developed world-leading global Earth system modeling capability at ultra-high spatial resolution, only now enabling the unparalleled exploration of climate change, climate variability, and weather extremes. We have also introduced a groundbreaking framework for the assessment of social dynamics in climate futures and conducted conceptual and empirical fundamental research filling crucial gaps needed for its implementation. By applying the framework, we have successfully demonstrated the cross-disciplinary characterization of plausible climate futures and could conclude that limiting global warming to 1.5 °C is not plausible. CLICCS II, with its integrating approach, breaks new ground by exploring the plausibility of a much wider range of climate futures than has been possible before. Our approach will deepen our understanding of the fundamental natural dynamics of weather and climate under projected future warming, highlight mitigation efforts and adaptation strategies, and identify the social dynamics that enable or constrain effective societal responses to climate change and thus we will be able to explore how to realize desired climate futures. We will shape the scientific discourse on climate futures by conducting world-leading fundamental research and by showcasing our integrating approach to climate futures in science through a series of Hamburg Thought Experiments and accompanying publications. These experiments challenge researchers to think beyond established climate futures. With innovative knowledge transfer formats, we will target different actors in society to enable effective climate action. CLICCS II consolidates the Hamburg integrating research approach to climate science beyond the duration of CLICCS II through a joint appointment strategy across the leading climate research institutions in the Hamburg Metropolitan Area.
DFG Programme Clusters of Excellence (ExStra)
Applicant Institution Universität Hamburg
 
 

Additional Information

© 2026 DFG Disclaimer / Copyright / Privacy Policy

Textvergrößerung und Kontrastanpassung