Climate Research in Four Key Areas

Vulnerability and Adaptation

Several climate-related natural disasters in the past few years have shown that preparedness for such events is not sufficiently robust. We need to know more about the ways in which societal groups and sectors are vulnerable to climate change, and need to examine what influences our capacity to adapt to it and how measures can be best supported and implemented. Our research, therefore, aims to develop methods that help us assess what factors cause vulnerability, and analyse how preconditions are created for adapting to a changing climate. 

Climate Policy & Sustainable Development

Climate change is at our doorstep. It is a complex issue closely related to sustainable development, one of the principles for the UN’s climate convention. Today, the work aimed at decreasing emissions is interlinked with issues of adaptation, financial measures and forestry. Many different and newly emerging actors are actively participating in climate negotiations and climate-related work. At the CSPR, we study how the climate question is linked to other political areas such as development, trade, air traffic, land use and biodiversity.

Knowledge and Communication

We require more in-depth knowledge on how to limit our impact on the environment and to what extent we can adapt to a changing climate.So that this knowledge contributes to robust decision-making on these issues, a dialogue is needed between researches and other key actors in societyto discuss issues from identifying the real problems to finding sustainable solutions.The CSPR conducts research into active involvement and research communication, with a focus on the climate change issue. For instance, we are developing platforms for visualization and tools for participatory processes.

Conditions for low carbon energy

To improve the conditions for bio-energy, research is needed in areas such as international climate and energy politics, public finances, social patterns, ecology, technical systems and technology development. Together with other research groups at LiU[you should spell this out]and SMHI, we are studying opportunities and obstacles in order to influence energy production towards a more sustainable direction, with bio-energy as an important component.