The challenge of climate change
Climate change and biodiversity loss pose serious threats to present-day society. The Earth and the development of life, natural and energy resources, environment and climate issues, natural disasters and sustainable development: everything is interconnected. Climate change is a complex societal challenge that requires cross-cutting knowledge from multiple research areas. Innovative approaches are needed to meet the manifold challenges of climate change.
We now know that all the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities results in global warming, with consequences for our planet and all life. Climate change is already affecting our day-to-day lives, with rising food prices and a declining supply of clean drinking water. Research and education are needed in the urgent quest for answers to some of the most burning issues raised by climate change. Research on climate change encompasses areas ranging from nature and natural resources, biodiversity, energy and ecosystems, to psychology, economics, politics and society. How can we reverse the trend?
Examples of ongoing research
Keen to see more applied environmental policy research
“I would like to see a great deal more applied environmental research in social sciences,” says Sver ...
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Worms, bacteria and fungi help reduce carbon dioxide emissions
Can we use the Earth's own natural thermostat and accelerate the process to help reduce global warmi ...
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Climate change influences infection via ticks and mosquitoes
Infections spread via mosquitoes and ticks are becoming increasingly common. Tove Hoffman, Researche ...
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Centres, nodes, infrastructures and projects
Uppsala University Sustainability Initiatives (UUSI)
Climate change leadership is one of five research initiatives in the platform Uppsala University Sustainability Initiatives (UUSI). In climate change leadership, researchers from the University’s three disciplinary domains collaborate on international and national perspectives on the governance and regulation of climate issues, the role of universities in climate change leadership and conflicts linked to climate change.
Uppsala University Sustainability Initiatives
Climate Change Leadership Node
The overall objective of the Climate Change Leadership Node is to actively create an inter- and cross-disciplinary intellectual environment that combines education, research and outreach in innovative ways and applies knowledge through equitable and just climate measures.
Climate Change Leadership Node
Erken Laboratory
The Erken Laboratory field station has served since the 1940s as a combined research station and study centre for researchers and students at Uppsala University. The laboratory has developed an extensive monitoring programme for Lake Erken, which has led to participation in several major EU projects focusing on the impact of climate change and automatic monitoring of phytoplankton trends in lakes.
Swedish Infrastructure for Ecosystem Science (SITES)
Uppsala University is one of five principals responsible for the Swedish Infrastructure for Ecosystem Science (SITES), a national infrastructure for terrestrial and limnological field research. SITES aims to attract and promote high-quality research through long-term field measurements and field experiments and by making data available.