Energy and Climate

The dominant systems of energy in the world today are still based on fossil fuels, which are counteracting sustainable development due to their damaging effects on the environment. Especially climate change, caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, poses a big challenge for humankind.

The theme “energy and climate” focuses on two main topics: On the one hand, SERI explores more sustainable configurations of energy systems to reduce the negative impacts on the environment. On the other hand, SERI analyses different effects of climate change and explores how to deal with them.

SERI has two main focal points in working with energy and climate:

1. Characterisation of sustainable energy systems related to the supply-side (renewable energy) and the demand-side (increased energy efficiency and consumer behaviour) as well as the modelling and analysis of effects on economy and ecology.
2. Researching socio-economic drivers of climate change and scrutinizing the (future) effects of climate change on economy, ecology and society. SERI thus develops measures to reduce climate change and its consequences. A thematic focus of our work in this regard is biodiversity.

To do this, we employ the following methods:

• Participatory development of energy scenarios
• Economic-ecological (participatory) modelling of scenarios
• Development of criteria and indicators
• Integrated Sustainability Assessment or Multi-criteria Assessment approaches
• Trans-disciplinary development of policy recommendations