Research concept
The Centre for Climate Resilience is guided by a comprehensive inter- and transdisciplinary research focus on climate resilience, which emphasises the interactions between humans, climate, and the environment. We understand climate resilience as the reduction of vulnerabilities and the increase of resistance and adaptability to the consequences of climate change. Climate resilience goes beyond mere climate adaptation: the interactions of all adaptation measures and their limits must be taken into account, synergies utilised and conflicts between the individual measures avoided.
Based on this concept, the following research areas of the ZfK have emerged:
Research Areas
Natural climate science research
on the atmosphere, ecosystems as well as soil and water resources.
Human geographic and sociological research
on climate change-induced socio-ecological transformations.
Environmental health research
on the interactions between climate, environment and health, such as infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases and their consequences.
Health services research
on the creation of climate-resilient health systems.
Historical research
on how past societies dealt with climate- and environment-induced crises.
Educational research and climate communication
Political science research
on climate policy and governance in multi-level systems.
Research on the design of climate-resilient economic and financial systems
Legal research on crisis resilience
Structure and integration into the university
Research at the Centre for Climate Resilience at the University of Augsburg is carried out in a cross-faculty and inter- and transdisciplinary manner with the participation of the faculties of
- Applied Computer Science,
- Medicine,
- Business and Economics,
- Humanities and Social Sciences,
- Philology and History
- Law
- Catholic Theology
and in close cooperation with the Environmental Science Center and the Resource Lab of the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Materials Engineering at the University of Augsburg.
Networking
The Centre for Climate Resilience can draw on existing structures and networks with national and international university alliances, non-university research institutions, and federal and state authorities. Through scientific visibility and concerted public relations work, the Centre will perform a crucial, overarching and socially-relevant role in providing scientifically sound decision-making support for society, business, and politics, thereby working towards a more climate-resilient future.