Social Dimensions of Climate Protection and Climate Change

The topic "Social Dimensions of Climate Protection and Climate Change" addresses an area of social concern that is hugely topical. To this end, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding 12 projects.

It is plausible that no societal action strategies for countering climate change can be derived from the findings of natural science research alone. How people perceive climate change, which consequences it has for them, and whether and to what degree they are prepared to implement suitable strategies depends very much on their social and cultural environment. For example, unusually long droughts in parts of Africa and Latin America are not likely to be regarded by those affected as a climate change phenomenon, but as social disasters in that they may cause famine or violent disputes over resources.
A considerable source of conflict lies in the fact that people are affected or will be affected in very different ways by climate change and climate protection measures as a result of their geographic and socio-economic situation. An impression of the expected conflicts between various interest groups or countries is conveyed by the argument over the contribution of biofuels to secure energy supply versus food safety or on the pros and cons of state grants for energy costs for people with low incomes.
Beyond the varied concerns in the North and South it is now clear that it is the lower-income sectors of the population who will suffer the most from the effects of climate change and the burdens resulting from climate protection measures.
Against this background the thematic focus "Social Dimensions of Climate Protection and Climate Change" should contribute

• to improving understanding of the social causes and impacts of climate change and also to supporting the drawing up of climate protection and adaptation measures by avoiding the exclusion of population groups and promoting acceptance.
• to strengthening social and humanistic skills in the area of climate research.
• to presenting scientific findings on climate change and technical, planning and economic tools for implementing climate protection measures and adaptation strategies with relation to social issues in order to, firstly, identify and correctly assess potential conflicts in good time and, secondly, to identify possible ways of acting (including unexpected ones).
  

Here you will find more research on this topic:

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  Junior Research Groups

  Thirteen young researchers selected in the second call for junior research groups under the SÖF funding programme began setting up scientific research groups and detailing the specific subjects for their projects in 2008. The four-year funding period for these research projects began in 2009. The work done by these junior researchers will revolve in particular around climate protection, biodiversity and developing background information for use by the political sector. more (URL: http://www.sozial-oekologische-forschung.org/en/714.php)