Challenges in times of climatic changes (Daniela Jacob)

• 07 May 2025
• 3:30–4:15 p.m
• Lecture Hall 5

The consequences of climate change are becoming more and more noticeable, as we can currently experience not only globally but also locally. Persistent periods of heat, heavy rain or flood events are becoming more and more frequent. Based on the results of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it is clear that in some regions of the world fewer droughts, heat waves, heavy rain events and floods would occur if global warming could be reduced to 1.5°C instead of 2°C by the end of this century. It is therefore high time to promote climate change mitigation and adaptation to the effects ofclimate change for all sectors and the society to avoid any further warming. Every half a degree counts. However, there are not only risks of climate change, but also opportunities on the way to a climate-adapted, resilient society in a 1.5°C world. Consequently, there is an urgent need to empower local communities to act and implement solutions towards a sustainable and climate resilient transformation. Science can play a major role by combining sound scientific work and innovative solution-oriented methods with the stakeholder-driven views and expertise on challenges and their solution and transformation needs.

Prof. Dr. Daniela Jacob is an honorary professor at Leuphana University Lüneburg and heads the Climate Service Centre Germany (GERICS) at the Helmholtz Centre Hereon. She is also chair of the Climate Advisory Council of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, the German Committee for Sustainability Research in Future Earth (DKN) and co-chair of WPN2030.
Her research focuses on regional climate modelling, climate services, adaptation to climate change and climate-resilient development. As coordinating lead author, she played a key role in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C.