Expertise

Climate Protection & Adaptation

Tackling causes & managing consequences.

The global climate is changing at a pace that is unparalleled in the history of the earth. Climate mitigation actions target the causes of climate change, first and foremost by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change adaptation addresses the inevitable consequences of the changing climate.

Climate change mitigation – rigorous system transformation

The most important task in curbing global warming is the reduction of greenhouse gases. This may include the removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The reduction of greenhouse gases necessitates a transformation of the energy system. It also requires the efficient use of emission-free energy sources and extensive changes to industries, transportation and buildings.

The demands are enormous: The transformation should cost economies as little as possible, continue to allow for interconnected industrial value creation, be socially balanced and provide developing and emerging countries room to prosper.

Climate change adaptation – handling the consequences of climate change

Adaptation means taking meaningful action to confront climate change. In contrast to climate change mitigation strategies, adaptation seeks to address the negative consequences of an already occurring or expected climate change, to reduce risks and to realise opportunities.

National and international relationships along the value chain will also be disrupted more frequently and intensively by climate change. The resilience of these systems is, therefore, also an important part in the design of adaptation processes.  
All levels – from politics and companies to the individual – must take decisive and joint action to achieve the goal of a climate-resilient economy and society.

Climate protection & adaptation: A selection of our services

Energy and Climate Change Mitigation Scenarios

Through our energy and climate change mitigation scenarios, we analyze how the long-term transformation of energy and economic systems can succeed, and which preconditions need to be established, for instance regarding policy. For this purpose, we deploy our detailed bottom-up energy system models.

Monitoring and Ex-Post-Analyses

We perform monitoring and ex-post analyses to examine factors driving energy consumption and emission developments in recent years.

Evaluations

We evaluate energy and climate change mitigation policy instruments.

Regional Adaption Strategies

We develop and support regional adaptation strategies towards resilient spatial designs.

Impact on Supply Chains

We analyze the effects of climate change on the supply chains of the economy and businesses.

Regional Economic Portraits

We compile regional economic portraits of the interactions between freight transport and the economic implications from long-term climate change signals.

Our work on this topic

Take a look at our latest projects and activities.

DG REGIO – Evaluation of the European Green Deal

ongoing
| Project

How effective has the EU cohesion policy been in driving green change in Europe? This and other questions are being investigated jointly with COWI, Milieu, and CSIL, on behalf of the European Commission (DG REGIO).

Klima-Hackathon in NRW

| Event

Studierende verschiedenster Fachrichtungen aus NRW haben die Chance, Lösungsansätze für die unternehmerische Klimaanpassung zu entwickeln.

Dutch Circular Economy Week: Workshop on circular business models

| Event

Greta Dekker presents the work of the Green Economy Network (KNUW) and introduces participants to circular business models using a learning game.

Evolving23 – Climate adaption in rural areas

| Event

The Evolving23 conference focuses on the implementation of climate adaptation measures. Lukas Eiserbeck provides information on financing climate adaptation measures.

The world negotiates on climate

2022
| News

On Sunday, the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) begins. Various media sources have picked up on Prognos’ studies and expertise.

Eleven measures to achieve 2030 climate target

2022
| Project

Germany risks not hitting its 2030 climate objectives. The Forum Ökologisch-Soziale Marktwirtschaft proposes eleven measures. We assessed their impact on climate protection in the transport and building sectors.

Ecological transformation and the labour market in Schleswig-Holstein

ongoing
| Project

How many experts will be required for Schleswig-Holstein to implement climate protection measures? What are the key professions for successful implementation?

Zero Waste Concept Munich

2022
| Project

We supported the Wuppertal Institute in the development of the Zero Waste Concept Munich for Munich’s waste management services (AWM).

Estimation of costs resulting from climate change in Germany

2023
| Project

Heatwave, drought, floods – for the BMWK and BMUV we have systematically combined the quantifiable costs of extreme weather events in Germany since 2000 and supplemented them with detailed studies.

Evolving Regions

ongoing
| Project

How can climate adaptation measures be implemented more effectively in regional processes? Prognos is conducting research as part of the EU-funded "Evolving Regions" project with six part-ners.

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Dr Almut Kirchner

Director, Partner

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Oliver Lühr

Vice Director, Head of Environmental, Circular Economy and Climate Change

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About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

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