Climate Office for Central Germany

Background and Goals

Climate change will take different forms in different regions. Farmers, coastal engineers, urban planners and political and business decision makers need first-hand information so that they can equip themselves to deal with climate change in their region. The Helmholtz community has therefore decided to establish a network of climate offices across Germany.

To do this, four regional climate offices collate and communicate research findings on regional climate change, identify information needs and integrate these into research programmes:

1. Northern German climate office - focuses on the research areas of storms, storm floods and waves, and energy and water cycles in Northern Germany;

2. Climate office for polar regions and sea level rises - covers climate change issues in polar regions, with particular focus on sea levels;

3. Southern German climate office - provides expertise in regional climate modelling and extreme events such as heavy precipitation and flooding;

4. Central German climate office - provides information on the impact of climate change in terms of the environment, land use and society, as well as proposing adaptation strategies.

Objectives:

The regional effects of climate change observed and possible in the future have brought a constant increase in the demand for advice and information about climate change in recent years. As a response to this, the UFZ has set up the Central German Climate Office in conjunction with the environmental authorities and ministries in Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. The Central German climate office provides information on the impact of climate change in terms of the environment, land use and society, as well as proposing adaptation strategies. The key objective of the climate office is to collate, publish and communicate this information with a regional focus on the states of Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. In return, practical information requirements will be identified. This will enable research projects to be more focused on needs and thus more targeted.

Content time

Research area/region

Country
  • Germany
Region of implementation (all German federal states)
  • Saxony
  • Saxony-Anhalt
  • Thuringia
Natural spatial classification
  • Erz Mountains, Thuringian Forest and Bavarian Forest
  • North-East German lowland
  • North-West German lowland
  • South-Eeastern basin and hills
  • Central low mountain ranges and Harz

Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change

Step 1: Understand and describe climate change

Approach and results 

Based on IPCC 2007 and current regional climate models

Parameter (climate signals)
  • Higher average temperatures
  • Dry periods
Further Parameters 

other climate parameters from regional climate models

Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact

Approach and results 

Provision of information about visible and future effects of climate change for the environment, land use and society.

Step 3: Develop and compare measures

Measures and/or strategies 

Supporting adaptation to climate change with information and communication.

Time horizon
  • 2011–2040 (near future)
  • 2021–2050 (near future)
  • 2036–2065
  • 2051–2080 (far future)
  • 2071–2100 (far future)

Participants

Funding / Financing 

Helmholtz Association

Project management 

Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ)

Contact

Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ)
Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4
D-06120 Halle/Saale

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Fields of action:
 agriculture  biological diversity  coastal and marine protection  energy infrastructure  financial services industry  fishery  human health and care  industry and commerce  spatial planning, urban and settlement development  tourism industry  water regime and water management  cross sectoral