Climate Forcing, Ecosystems and Health (CLEHE)

Our research community addresses two urgent global grand challenges: climate change and air pollution. We are involved in studying fundamental questions at the heart of the coupled air quality-climate change problem. These include natural and anthropogenic emissions, natural feedback mechanisms, mitigation policies and actions, including their legal and technical aspects, as well as human health effects of these environmental problems.

Together our research groups that represent different disciplines aim to quantify various direct and indirect health effects of climate change and mitigation measures, and to increase understanding on effect pathways. Our research focus related to the natural feedback mechanisms is on biosphere-atmosphere interactions, biological responses to management and climate change, and aerosol forcing in the changing ecosystems. We also focus on CO2 recirculation (renewable fuels and chemicals) and overall emission reduction technologies in small scale energy production, transportation (catalysts and battery technology), and further the interplay between new technologies, air pollutants, human health and climate. Our research also covers the functioning of climate law and policy at the international, European, national and sub-national levels, as well as gaps, linkages and synergies in the regulation of climate change and air quality.

Overall, the research community conducts scientifically significant, internationally recognized multidisciplinary research of wide societal relevance and impact.