News

"Absolutely necessary": legal expert Gerhard Schnedl on the EU Nature Restoration Law

Some celebrate it as a milestone for nature conservation, others demonise it as an existential threat to agriculture: the EU Nature Restoration Law, which came into force in August 2024, is considered the centrepiece of the European Green Deal. Its aim is to restore damaged ecosystems in the member states. Gerhard Schnedl, a legal expert at the "ClimLaw:Graz" research centre for climate protection law, considers the new law to be absolutely necessary. What its implementation means for agriculture and forestry in particular will be the focus of the 7th Graz Environmental Law Forum on November 20 at the University of Graz.

Reliable forecasting of extreme weather: new study supports improvement of climate models

Torrential rainfall such as that recently experienced in Spain is just one form of extreme weather event that is becoming more frequent as a result of climate change. With catastrophic consequences. Storms, droughts and heatwaves are also increasing in intensity. One of the decisive factors for the damage they cause is their duration. However, it is not yet possible to reliably predict this using current climate models. A research team led by Albert Ossó from the Wegener Center at the University of Graz has now succeeded in identifying some of the causes of this modelling problem. The new findings, which have been published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, might help to improve the accuracy of climate models and thus forecasts of extreme weather events in Europe.

7. Grazer Umweltrechtsforum

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Excellent and climate-friendly: University of Graz presents Green Academia Award 2024

How can outstanding academic achievements and sustainable mobility be successfully combined when travelling on business? The philosophers of the University of Graz show how. For achieving these combined goals, the discipline received the first prize in the Green Academia Award 2024, endowed with 50,000 euros. Earth Sciences came in second place, with a prize of 20,000 euros. Third place, with 10,000 euros, went to Environmental Systems Sciences. The award ceremony took place as part of the Sustainability Day.

New climate records

Whether in terms of greenhouse gas concentrations, temperatures across the globe, ocean heat and global sea level, total land area in extreme drought or the melting of Antarctica sea ice– the highest values since records began were measured in 2023. The latest international annual report on the state of the climate, published by the National Center for Environmental Information of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, documents the rapid warming of the Earth and its consequences. In 2023, El Niño acted as an additional booster. Researchers from the University of Graz also contributed to the report.

Konstruktive Klimakommunikation

Wenn es um Klimaschutz geht, dann werden Debatten schnell emotional und polarisierend. Damit sich konstruktive Lösungen für die Transformation von Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft entwickeln lassen, die von allen mitgetragen werden, braucht es einen breiten Austausch. Von 25. bis 26. September 2024 bietet der internationale K3-Kongress an der Uni Graz Gelegenheit, darüber zu diskutieren, wie Klimakommunikation den gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt auf dem Weg in eine gute Zukunft stärken kann. Thomas Brudermann, einer der Keynote Speaker, ist überzeugt, dass es Achtsamkeit braucht, um die Menschen für diese gemeinsame Herausforderung zu gewinnen.

Extreme weather: Researchers at University of Graz study causes of heavy rain

Researchers at the University of Graz are investigating how warm Mediterranean temperatures influence the intensity of heavy rain in Austria. Their research helps to better understand the dynamics of extreme Mediterranean weather conditions.

Hunga eruption changes the atmosphere: researchers show effects

Less than a week ago, lava began to bubble up from the earth again in Iceland. In Sicily, Mount Etna does not come to rest. The eruption of a volcano can have massive consequences for a region. But its breath can also reach far beyond. During the eruption of Hunga in January 2022, the largest volcanic event of the 21st century to date, an unprecedented amount of water vapour was released into the upper atmosphere. Researchers from the Wegener Center at the University of Graz, in collaboration with colleagues from the USA, have investigated the changes in these high layers of air. They found an exceptional cooling of the stratosphere. This has far-reaching effects on the atmosphere and the climate. The study has recently been published in Communications Earth & Environment.

More news

Extreme heat affects child mortality in Africa

It is a sustainable development goal of the United Nations to reduce child mortality to 25 deaths per 1000 livebirths in children younger than five…

Greenhouse gas emissions decline in Austria: researchers reveal causes

Good news: greenhouse gas emissions in Austria fell by 6.4 percent in 2023, as announced by the Federal Ministry for Climate Action and the…

K3-Kongress zu Klimakommunikation

Der kommende K3-Kongress zu Klimakommunikation findet von 25.- 26. September 2024 an der Universität Graz/Österreich statt.

Wissens-Export nach Südostasien: Know-how zum Klimawandel für Thailand und Vietnam

„Giftiger Smog in Bangkok“ – Die gesundheitsgefährdende Luftverschmutzung in der thailändischen Hauptstadt sorgte zuletzt im Februar für Schlagzeilen.…

Arctic adventure: Florina Schalamon on the challenges facing female polar explorers

Field research at the end of the world. On a ship in the Arctic Ocean, in a remote station or in a tent in the far north, at minus 40 degrees. A real…

Climate change and biodiversity: Gesäuse National Park becomes an open-air laboratory

The University of Graz and the Gesäuse National Park enter into a co-operation and create a unique open-air laboratory. Water sources, forests and…

Heatwaves: University of Graz presents Plan for seamless early warning system

An international research team led by the University of Graz is investigating the challenges of a global early warning system for heat. The…

Climate Change Graz Post Doc Fellowship

The guest researchers for the new academic year have been selected!