News

Climate change update: ClimateTracer of the University of Graz provides reliable data

Yesterday, the Copernicus Climate Change Service of the European Union published its data on global warming up to end of November 2024. These confirm that this year will see the 1.5 °C threshold clearly exceeded for the first time. The Wegener Center at the University of Graz already computed an accurate full-year prediction: the global near-surface air temperature in 2024 will rise by 1.62 °C – plus/minus 0.05 °C standard deviation – compared to the pre-industrial level. Such latest predictions for 2024 and other essential data on climate change are provided by the scientists via the Graz Climate Change Indicators (GCCI) portal.

Novel Methods of Semiconductor Manufacturing: University of Graz is partner in EU project

How can technological innovations be aligned with principles of sustainability and circularity? This is a challenge being tackled by researchers at the Department of Environmental Systems Sciences at the University of Graz. As a partner in a new EU project, the team, led by Rupert Baumgartner, is contributing its expertise in sustainability assessment for the semiconductor manufacturing process. The focus of the research project “HaloFreeEtch” is on developing innovative, environmentally friendly etching methods for semiconductors.

A result that we can continue to work with: Climate law expert Oliver Ruppel on the COP29

The UN Climate Change Conference, COP29, came to an end last Sunday in Baku, Azerbaijan. Disappointing for many: too little money to support developing countries in the fight against climate change and no movement on phasing out fossil fuels. However, Oliver Ruppel, Head of "Clim:Law: Graz – Research Centre for Climate Law", can certainly take something from the outcome. He explains why in this interview.

"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.

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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.

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