Since its foundation in 1991, the Wuppertal Institute has worked on visions for a sustainable low carbon society. Today the institute comprises four research groups all working around the issue. These are: RG 1, Future Energy and Mobility Systems; RG 2, Energy, Climate and Transport Policy; RG 3, Material Flows and Resource Management; RG 4, Sustainable Production and Consumption. Our focus is to develop an integrated approach towards a sustainable low carbon society to reflect the interactions between different sectors, technologies and problems.
Already in 1990, the Enquête Commission “Protecting the Earth” of the German Federal Parliament proposed GHG emission reductions for Germany by 80% until 2050. Based on this target, the Wuppertal Institute conducted long-term scenario analyses of the German energy system which show that energy use can become much more efficient by 2050 and energy supply can be significantly converted to CHP and renewable energies. These scenarios are basic for the current long-term energy strategy which is annually updated by the German Federal Ministry of Environment. In another study we presented a “Global Factor Four Scenario” which was one of the first studies to describe a long term climate friendly energy scenario. Our most recent long-term energy scenario covers alternative energy scenarios for the Czech Republic. But scenarios do not cover only the national level. We also develop long-term visions for cities and metropolitan regions such as Hannover and Munich. For the EU we have developed several scenario studies with a mid-term perspective.
Today, 50 percent of the world's population lives in cities - a figure that is expected to climb up to 60 percent by 2025. They, however, account for roughly 75 percent of the global energy use and for 80 percent of the respective greenhouse gas emissions. That's why cities must lead the way when it comes to climate protection.
A big city like Munich in Germany can cut its CO2 emissions by up to 90 per cent by mid-century. This is the result of the new study "Sustainable Urban Infrastructure: Munich - Roads towards a Carbon-Free Future". Commissioned by Siemens, the Wuppertal Institute examined how a modern metropolis like Munich can drastically reduce the amount of CO2 it emits.
Key levers for cutting CO2 emissions are high-efficiency energy applications, in particular in buildings; and a transition to renewable and low carbon energy sources and infrastructures. The study shows that transforming a city into a virtually carbon-free urban environment will be a major challenge - one that can only be mastered if this aim becomes top priority for all stakeholders: decision makers, utilities, urban planners and, particularly, investors and residents.
The Wuppertal Institute co-operates with many research organisations in Germany in Europe and internationally. A particular focus in the development and conduction of our sustainable low carbon research is set on the close cooperation with other stakeholder groups such as governments, companies and NGOs which are often involved as contractors or partners in our projects. See www.wupperinst.org
The vision of a sustainable low carbon society is mainly driven by the target of the UNFCCC to prevent dangerous anthropogenic climate change. According to recent scientific results as well as broad political conclusions this means that global warming should be contained at a level below 2°C warming vs. pre-industrial levels, which requires a reduction of global GHG emissions by 60 or more percent vs. current levels by the mid of the century and those of industrialised countries by 80 to 95%. The task of sustainable low carbon society research is thus to provide concrete visions of societal and economical systems that are compatible with the climate restrictions. But at the same time a future society faces other challenges for sustainability such as resource restrictions as well as societal and economic aspects. The task is to find integrative strategies for a low carbon society which at the same time respect the other requirements of sustainable development.
The Wuppertal Institute’s research and agenda setting is dedicated to these targets since its foundation. It thus provides a wide range of scientific methodologies and topics in a multidisciplinary research team.
