Lower Saxony Centre for Climate Research

Lower Saxony has a very diverse landscape, climate, society and economy. It is home to numerous universities, colleges and research institutions, all of which have been studying climate change and its impacts for decades.

The Lower Saxony Centre for Climate Research (ZKfN) was founded in 2023 to give this research and dedication a decisive boost in the coming years, to offer support and to facilitate strategic connections. We see ourselves as the central point of intersection for all stakeholders working on climate research and climate impact research in Lower Saxony. This is the place where experts from science, civil society, politics and the economy come together for a common purpose. By making the best use of the diverse perspectives of everyone involved, new approaches and potential solutions will emerge, along with ideas for their implementation.

Our mission#

• In trans- and interdisciplinary research projects on climate change and its impacts, we develop interdisciplinary solutions for a safe and just climate future.
• We effectively connect academic and non-academic research as well as partners from industry and civil society, creating a vast network across Lower Saxony and beyond.
• We establish and nourish innovative formats and platforms for science communication, thus encouraging society at large to share in scientific insights, and enabling exchanges that promote knowledge sharing and implementation.
• We empower various stakeholders to become agents for change at their institutions, thus promoting sustainability-related shifts towards better climate protection.

Topic-specific Climate Future Labs form the organisational core of the ZKfN. There, trans- and interdisciplinary research consortia research and develop solutions for a safe and just climate future.

The ZKfN secretariat coordinates the network’s central activities and supports collaboration between the Climate Future Labs, partner organisations and other stakeholders. Its work focuses on the strategic development of the ZKfN, networking, and knowledge transfer and exchange, for example through events, discussion forums and non-academic publications.

Funding
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The Lower Saxony Climate Research Centre and its Climate Future Labs are funded by the ‘zukunft.niedersachsen’ programme run by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the Volkswagen Foundation.