The only way to get climate change under control is through globally coordinated action. How then should an effective, international climate regime be designed? States, regions, and cities need to intensify their own efforts while also supporting the least developed countries and encouraging them to pursue post-carbon development. The Wuppertal Institute conducts research into the mechanisms and instruments that are best suited for this purpose and how the architecture of international climate negotiations should evolve.

For industrialised countries and emerging economies alike, this means setting a course to bring greenhouse gas emissions down to near-zero levels by 2050 at the latest and to largely decarbonise energy systems. By that time – if not earlier – the era of coal, oil and natural gas as the foundation of the economy will need to have come to an end. The energy landscape will be very different by the middle of the century. But although the transition has already begun, it must pick up speed. The Wuppertal Institute has shown how systemic change can be achieved and how greenhouse-gas-neutral energy and industrial systems can be developed.

Ultimately, the necessary transition will only succeed if everyone contributes. Many cities, communities and companies have long since embarked on this journey by setting ambitious climate targets and working hard to achieve them. The Wuppertal Institute supports actors in Germany's federal states, municipalities and economy by developing concepts and strategies that go beyond simply describing ways of reducing emissions. This work ensures that these partners are on the right track and that businesses and the general public are engaged and will benefit from the transformation.

In 2008, Germany's federal government adopted a German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change for the first time, which it has continued to update ever since. More and more adaptation plans and laws have also been drawn up at federal state and municipal level. Nevertheless, the efforts are insufficient given the changes that are already apparent and those that are very likely to occur in the future.

When implementing adaptation measures, it is important to understand them as part of a holistic strategy and to avoid taking an approach that is too narrow. One area in which this is the case is urban development, where many challenges come together in a small space. That is why the Wuppertal Institute brings together different avenues of discussion and various disciplines in its research projects on adaptation to the impacts of climate change. The Institute examines the development of resilient forms of technical infrastructure, taking into account their interfaces and how they are socially embedded in cities. By providing strategic policy advice, the Institute supports public and private institutions and decision makers in developing integrated approaches to climate change adaptation. Furthermore, the Institute is involved in the practical implementation of measures in real-world laboratories. From a concept perspective, this work draws on a wide range of research methods, such as guideline development, participatory procedures and multi-criteria assessments. More detailed information is available in this paper: Methods of Climate Change Adaptation

Ultimately, effective climate protection is about more than new sources of energy and innovative technologies. From what and how much we consume to what the things we use are made of and how they are produced – all of our everyday decisions affect the climate. There are various things we need in order to adopt sustainable lifestyles, including climate-friendly products, transparency and, above all, clear frameworks for consumers and support from policymakers. These come under the Wuppertal Institute's areas of research.