Project
The consequences of climate change will put public infrastructures increasingly at risk. In order to ensure that essential basic needs such as energy and transport are met, both the state and the utilities sector will need to consider adaptation measures in good time. This is where the Chameleon Research Group came in. It investigated and developed government and business adaptation measures for companies which provide public utility services in the energy and transport sector. At the same time it examined the best ways of coordinating the action taken by government and industry.
The research project was directed at scientific and political communities, government agencies, utility companies and industry trade associations, which are facing an increasing need to address adaptation to climate change.
Project Goals
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Integrated analysis of factors (organizational, regulatory and climatological) that impede or promote adaptation of selected utility companies, which are closely involved in the project as partners
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Compatibility analysis of business and political adaptation in the context of the options which are available and the restrictions which apply
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Generalization of the factors which typically impede or promote adaptation as well as business and political instruments for developing, assessing and implementing adaptation measures; the results will be presented in the form of a compendium for people who are actively involved in the adaptation process
Research Design
The research group analyzed economic policy instruments and links them to climatological scenarios and case studies effected at selected companies which are actively involved in the project. Qualitative and quantitative methods as well as economic models were used to perform compatibility analyses; the results are systematically generalized by means of the archetype approach
Products
The project aimed to initiate societal change towards successful adaption to climate change. The following products were planned:
- scientific publications and conference papers
- workshops with companies in the energy and transport sectors as well as a cross-sectoral symposium for companies in the public utility industry
- a compendium for business and politics with universally applicable instruments for developing, assessing and implementing adaptation measures
Project Management
- Prof. Dr. Klaus Eisenack, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
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Dr. Esther Hoffmann, Institut für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung (IÖW), Berlin
Funding
Financial aid for the project was provided within the Socio-Ecological Research (SÖF) as part of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) program to promote young research talent.
Project Duration
1 October 2009 – 30 September 2014