In a new study from Universität Hamburg’s (UHH) “Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society” (CLICCS), researchers found that keeping the 1.5°C temperature target is currently not plausible. The researchers came to this conclusion by analyzing social drivers and physical processes, taking disruptive events into account, such as the COVID19-pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The study finds that social drivers play a key role in decarbonization, but they are currently insufficient to reach deep decarbonization by 2050, which is necessary to attain the Paris Agreement temperature goals.

Physical tipping points have limited influence on these temperature goals but are important in shaping the conditions for life on Earth. The study thus argues that desirable climate futures will only become plausible through multiple societal transformations. The panelists at the event will discuss the plausibility of and ways forward to shape desirable climate futures.

· Anita Engels, Professor for Sociology, especially Globalization, Environment and Society, Universität Hamburg

· Andrés López-Rivera, Postdoctoral Researcher, Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climate Change and Society (CLICCS), Universität Hamburg

· Johanna Lovecchio, Director of Program Design for Climate Action, Climate School, Columbia University

· Samira Siddique, Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Climate and Inequality, Climate Museum

· Jan Wilkens, Postdoctoral Researcher, Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climate Change and Society (CLICCS), Universität Hamburg

Registration is free but required to attend the event.

Date and Time: May 16, 2023 – 6PM – 8:30PM (EDT)

Location: German House, 871 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017

Registration