Aarhus University Seal

Climate

CLIMATE

Ever since the mid-nineteenth century, people have been aware of the importance of the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as regards the heat balance of the Earth, and thereby the climate. However, a wider interest in this subject first arose in the 1980s when the Brundtland Report was published. This led to the establishment of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), which collects and assesses scientific literature about climate change, and regularly publishes reports. According to the IPCC, we run the risk of serious human-induced climate changes unless we initiate a significant reduction in the global emission of greenhouse gases.

Global environmental problem

The greenhouse gas that is mostly responsible for the human-induced impact on the heat balance is carbon dioxide, which comes from burning fossil fuels. Also of significance are changes to land use – particularly in the form of deforestation. The solution to this global environmental problem can only be resolved via international collaboration and regulations, where the Kyoto Protocol plays a key role.

Aarhus University’s contribution

DCE’s activities regarding the climate include submitting reports of greenhouse gas emissions to the Climate Convention, and conducting studies of the impact of climate change on nature and the environment. Aarhus University has established an interdisciplinary centre for climate change called iClimate.  

Research

Research into climate change and its impact is carried out in many of the university’s fields of study. Emission reports and analyses of the impact of climate change are carried out at the Department of Environmental Science, while studies of the impact of climate change on nature and the environment are mostly carried out at the Department of Ecoscience.

Consultancy services for the Danish Ministry of the Environment

DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy provides consultancy services for the public sector, including work carried out via the framework agreement between Aarhus University and the Danish Ministry of the Environment (available in Danish only).

On the topic of climate, DCE provides consultancy services for the Danish Ministry of the Environment and the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building in the areas of:

  • Impact of climate change on freshwater ecosystems
  • Climate effects in marine areas in Denmark and the Arctic
  • Emissions into the air
  • Climate and air pollution

Other areas of consultancy

DCE offers services and consultancy to other public and private sector customers in all our areas of expertise. All consultancy services are based on internationally acknowledged research.

Read more about DCE's consultancy services.