Monthly focus

Warmer Europe: how climate is changing our lives

04 November 2015

Incidents of flooding are expected to increase if climate change continues its current course. Image credit: Shutterstock/ Skynavin

As world leaders prepare to meet in Paris to try to agree ambitious emissions reduction goals, Horizon looks at EU research that is helping us understand how climate change will affect our lives, and how individuals and industries will have to adapt.

Researchers have estimated the five-year mean forecast from November 2014 and found that the global average temperature is expected to remain high, with specific regions varying between one-and-a-half degrees cooler to one-and-a-half degrees warmer. This work was supported by the Joint DECC/Defra Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Programme (GA01101).

environment

24 November 2015

World on track for catastrophic warming – forecasters

The level of greenhouse gas emissions being produced around the world means that, as things stand, temperatures are likely to rise by around 4.5 degrees by 2100, unless significant reductions are agreed, sophisticated climate simulations show.

Climate change is projected to increase flooding, which could be one factor that causes migration. Credit: Shutterstock/Nebojsa Markovic

environment

16 November 2015

Regional rivalry and climate migration possible ‘within our lifetimes’

Droughts, floods, changing agriculture and rising sea levels. The list of climate change impacts goes on, but what exactly can we expect within our lifetimes?

To reduce emissions, economists should use indicators other than GDP to measure economic success, say researchers. Credit: Shutterstock/ Doin Oakenhelm

environment | social sciences

09 November 2015

How can Europe achieve green growth?

It is possible for Europe to shift to a decarbonised economy – and even achieve full employment at the same time – but only if there is government leadership, large upfront investment, and a new way of measuring economic outputs, according to researchers who are coming up with a strategy for how the EU can achieve this.

Prof. Ricardo García Mira believes happiness is not dependent on material wellbeing. Image courtesy of Prof. Ricardo García Mira

environment | social sciences | interview

04 November 2015

Leading a green lifestyle could help us be more satisfied – Prof. Ricardo García Mira

People will need to lead less materialistic lifestyles if we are to transition to a green economy, but the challenge in changing actual behaviours and lifestyles lies in overcoming our ingrained notions about consumption, success and happiness.

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The Square Kilometre Array, which is depicted through an artist's impression, will begin construction in 2020. Image credit - SKA Organisation

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Digital communication between ships could help optimise shipping routes and reduce fuel consumption. Image credit - B.S. Halpern (T. Hengl; D. Groll) / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Electric ferries and joined-up shipping to turn sea travel green

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Warmer Europe: how climate is changing our lives

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World on track for catastrophic warming – forecasters