Empa makes eco-cement
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Climate scenarios made simple

#climate change #co2 #environment #online tool #research

Climate change is too complex for most laypersons to really understand its effects. Researchers have now launched an interactive online platform that offers easily understandable insights into the most important scenarios and models.

Our planet is getting hotter: climate demo

Within the framework of the “SENSES” consortium, the climatescenarios.org platform was implemented by experts from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Wageningen University (WUR), and the Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI).

Scientists have been using climate scenarios that are based on computer simulations for many years, but they are admittedly a somewhat complicated matter, and the results of their analyses are scattered across far too many scientific publications," says project manager Elmar Kriegler from the PIK.

Playing weather god

The goal of the new website is to “enable a wide range of stakeholders to tap into climate scenarios from the scientific community”. It should raise awareness of “what is at stake when it comes to climate stabilization”, Kriegler explained.

By manipulating scenarios on the platform, users can learn to understand complex relationships between carbon dioxide emissions, economic developments, or the transition of the energy system. In addition, the platform’s “Scenario Explorer” offers the opportunity to browse a large number of pre-calculated models.

Written by: sda

Photos: keystone

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A smart path into a sustainable future

Sustainability is no longer a distant dream but a present and pressing reality. Climate change and environmental degradation are forcing companies to take action. They must innovate and implement smart sustainability solutions, says Carlos Sanchez, a renowned sustainability visionary who shared with us the latest sustainability trends that can help build robust, resilient, and sustainable businesses.
September 28th, 2023
Mechanics performing maintenance work on an aircraft

Researchers make non-recyclable plastic recyclable

Swiss researchers have developed a new type of recyclable plastic that could be used in aircraft, cars or wind turbines in the future.
October 2nd, 2023
Recycled asphalt was used on the Lucmanier Pass

More recycled asphalt on Swiss roads

Tests with recycled asphalt on Swiss roads show promising results. In Uster ZH and on the Lukmanier Pass GR, the proportion of recycled asphalt could be increased without any loss of performance, according to Empa.
October 16th, 2023
a photovoltaic system on a house facade

Sun soon to be the most important source of energy

The sun is likely to become the world's most important source of energy before 2050, according to British scientists. This is the result of an analysis of technological and economic data by the University of Exeter and University College London.
November 27th, 2023
A hospital room with two beds divided by a curtain

Germicidal textiles for hospitals

A new process developed by Swiss researchers makes textiles germicidal. In future, this could be used to coat curtains in hospitals.
December 25th, 2023
G.V. Shivashankar arbeitet am PSI und der ETH Zürich

Fountain of youth for cells

Reprogrammed cells allow wounds in older people to heal faster. This could, for example, help burn victims.
January 1st, 2024
A scientist taking a water sample with a bottle

Gentle identification of fish species through their DNA

Identifying fish species in a river using DNA traces: This method was tested in Switzerland. It proved to be simpler and more reliable than the electrofishing method used to date.
January 15th, 2024
pressed plastic bottles

Microplastics fly particularly far and high

Microplastic fibres fly higher and further than previously assumed - even as far as the Arctic.
January 22nd, 2024
A futuristic aircraft with a blended wing body

Aircraft of the future make less noise

In an Empa research project, study participants rated the noise of new types of aircraft as less annoying than the noise of today's aircraft.
April 9th, 2024
the airship flying over a coast

British company produces climate-friendly airship

According to its developers, the British airship Airlander 10 could take off for commercial flights with passengers from 2028.
April 22nd, 2024
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5 Automation Trends Transforming Manufacturing

Automation in manufacturing is no longer about just improving efficiency—it’s about building smarter, more adaptable systems that can respond to real-time challenges. To understand the trends driving this transformation, we spoke with five leading industry experts.
May 22nd, 2025