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Climate insights: high-resolution forecasts and groundwater dynamics

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Designed to help find high-impact, interdisciplinary solutions through direct dialogue with key actors engaged in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Affiliated with UNIL and EPFL, the Center for Climate Impact and Action (CLIMACT) was officially launched in June 2021. The center's main objective is to promote climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions through a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach. By working with various pillars of society such as media, politicians, and industry leaders, CLIMACT aims to bridge the gap between science and society. Through increased exchange and collaboration, we can accelerate a transformation towards a sustainable and inclusive future.

CLIMACT's unique approach to tackling climate change aims to be both innovative and inspiring. Our inter-institutional and interdisciplinary approach fosters a sense of community and encourages individuals from all walks of life to come together and work towards a common goal. By promoting awareness and facilitating discussions, CLIMACT is playing a vital role in creating a more sustainable future.

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Designed to help find high-impact, interdisciplinary solutions through direct dialogue with key actors engaged in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

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Inform about climate issues, explain the most recent scientific discoveries, dialogue with Swiss experts, highlight solutions for a sustainable transformation of our society.

Promoting concrete actions based on interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research as well as on a systemic approach to address the social, scientific, and technological challenges associated with climate change.

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Inform about climate issues, explain the most recent scientific discoveries, dialogue with Swiss experts, highlight solutions for a sustainable transformation of our society.

News and articles

CLIMACT Projects Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay 

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Promoting concrete actions based on interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research as well as on a systemic approach to address the social, scientific, and technological challenges associated with climate change.

Most studies
on environmental behavior change target adults, although behavioral change of
adults is hindered by multiple habits and ideologies. A study in the Journal of
Environmental Psychology, led by an international team from UNIL, shows that
interventions with children are effective in
producing change in their environmental
behavior. Interventions, however, should start
early, as their impact decreases with age.

Research carried out by this team reminds that adults
often struggle to adopt eco-friendly habits due to deeply ingrained behaviors. Despite
being aware of the consequences of overconsumption, adults are more inclined to
maintain their comfort levels rather than reduce consumption. Past research has
long identified habits, ideologies, and investments as key factors hindering
behavior change among adults.

In contrast, children exhibit greater openness to
initiatives promoting pro-environmental behavior. The research team examined
various interventions targeting youth to determine their long-term
effectiveness. Fabrizio Butera, a Professor at UNIL's Institute of Psychology,
highlights the impact of environmental education and social influence,
alongside emerging strategies like eco-schools and interventions based on
several theory-based processes.

The findings indicate that interventions with children
yield positive outcomes for their environmental behavior. This underscores the
importance of tailoring initiatives specifically for children. However, the
effectiveness of these interventions diminishes with age, emphasizing the need
for early intervention. Furthermore, the article suggests future research
should focus on designing interventions that emphasize observable behaviors.
The research team highlights the importance of methodological diversity,
particularly in environmental education research, where field and laboratory
observations are currently lacking. Additionally, there's a call for more
research on group dynamics, which can foster a sense of efficacy and usefulness
through collective action.

This is a summary of the study that serves as a press release. Read <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494424000689?via%3Dihub">full
article</a>.

International Research
team from UNIL:

Wojciech Świątkowski, Fantine Lisa Surret,&nbsp; Johanna Henry, Fabrizio Butera, Institut de
psychologie, UNIL

Céline Buchs, UNIGE &amp; HEP Vaud

Emilio Paolo Visitin,
Università de Ferrara

Don't miss our upcoming <a href="https://climact.ch/events">events</a> and CLIMACT seminar series, read
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informed of all our news.

A new study suggests the importance of focusing on pro-environmental behavior in children from an early age.

Promoting pro-environmental behavior in children

The
relatively new aspect of storytelling, and the one that could move the needle
on climate action, is high-quality data – an effective tool that can be leveraged for creating
new climate action narratives.

“<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2024/03/17/the-power-of-storytellers-to-shape-our-world/">Storytelling
is our superpower</a>,” says Yuval Noah Harari. The power of storytelling is not
merely about entertainment or passing information from one generation to the
next. It's about the ability to conjure up words, ideals, and visions so
compelling that they can align the hearts and minds of people towards a common
purpose. In essence, storytelling serves as the foundation upon which human
cooperation is built. It is through shared dreams and narratives that
individuals find common ground, enabling them to work together towards
achieving goals that seem beyond the reach of any single person.

This also applies to climate change and the way we need to reframe the
narrative and find new stories that not only connect us around this formidable
challenge but also encourage the main actors – namely, the governments and
corporations – to transform and accelerate climate action on a global and local
level. However, the language of science is still too difficult to decode for
non-scientists. Although it is widely accepted that decision-makers should
prioritise scientific insights in their environmental policies to avoid the worst
climate change scenarios, the scientific jargon often found in key documents
like the IPCC Reports alienates both policymakers and the public. Transforming
these complex numbers into relatable stories is essential for communicating
climate change and the environmental degradation, thereby making the scientific
findings, forecasts, and projections accessible and engaging for everyone
including key decision makers as well as the media.

We live in the era of data abundance, where key decisions can be based on a
plethora of numbers, metrics, statistics, forecasts, and predictions. This is
however the language of science, and what we need is a translator. This is
where storytelling can be a powerful tool that can move the needle on climate
change and sustainability communication.
Cognitive psychology reveals that stories are essential for structuring
information in ways our brains can easily understand, making complex data
relatable and memorable. This is vital for communicating scientific knowledge,
which can often seem abstract and inaccessible to general audiences.

By incorporating scientific findings into stories, we can engage audiences more
deeply, fostering a better understanding as well as appreciation of climate
science, which usually results in more engagement and very often more funding
for further research. This emotional connection is key to generating public
support for scientific research and policy changes, particularly in the climate
and environmental space – key topics that continue being ignored when it comes
to both a greater long-term vision and tangible policies needed now.

Data
storytelling isn't limited to data visualisation alone; it embodies a narrative
of change and transformation inspired by both humanity and nature. Every
dataset, whether it pertains to sustainability, decarbonisation, circular
economy, or nature conservation, harbours a unique story of evolution and
impact. And just like every story, it just needs to be brought to life and
told. It's not merely about presenting numbers and statistics; it's about
telling the story behind the data, providing context, case studies and human –
everyday life aspects, and illustrating the journey from aspiration through
challenges to progress.

Data
storytelling is not just a tool for communication; it's a means of fostering
transparency, accountability, and engagement in the environmental
sustainability sector. By effectively leveraging data-based narratives,
organisations can move away from the pitfalls of greenwashing and the
temptation of greenhushing, towards a more honest and impactful approach to
sustainability.

At <a href="https://www.unueco.id/">UNUECO</a>, we leverage data to create new
stories and narratives that resonate. In an era where greenwashing—making
misleading claims about an organisation's environmental efforts—is increasingly
scrutinised, data storytelling offers a path to authenticity. It allows
organisations to communicate their environmental aspirations and achievements
with integrity, backed by hard evidence. This approach not only enhances trust
among stakeholders but also contributes to a more informed and aware society.

Leveraging
Technology in Data Storytelling

Technology plays a crucial role in enhancing data storytelling through advanced
visualisation tools and interactive platforms. These technologies allow
storytellers to create more dynamic and engaging narratives that can
effectively illustrate complex climate data, such as emission trends,
temperature changes, and the effects of various mitigation strategies. By
integrating technology, we can transform static data into interactive
experiences that invite audience participation and foster a deeper understanding
of the issues.

Within climate and nature
data storytelling, creativity unlocks diverse narrative formats, from
interactive infographics to immersive documentaries, making complex data
relatable and impactful. The advent of mixed reality (MR), augmented reality
(AR), and virtual reality (VR) technologies takes this a step further, offering
immersive experiences that vividly illustrate the effects of environmental
changes. These technologies allow stories to transcend traditional mediums,
engaging all generations in an experiential journey that educates and inspires
action. Coupled with social media's reach, this blend of creative storytelling
and innovative technology ensures environmental messages resonate widely,
fostering a deeper understanding and commitment to sustainability across
diverse audiences.

Through
our non-profit arm <a href="https://www.unueco.id/sci-commlab">UNUECO Sci-Comm Lab</a>, we aim to experiment with
cutting-edge visual technology tools to find new ways of presenting complex
topics and data-based concepts. Our journey has just begun, and we hope to
innovate for the climate and nature through collaborations with both the scientific
community and visual artists.

In
an age abundant with data, storytelling emerges as a powerful tool to humanise
scientific insights and contextualise its relevance for both the planet and its
people. By transforming raw data into compelling narratives, we can provide the
necessary context to illuminate the science behind climate action. This
approach not only enhances public understanding but also fosters an informed
engagement, driving support for policies that benefit environmental
sustainability. As we harness these data-rich narratives, we contribute to a
more informed global community, poised to make decisions that promote
environmental health and resilience.

The
shift towards more transparent and fact-based communication is crucial not just
for individual organisations but for global environmental progress, aligning
with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the pursuit of limiting global
warming to 1.5 degrees. By leveraging new data-backed narratives, we can
anticipate a future where environmental achievements are not only recognised
but also further drive progress and innovation to ensure a sustainable future.

This article follows the CLIMACT webinar "Alternative Futures" project by UNUECO Sci-Comm Lab &amp; "Creating memories of the Future" by HEC Lausanne and Monptellier Business School (associated project) presented by Luka Biernacki in February 2024. Watch the <a href="https://youtu.be/sHQt_4hb1eM">full video</a> of the seminar to learn more.

Luka Biernacki is a Communications Strategist and the founder of
UNUECO Sustainability Communications Consultancy as well as the UNUECO Sci-Comm
Lab, a nonprofit focused on scientific, creative, and tech-based research on
human communication, learning, and knowledge sharing. Luka specialises in
transforming data into compelling narratives, helping organisations share their
vision through digital and interactive formats. His work is focused on climate
change and nature, sustainability, green technology, and science.

Find
out more about CLIMACT:

Don't
miss our upcoming <a href="https://climact.ch/events">events</a> and CLIMACT seminar series, read
our <a href="https://climact.ch/blog">articles</a> and follow us on X (<a href="https://twitter.com/ClimactSuisse">@ClimactSuisse</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/ClimactSwiss">@ClimactSwiss</a>) as well as on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/climactsuisse">Linkedin</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/climactsuisse/">Instagram</a> to stay informed of all our news.

Luka

Translating Climate Science for All: The Power of Data Storytelling

Interview with Jonathan Lemieux, producer at
NousProd further to his CLIMACT seminar entitled " Co2nséquences: YouTubers and scientists joining forces in climate change
awareness".

Jonathan

Co2nséquences: YouTubers and scientists joining forces in climate change awareness

1 scientist - CO2 + 1 YouTuber = 2 million views

As glaciers melt due to climate change, they
release sediment along with ice and water. This sediment discharge affects
downstream ecosystems and landscapes, with implications for communities and
operations such as hydropower. However, comprehending these effects is complex
due to the intricate interplay between glacier dynamics, hydrology, erosion,
and sediment transport. Current methodologies for sampling this sediment are
constrained, largely being conducted at the glacier's snout, which provides an
incomplete understanding of the sediment's concentration and composition within
subglacial channels.

This
project is financed by the Fondation Valéry and supported by CLIMACT.

Josie

Prof.

Ian 

Setup project by creating the specification of the robot and the samples

Implementation of the robotic monitoring platform

Finalising the project, including outreach and publications

The project team wishes to develop a
semi-autonomous robot that can be deployed into subglacial streams to collect
sediment samples. This robot will significantly enhance our understanding of
subglacial hydrology and sediment dynamics in glacierised catchments, which is
critical in the context of climate change. The information gathered from the
robot's sediment analysis will improve models predicting the interactions
between glacier dynamics, hydrology, erosion, and sediment transport. Ultimately,
the project aims to provide essential data that can guide decision making and
the implementation of climate change mitigation strategies, inform water
resource management in mountainous regions, and enhance preparation for changes
in surrounding communities and ecosystems as glaciers retreat.

Fondation Valéry

A semi-autonomous robot that can be deployed into subglacial streams to enhance our understanding of subglacial hydrology and sediment dynamics in glacierised catchments

Advancing the understanding of glacial erosion and retreat through robot sediment sampling in subglacial streams

This project addresses the limitations of
existing techniques for measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in
aquatic environments. Current methodologies offer restricted spatial and
temporal coverage, hindering comprehensive understanding. Moreover, the project
is designed to overcome the insufficient selectivity of polydimethylsiloxane
(PDMS) membranes used in GHG detection, specifically for nitrous oxide (N2O)
and ammonia (NH3). By using porous graphene membranes, the project aims to
considerably improve selectivity, facilitating the precise detection and
mapping of these crucial gases.

Simultaneously, the project confronts pressing
scientific uncertainties in the marine nitrogen cycle. The relative
contributions of different processes to N2O production in ocean environments
remain contested, and the project's innovative methodology aims to provide the
data required to resolve these questions. Similarly, the project tackles the
disparity between models and observed data on the global oceanic source of
ammonia, promising to bring clarity to this critical environmental issue.

This
project is financed by CLIMACT.

Associate professor and Gaznat Chair for Advanced Separations

Kumar

Academic co-director CLIMACT

Samuel

Associate Professor in Paleoclimatic Sedimentology

Jérôme

Ground-truthing the state of the art with measurement of gas transport properties using commercial PDMS membranes before and after field tests

Characterization of gas transport properties and optimization of graphene nanopores to maximise gas selectivity for N2O and NH3

Dissolved gas analysis and calibration under different physical conditions and gas composition in a lab chamber, mimicking real marine conditions

Testing membranes on the LéXPLORE platform of EPFL on Lake Geneva

Deployment of a new laser spectrometer coupled with the best membrane in the context of the GreenFjord project in fjords of southwest Greenland, combined with other oceanographic analyses related to the N, C and O cycles in both the particular and dissolved phases. Importantly, the dissolved gas measurements will be compared with discrete stable isotope measurements of N and O in dissolved NO3, along selected vertical profiles

The main objective of the project, as
described, is to develop an in-situ instrument capable of monitoring the
concentration and stable isotope composition of dissolved nitrous oxide (N2O)
and ammonia (NH3) with high spatial resolution in real time in aquatic
environments. This will be achieved by improving the membrane selectivity for
these gases in the proposed probe, transitioning from polydimethylsiloxane
(PDMS) membranes to a porous graphene membrane. The membrane will be designed
to maximise the selectivity for NH3 and N2O compared to other dissolved gases.
This way, the team hopes to resolve outstanding issues related to the nitrogen
cycle in marine environments and provide better constraints on the evolution of
the carbon cycle in response to anthropogenic warming.

Nitrogenated gas sensing in water using custom membranes

NITRO+

The use of photovoltaic (PV) systems on
residential buildings is a key element in the societal transition to renewable
energies. However, despite economic and ecological benefits, many homeowners
struggle to adopt PV due to technical complexity, administrative burden, and
cognitive biases such as inertia. In light of previous studies suggesting that
peer interactions may substantially help the diffusion of PV, and drawing on
social contagion theory, the present project takes a qualitative action
research approach to study such peer effects in solar parties. Solar parties
are community-oriented information events hosted by local volunteers who
already adopted PV, usually supported by governments, targeting neighbors who
have not yet adopted PV.

Oliver

Dean 

Claudia

Organisation of two solar parties in Switzerland and data collection through interviews with participants

Writing and publishing - One peer-reviewed open access publication in highly ranked journal

Dissemination in academia - Conference paper and presentation

Dissemination in practice - National and international communication strategy

The central goals of the project are:

The project team, consisting of <a href="https://applicationspub.unil.ch/interpub/noauth/php/Un/UnPers.php?PerNum=1223269&amp;LanCode=8">Oliver Neumann</a>, <a href="https://people.epfl.ch/claudia.binder?lang=en">Claudia Binder</a>, <a href="https://applicationspub.unil.ch/interpub/noauth/php/Un/UnPers.php?PerNum=1264998&amp;LanCode=8">Gilles Chatelain</a>, <a href="https://people.epfl.ch/maria.hecher">Maria Anna Hecher</a>, <a href="https://applicationspub.unil.ch/interpub/noauth/php/Un/UnPers.php?PerNum=1233327&amp;LanCode=8">Pascale-Catherine Kirklies</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://people.epfl.ch/mert.duygan">Mert Duygan</a>, is working on the following outputs:

The peer effects of community live demonstration events on residential photovoltaic adoption

Can solar parties make photovoltaic socially contagious?

The project
highlights key challenges at the nexus of renewable energy (RE) development,
biodiversity protection, and climate change mitigation. It aims primarily at
identifying the potential conflict between the pressure to rapidly expand RE,
specifically in sensitive Alpine regions where ecosystems are still the most
intact, and the essential goal of increasing biodiversity protection, which is
currently insufficient while key to mitigating climate change. As such,
striking a balance between these two critical environmental imperatives poses a
significant challenge.

The ways to ensure energy security during the transition
to RE is particularly key, considering the risk of maintaining the dependency
on imported fossil fuels in the coming years - and therefore a
business-as-usual model in terms of carbon emissions -&nbsp;if the implementation of large-scale
renewable energy infrastructure is too slow. The project also addresses the
difficulty of identifying suitable locations for renewable energy installations
while ensuring minimal impact on biodiversity, to guarantee that the net
pressure on ecosystems does not increase, and that rare intact habitats remain
protected and in good ecological condition. These challenges require careful
national prioritisation of landscape usage that also takes into account spatial
prioritisation of biodiversity conservation, thus coordinating efforts between
cantons, which will also constitute an important dimension of the project.

The project will
bring together the Swiss climate, biodiversity, and RE scientific communities.
Interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration is carefully considered
by the project team when inviting participants, emphasising the importance of bridging
gaps between various scientific domains and institutions. Lastly, the project
will highlight challenges in influencing public policy and engaging diverse
stakeholders, in particular through a final scientists-stakeholders workshop.

This project falls within the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specific targets (T) mentioned here:

Raphaël

<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
107%;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">This
project is financed by CLIMACT.

Antoine

ull Professor in Spatial Ecology

Prof. 

Sascha

Christophe

Project start - Scoping workshop in Lausanne

Two scientific stakeholder workshops in Neuchâtel and Zurich, building on each other and on literature

Preparation of White Paper and other deliverables

The project's
goal is to identify potential conflicts and facilitate dialogue between
different fields of research and policy to arrive at a strategy that
simultaneously achieves renewable energy development, biodiversity protection,
and climate change mitigation.

The project team, consisting of <a href="https://applicationspub.unil.ch/interpub/noauth/php/Un/UnPers.php?PerNum=861627&amp;LanCode=8">Antoine Guisan</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://people.epfl.ch/sascha.nick">Sascha Nick</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://people.epfl.ch/christophe.ballif">Christophe Ballif</a>, <a href="https://applicationspub.unil.ch/interpub/noauth/php/Un/UnPers.php?PerNum=880682&amp;LanCode=8">Stefanie Prezioso</a>, <a href="https://applicationspub.unil.ch/interpub/noauth/php/Un/UnPers.php?PerNum=1262792&amp;LanCode=8">Alejandra Morán-Ordóñez</a>, <a href="https://applicationspub.unil.ch/interpub/noauth/php/Un/UnPers.php?PerNum=1252597&amp;LanCode=8">Caroline Martin</a> and <a href="mailto:elea.pierre@unil.ch">Eléa Pierre</a>, is working on the following outputs:

CLIMACT

Center for Climate Impact and Action

UNIL & EPFL

News & Articles

Promoting pro-environmental behavior in children

Translating Climate Science for All: The Power of Data Storytelling

Expert(s)

Luka Biernacki

1 scientist - CO2 + 1 YouTuber = 2 million views

Expert(s)

Jonathan Lemieux

Events

4th CLIMACT seminar series - Final episode

Climate insights: high-resolution forecasts and groundwater dynamics

CLIMACT Summer-tastic Apero

Our Projects

Advancing the understanding of glacial erosion and retreat through robot sediment sampling in subglacial streams

NITRO+

Can solar parties make photovoltaic socially contagious?

Towards new renewable energy developments in Switzerland that preserve biodiversity

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