1.4. JPI Climate calls

1.4. Involvement in JPI Climate calls in close cooperation with the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)

One of the core activities of JPI Climate is the development and funding of transnational calls for proposals. Since 2016, Austria has participated in the SOLSTICE, AXIS and ERA4CS calls (see below). The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) is in charge of the operational processing of Austrian project participation.

1.4.1. SOLSTICE

Climate change research is still strongly dominated by natural science disciplines, while research that focuses on societal processes and the potential for change is often not given priority. Yet there is an urgent need for knowledge on how societal change towards a climate-friendly and socially just future can take place. The JPI Climate call SOLSTICE ("Enabling Societal Transformation in the Face of Climate Change") addresses this major gap in the funding landscape. The call focuses on three key thematic areas:

  • Social justice and participation
  • Sense making, cultural meaning and risk perceptions
  • Transformative finance and economy

The role of the International Networking Platform in SOLSTICE

Starting in August 2018, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF), the International Networking Platform led the strategic development of SOLSTICE (scoping, development of the White Paper as basis for the call for proposals, coordination of the participating funding organizations, conception of content and criteria).

Austrian participation in funded projects

A total of 6.9 million euros from ten participating countries was mobilized to fund the research projects. Out of 75 projects submitted, seven were selected for funding, two of which involve Austrian project partners.

  • „Justdecarb – Socially Just and Politically Robust Decarbonisation: A Knowledge Base and Toolkit for Policymakers”

Justdecarb brings together scholars from political science, law, philosophy and economics to address the question of how the decarbonization of the economy can be achieved in a fast yet just manner. The aim is both to fill critical gaps in the knowledge base regarding socially just and politically robust decarbonization, and to develop a 'toolkit' that helps to communicate these goals to European decision-makers. Two scientists from the University of Graz are involved in Justdecarb.

  • „CLEANcultures – An approach for innovative Climate Learning, Evaluation and Action in Neighbourhoods"

CLEANcultures explores how understanding micro-level learning processes can help to create transformative potential in terms of climate change awareness. The multi-disciplinary project explores  how these learning processes can enable empowerment and decision-making in climate change adaptation processes. The project CLEANcultures is led by Gudrun Lettmayer, PhD from JOANNEUM Research.

1.4.2. AXIS

The transnational call AXIS ("Assessment of Cross (X) - sectoral climate Impacts and pathways for Sustainable transformation") was conceptualized as a continuation of ERA4CS. AXIS aims to improve the coherence, integration and robustness of climate impact research by enabling transnational, cross-community and interdisciplinary research projects. This is expected to broaden the knowledge base for the transformation towards a sustainable society. Together with ERA4CS, AXIS contributes to the implementation of the "European Roadmap for Climate Services".

Three interrelated issues are addressed by AXIS:

  • Cross-sectoral and cross-scale climate change impact assessments
  • Integration of biophysical climate change impact estimates with economic models
  • Developing pathways to achieve the long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement, taking into account interactions with SDGs closely linked to SDG 13 (“climate action”)

The role of the International Networking Platform in AXIS

The FFG is the Austrian partner in this call on behalf of the BMBWF. In this respect, the International Networking Platform primarily focused on preparing the Austrian scientific community for the call.

Austrian participation in funded projects

This transnational call was launched in 2017 and is funded by eleven organizations from ten countries. A total budget of 15-17 million euros could be made available for funding. In March 2018, ten of the 40 submitted applications were selected for funding by the international expert committee. Austria was extraordinarily successful in this call, participating in five of the ten funded projects:

  • DIRT-X - Evaluating sediment Delivery Impacts on Reservoirs in changing climaTe and society across scales and sectors (University of Innsbruck)
  • MAPPY - Multisectoral analysis of climate and land use change impacts on pollinators, plant diversity and crops yields (BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)
  • BIO-CLIMAPATHS - Assessing climate-led social-ecological impacts and opportunities for resilient pathways in the EU bioeconomy. (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, project lead: Irene Monasterolo from Vienna University of Economics and Business)
  • SHAPE - Sustainable development pathways achieving Human well-being while safeguarding the climate And Planet Earth (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis).
  • UNCHAIN - Unpacking climate impact CHAINs. A new generation of action- and user-oriented climate change risk assessments (University of Salzburg).