Political Ecologies

climateurope2

09/2022 – 02/2027

In the context of the implementation of a European climate policy, the provision and effective use of scientific climate knowledge is of fundamental importance. On the way to climate neutrality, the so-called climate services provide information on decision-making, risk management and the identification of solutions. In recent years, a veritable market for this type of knowledge transfer has emerged. However, the different developers and providers of climate-related knowledge know little about each other, and there is a lack of inter- and transdisciplinary knowledge as well as adequate quality management or common standards. The climateurope2 project is set up to develop these standards, create a community of climate services and promote their acceptance.

Work package 5 “Policy support for climate”, which is led by artec, is about comparing the range of existing climate services with the perception and needs on the ground, sounding out the limits of standardization and expanding the range of and self-image of climate services accordingly. The work package uses approaches from social sciences and anthropology. The focus is on determining the location-based needs for climate knowledge with the help of “narratives of change”. The aim is to create trust and enable value-based climate action.

REWRITE

Rewilding and Restoration of Intertidal Sediment Ecosystems for Carbon Sequestration, Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity Support

10/2023 – 09/2028

The Horizon EU project REWRITE focuses on how the restoration and rewilding management of intertidal sediment ecosystems can contribute to carbon sequestration, climate adaptation, and biodiversity support. Natural and social scientists are investigating salt marshes, seagrass meadows, and mudflats in 10 demonstration sites across Europe, the USA, and Canada. These ecosystems play a crucial role in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by storing carbon. By restoring and protecting these habitats, they will also be better able to adapt to the impacts of climate change while providing essential habitats for a variety of animal and plant species. Together with the University of Twente, the University of Bremen leads Work Package 3 "Creating new knowledge about intertidal wetlands that integrates natural, social, and humanities sciences", tasked with documenting narratives of change in all study areas.

Biodiverse Cities

Accelerating Action for BIODIVERSity Enhancement in CITIES to Benefit Nature and People

10/2022 – 09/2026

As a highly urbanised area, the North Sea Region is directly involved in regional biodiversity loss. Despite increasing political attention, biodiversity conservation in urban areas is often overlooked or considered a secondary concern. Cities are introducing so-called 'nature-based solutions' (NBS) to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, biodiversity conservation is rarely an equal goal. In addition, the social implications of re-evaluating and expanding green infrastructure in cities have not been sufficiently considered in the past.

Within the framework of Biodiverse Cities, NBS are to be developed in 5 pilot cities - including Bremen - as examples. Through innovative methods such as spatial experimentation and social design, local populations will be involved in the project, with the goal of extensive participation up to and including co-production of individual measures. In order to integrate biodiversity criteria into urban planning, urban development and investments, the project aims to go beyond common practices. The long-term nature of the results is to be ensured by simultaneously influencing local policies together with regional and national governments - in Bremen's case, the Senatorial Authority for Climate Protection, Environment, Mobility, Urban Development and Housing (SKUMS). The sub-project in Bremen focuses on the densely populated and culturally diverse district of Gröpelingen and is carried out in cooperation with the Gröpelingen Research Workshop of the Department of Anthropology and Cultural Research (IfEK).

VAG

Violence, Age, and Gender

05/2022 – ongoing

Das im Rahmen der Worlds of Contradiction (WoC) im Mai 2020 gegründete interdisziplinäre Forschungs-Lab nähert sich der Thematik „Violence, Age and Gender“ aus rechts- und sozialwissenschaftlichen Perspektiven. Ziel ist es, nationales und internationales Wissen über Vorkommen und Ursachen geschlechts- und altersspezifischer Gewalt und Belästigung im öffentlichen, institutionellen sowie privaten Raum interdisziplinär zusammenzuführen, um daraus weiterführende Forschungsfragen abzuleiten. Ausgangspunkt dafür ist das aktuelle Übereinkommen 190 über die Beseitigung von Gewalt und Belästigung in der Arbeitswelt der internationalen Arbeitsorganisation (ILO).

Gewalt strukturell, interaktionell und individuell zu erleben heißt, in und mit Widersprüchen zu leben; gesellschaftliche sowie individuelle Entwicklungschancen werden dadurch nachhaltig beeinträchtigt. Das Lab knüpft an die an der Universität Bremen seit den 1980er Jahren etablierte Rechts-, Gender- und Arbeitsforschung an und verfolgt mit interdisziplinären Sichtweisen auf das Thema Gewalt einen Theorie-Praxis-Transfer.

In 2020 unterstützt eine Workshopreihe die Entwicklung interdisziplinärer Perspektiven auf Gewalt und Belästigung. Für 2021 sind verschiedene Vorträge und Workshops mit europäisch und international anerkannten Jurist*innen und zu Gewalt forschenden Sozialforscher:innen in Vorbereitung. Eine Konferenz mit ca. 100 Teilnehmende ist für Anfang Dezember 2021 mit der Evangelischen Akademie Loccum in Planung, die anschließende Veröffentlichung eines Sammelbandes für 2022 ebenfalls.