Climate Change: Research funding to save the world needs to be drastically stepped up

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Article Highlights

Researchers from the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and the University of Sussex Business School analysed USD 1.3 trillion of research funding around the world
Between 1990 and 2018, less than 4.59% of the funding was spent on climate-related research
Only 0.12% of the research funding was spent on a critical issue: how to change societies to mitigate climate change
Vast funding goes into research on the impact of climate change and adaptation to it, rather than into trying find out how it can be prevented socially
A new study shows that there is a huge disproportion in the level of funding for social science research into the greatest challenge in combatting global warming – how to get individuals and societies to overcome ingrained human habits to make the changes necessary to mitigate climate change
The analysis argues that despite many of the key climate-change puzzles residing in the social sciences (such as anthropology, economics, international relations, human geography, development studies, political science, psychology etc), these fields receive least funding for climate research
The report’s co-authors say funding of climate research appears to be based on the assumption that if natural scientists work out the causes, impacts, and technological remedies of climate change, then politicians, officials, and citizens will spontaneously change their behaviour to tackle the problem. The academics argue the evidence from the past decades shows this assumption does not hold.
With the window of opportunity for mitigating climate change narrow and closing, the researchers recommend more funding is made available for social science research on climate mitigation; improved global research funding coordination and transparency; prioritisation around key questions within the social sciences and an increase in the rigorousness of social science research
Indra Overland, who heads the Centre for Energy Research at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, said: “The one-sided emphasis on the natural sciences leaves one wondering whether funding for climate research is managed by climate sceptics. It’s as if they don’t quite believe in climate change, so they keep looking into out how it really works, rather than trying to work out how to actually stop it.
Do not lose sight of climate change as a global challenge – Although global solutions also depend on understanding the micro level, it is still surprising how little social science research goes straight for the really big issues. Part of the solution could be to organize future research efforts not around disciplines, but around urgent puzzles linked to pressing social challenges related to climate change mitigation and energy systems. This challenges-based approach to research has been relatively successful in other domains, notably national defence

The Complete Story: Small change for climate change: Why research funding to save the world needs to be drastically stepped up

University of Sussex | Norwegian Institute of International Affairs

Go deeper with Bing News on:

Climate change

What if Joe Biden declared a climate emergency?
on January 26, 2021 at 8:23 am
Marco Rubio warned two years ago, "If today, the national emergency is border security ... tomorrow the national emergency might be climate change." Yep.
Commerce secretary nominee Gina Raimondo: Department will focus on Covid, trade, climate change
on January 26, 2021 at 8:13 am
In her opening statement, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo said that if confirmed as Commerce secretary, the department will "immediately address the economic damage" caused by the Covid-19 ...
Joe Biden to pause oil drilling on public lands as part of plan to address climate, sources say
on January 26, 2021 at 8:12 am
President Joe Biden is set to announce a wide-ranging moratorium on new oil and gas leasing on U.S. lands, as his administration moves quickly to reverse Trump administration ...
Climate Change Makes Worst-Case Scenario Reality As Ice Melts Faster Than Ever
on January 26, 2021 at 3:40 am
According to new research published in The Cryosphere, the Earth has lost a total of 28 trillion metric tons of ice in the last 23 years — equivalent to a 100-meter-thick (330 feet) sheet of ice ...
Climate Change is More Than Just About Weather, it's a Humanitarian Crisis | Opinion
on January 26, 2021 at 3:30 am
Environmental campaigners and renewable energy investors often view climate change as a future threat or long-term business opportunity. In reality, climate change is costing lives right now. It's ...

Go deeper with Google Headlines on:

Climate change

Biden Launches Climate Change Efforts - The New York Times
January 25, 2021
81% of Iowa farmers say climate change is occurring, but only 18% see human activities driving it, ISU poll finds - desmoinesregister.com
January 26, 2021
To Counter Climate Change, We Need to Stop Burning Things - The New Yorker
January 22, 2021
Climate Change Uproots Global Agriculture - Eos
January 25, 2021
Climate change will destroy communities. Let’s help them move now. - Grist
January 26, 2021

Go deeper with Bing News on:

Climate research

Keystone XL legal risks highlight dangers of putting investors before climate change
on January 26, 2021 at 6:50 am
The threat of a large lawsuit could be enough to discourage some countries from taking action on climate change.
The Energy 202: Biden's climate push will require support from this coal state senator
on January 26, 2021 at 5:46 am
The fate of President Biden's ambitious climate agenda rests in the hands of the last Democrat left standing in West Virginia. Support our journalism. Subscribe today. In a Senate split 50-50, Sen.
Climate Change Trends Revealed by World’s Largest Lakes
on January 26, 2021 at 5:09 am
Sixteen years of remote sensing data reveals that in Earth’s largest freshwater lakes, climate change influences carbon fixation trends. NASA-funded research on the 11 largest freshwater lakes in the ...
Climate Quants Tune Into AI to Build Better Weather Report
on January 26, 2021 at 4:48 am
European scientists who feed critical climate data to industry and researchers said that their next great breakthrough in weather forecasting will be powered by artificial intelligence.
Global agricultural research network CGIAR joins forces with World Food Programme to tackle post-pandemic hunger
on January 26, 2021 at 4:29 am
English News and Press Release on World about Agriculture, Coordination and more; published on 26 Jan 2021 by CGIAR ...

Go deeper with Google Headlines on:

Climate research

Investment into research must double to halt climate and food crises by 2030, warns CGIAR - World - ReliefWeb
January 26, 2021
Global agricultural research network CGIAR joins forces with World Food Programme to tackle post-pandemic hunger - World - ReliefWeb
January 26, 2021
Researchers Illustrate Climate-Proof Netherlands in 2120 | IE - Interesting Engineering
January 26, 2021
Alarming New Climate Research: Earth to Reach Critical Temperature Tipping Point in 20–30 Years - SciTechDaily
January 14, 2021
Climate Scientists Record Extremely High Methane Emissions Across the Gulf states of Mexico - Environmental Defense Fund
January 25, 2021

University of Sussex | Norwegian Institute of International Affairs

The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News

Go deeper with Bing News on:

Climate change

Go deeper with Google Headlines on:

Climate change

Go deeper with Bing News on:

Climate research

Go deeper with Google Headlines on:

Climate research

Subscribe to Innovation Toronto via Email

IT Discovery Videos

A green living material that demonstrates similar strength to cement-based mortar

Using light to help break down ingestible medical devices

Related Articles

You are most welcome to leave your comments or ideas Cancel reply

McKelvey School of Engineering

University of Warwick

Imperial College London

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)

Ocean University of China

Linköping University (LiU)

Swansea University

University of Brasília

University of Kansas (KU)

Okayama University

Shinshu University

KTH The Royal Institute of Technology

Climate Change: Research funding to save the world needs to be drastically stepped up

University of Sussex | Norwegian Institute of International Affairs

The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News

Go deeper with Bing News on:

Climate change

Go deeper with Google Headlines on:

Climate change

Go deeper with Bing News on:

Climate research

Go deeper with Google Headlines on:

Climate research

Subscribe to Innovation Toronto via Email

Top 10 Today

Top 10 This Week

IT Discovery Videos

Like this:

Related Articles

You are most welcome to leave your comments or ideas Cancel reply