Reto Knutti is the new president of ProClim
Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science
Reto Knutti, Professor of Climate Physics at the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science (IAC), is the new president of ProClim. In this position, he takes over for Heinz Gutscher, who is an emeritus Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Zurich.
ProClim is a forum for climate and global change and serves as an interface between science, administration, politics, business and the public. The organization was founded in 1988 and is part of the external page Plattform Science and Policy (SAP) of the external page Academy of Natural Sciences (SCNAT). The main tasks of ProClim are the exchange of knowledge and networking of the researchers. ProClim will promote the integration of Swiss research into the international program and support the dialogue with decision-makers from industry and politics.
Research with Switzerland reference
At the international level, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides the scientific basis for international climate protection. But what does that mean for Switzerland? On behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, ProClim presents the findings on the so-called IPCC platform Switzerland. «It is central that the findings from the IPCC do not remain at an international and abstract level», Reto Knutti says. For this reason, ProClim is consistently trying to break down the findings from the IPCC specifically for Switzerland and, if possible, make concrete recommendations for action.
Central voice of Swiss climate research
«In the networking of the research community, ProClim is exceptionally strong», says Knutti. In the development of the ProClim climate report, for example, it was clear that the Swiss climate researchers were speaking with a single voice. For the report, more than 70 Swiss scientists had combined the results of the Fifth IPCC Report (IPCC AR5) and other sources relevant to Switzerland for the past three years. They were supported by ProClim and by the advisory body on questions of climate change OcCC as well as the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN.
Modest goals
As far as the recommendations for policy are concerned, Knutti's approach is pragmatic. «Politics is subject to many different influences,» says Knutti. Unfortunately, the political interest is not always the same and the knowledge about current research results is spread differently among the various actors. It is therefore incredibly important to make the connection into the policy and actively seek to provide specific services. «It is a challenge, but we have to search for the dialogue again and again», he notes.
A regular parliamentary meeting is an example of such an offer by ProClim. In order to tackle current topics in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary manner, ProClim invites researchers as well as stakeholders from practice to joint workshops and round tables. The consultative body for questions of climate change OcCC is commissioned to form recommendations of a strategic nature to questions of climate change and to Swiss climate policy from the point of view of science to political and administrative authorities.
- Personal profile of Reto Knutti
- external page ProClim Homepage
- external page Brennpunkt Klima Schweiz (in German, with English factsheet)
- external page Reports/Factsheets
- external page ProClim Position Papers (in German)