Recipient organisationUniversity of ReadingSource-published name: University of Reading
Funding£6.4M
PeriodJan 2024 — Jan 2030
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
The Climate+ Co-Centre will coordinate research across Ireland and Britain to tackle the linked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and water degradation. Current efforts have failed to cut greenhouse gas emissions, halt species decline, or reverse water quality deterioration. The centre’s work addresses the gap between piecemeal approaches and the integrated response these interconnected problems require. Business as usual is no longer viable. If successful, the centre could reshape how food is produced, how carbon is stored on land, and how environmental risks are managed. It aims to provide policy guidelines and practical innovations that enable fair transitions to Net Zero, while restoring water quality and building community resilience. The research is oriented fundamental science—it seeks to understand the system-level interactions between climate, ecosystems, and water, then translate that understanding into real-world solutions through industry partnerships and cross-cutting activities. The impact would be felt in agriculture, water treatment, land management, and the policy frameworks that quietly underpin environmental regulation and economic sustainability across both islands.
View original technical description
The Climate+ Co-Centre will be the home of research, innovation, and policy development across the interlinked challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and water degradation on the islands of Ireland and Britain. Given global failure to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, stem the decline of biodiversity and reverse water quality deterioration, business as usual is not an option; transformations in how we produce food, store carbon, manage risks and exploit new opportunities are all urgently needed. Climate+ will provide integrated research across both islands to address the climate, biodiversity and water crises; undertaking oriented basic research to enable fair transformations to Net Zero, reverse biodiversity loss, restore water quality and ensure resilience for communities and a sustainable economy. Climate+ comprises a trans-disciplinary, world-class research team who will work closely together to identify and analyse the major threats to our environment, explore and test new solutions, innovate, and provide policy guidelines to enable fair transformations. Through an integrated system of fundamental research platforms, industry-linked spokes, and cross-cutting activities the Climate+ Co-Centre will lead the industry and policy response to the most important threats to a sustainable economy and society.
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