The Global Climate Forum is a non-profit, social science research institute and stakeholder forum based in Berlin.
Together with the public, civil society, business and finance sectors, we deliver transdisciplinary research projects that directly contribute to solving climate and sustainability issues.
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The literature on climate action is clear: Transformations rarely fail due to biophysical or technical barriers. Rather they fail due to institutional and financial barriers, or due to a lack of targeted decision support. This is precisely where our unique expertise lies.
Many transformations fail due to institutional barriers. We analyse which economic, political and social institutions enable or block climate action.
Finance is a precondition for climate action. We study how transformation can be financed, from structuring finance for local adaptation projects to monetary architectures of states and central banks.
Deep uncertainty is no reason for inaction. With robust decision-making methods and participatory decision theatres we help stakeholders make better choices, again from local projects to global architectures.
A unique feature of the Global Climate Forum that enables us to truly support climate transitions is that we are both a research institute and a stakeholder forum.
As a research institute we generate novel insights in the economics, finance and political science of climate action, and publish these in peer-reviewed journals. This research creates incentives and legitimacy for climate action.
At the same time, we are a forum bringing together representatives of governments, civil society and companies such as insurers within transdisciplinary dialogues and projects. This turns insights into impacts.
Adaptation governance, finance and decision support, with a focus on coastal and marine adaptation and restoration in the context of sea-level rise, from the Baltic Sea to the Maldives. Home of the DIVA model and co-creation with local to global decision-makers.
The modern credit money system from a political economy perspective. How political actors can steer financial activity towards their policy goals, such as financing the green transition.
Researchers and support staff employed at GCF.
Researchers affiliated with us.
Interested in becoming a Fellow? Please get in touch with our Co-Chairs Jochen Hinkel or Steffen Murau.
A selection of our running research. Each project brings together scientists and decision makers who decide to one table.
Public financial agencies outside the state budget, such as development banks, financed wars and reconstruction. We study how they financed past transformations and how they could finance the next one.
Offshore wind farms take up a lot of space at sea. OLAMUR tests how they can also grow food in the North and Baltic Seas. We work on the rules that let energy, aquaculture and nature share the same area.
Since 2001 we have been building DIVA, an open model and global dataset that shows where sea-level rise hits hardest and which adaptation options pay off. It powers our coastal work in current European projects.
Munitions from the Second World War are corroding in German waters. We compare dump sites and study what the public expects, so that clearance can start where it matters most, with broad support.
ACCREU assesses future climate risks for European countries, sectors and households, together with the people affected. We contribute the coastal part with our DIVA model.
To protect the Wadden Sea from sea-level rise, sediment has to be managed across national borders. We study how formal and informal rules shape conflict and acceptance in these decisions.
