News

New groundbreaking computation method for climate extremes

How much will heat, flooding, drought and storms increase as a result of human-induced climate change? In a groundbreaking study, climate researcher Gottfried Kirchengast and his team at the University of Graz have developed a new method for computing the hazards from extreme events: it can compute all relevant hazard metrics for events such as heat waves, floods and droughts in any region worldwide with unprecedented information content. Using it for Europe, the researchers found that anthropogenic climate change has caused a tenfold increase in extreme heat in recent decades. The study, published in the journal Weather and Climate Extremes, also provides a basis for better quantifying the damage to people, ecosystems and infrastructure.

Apply now: PhD (1st Stage Researcher) in CHARM, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network

Would you like to develop your own research profile within an EU-wide Doctoral Network that advances resilient methods for the conservation of heritage architecture and sites? Are you looking for a PhD position with a competitive salary in a diverse, inspiring, and supportive environment—while living in a UNESCO World Heritage city between the Alps and the Mediterranean?

Exciting courses in the summer semester

The Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change is once again offering a range of exciting courses in the summer semester which we particularly recommend. Registration is open!

University of Graz study shows: public money for climate adaptation pays off

In order to plug the budget gap, the state is currently pinching pennies. However, when it comes to adapting to climate change, investing helps to save money. This is shown by a recently published study by the Wegener Centre at the University of Graz. "Our analyses show that protective measures more than pay off in the medium term," summarises lead author Eva Preinfalk.

Habilitation colloquium by Julia Danzer

On January 27, 2026, Julia Danzer successfully held her habilitation colloquium entitled "High quality atmospheric climatologies from radio occultation satellite observations". Congratulations!

Setback: Austria's greenhouse gas emissions rise in 2025

Climate protection is currently facing an uphill battle. The United Nations have recently been unable to agree on a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, even though global warming continues to accelerate. Also Austria still does not have a national climate law with a clear target path for reducing emissions. This is evidently taking its toll: Austria’s greenhouse gas emissions rose again in 2025 for the first time in years, by around two and a half percent, according to calculations by researchers at the University of Graz. In addition to overly cautious climate action measures, this is due to somewhat colder winter months compared to 2024, which are driving up natural gas consumption.

Happy Holidays!

The Wegener Center team wishes you happy holidays and a joyful, healthy New Year 2026!

Wir gratulieren!

Erfolgreiche Abschlussprüfungen am Wegener Center

More news

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Influential: Rupert Baumgartner and Holger Hoff among the highly cited researchers

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Auszeichnung für Spitzenforschung: Rupert Baumgartner und Holger Hoff

Rupert Baumgartner und Holger Hoff zählen zu den Top-1% der meistzitierten Forscher:innen weltweit

Die URBI-Fakultät freut sich, dass gleich zwei…

Researchers at the University of Graz provide evidence of climate change in the atmosphere

Human-induced climate change is leaving clear traces in the atmosphere. Using satellite data, researchers at the Wegener Center at the University of…

Reaching climate targets: analytical models must include all stakeholders

The next UN Climate Change Conference, COP 30, will begin in two weeks in Belém, Brazil. Every year, the international community agrees on targets to…

A success story: 20 years of the Wegener Centre at the University of Graz

Paths emerge in that we walk them. In line with this motto, more than 70 scientists from the fields of geophysics, climate physics, meteorology,…

Rückblick: 20 Jahre Wegener Center

Wege entstehen, indem wir sie gehen: Am 3. Oktober 2025 feierte das Wegener Center der Uni Graz sein 20-jähriges Bestehen.

Green Academia Award for Earth Sciences, Business Administration and History

A high number of publications in prestigious research journals in combination with climate-friendly behaviour when it comes to international business…