Research at ARU is advancing SDG 13 through impact-driven projects on climate mitigation, climate adaptation, resilience, energy transitions and climate governance.
These projects help us to directly participate in cooperative planning for climate disasters with local and national governments.
Accelerating climate action through SHARED GREEN DEAL
Effective climate action depends not only on technology, but on public participation and behavioural change. ARU leads the €5 million SHARED GREEN DEAL project, bringing together 22 organisations and 24 social experiments across Europe to explore how local communities can contribute to the implementation of the European Green Deal. The project investigates how local people, businesses and policymakers can work together to address climate challenges including clean energy, sustainable mobility, circular economy transitions, biodiversity loss and sustainable food systems. By generating evidence on the social dimensions of climate action, SHARED GREEN DEAL is helping European policymakers design climate interventions that are more inclusive, effective and publicly supported. In a dedicated work package on climate action, the project has generated practical tools and evidence to support climate action at local and regional levels. It has also developed resources for local authorities, civil society organisations and community groups, including the Ripple Effects Toolkit, which helps organisations understand how local sustainability initiatives can generate wider social and environmental change.
Helping communities adapt to climate change through heritage-led resilience
Climate change is already affecting communities experiencing displacement, conflict and environmental stress. Through the Heritage-led Resilience project, ARU researchers are investigating how cultural heritage can support resilience among Syrian refugee communities in Jordan. The research explores the relationships between climate change, displacement, conflict and cultural identity, demonstrating how heritage can strengthen community cohesion, wellbeing and adaptive capacity. By highlighting the role of culture within climate adaptation, the project is providing new evidence for governments, NGOs and international organisations working with vulnerable populations.
Building decision-support for disaster risk management
We were partners in the EU Multi-hazard and risk informed system for enhanced local and regional disaster risk management (MEDiate) project which ran from 2022 to 2025. This developed a decision-support system for disaster risk management by considering multiple and interacting natural disasters.
Improving water resilience in climate-vulnerable regions
Climate change is increasing pressure on water resources across many parts of the world. Through the Connect4 Water Resilience project, ARU researchers are examining the links between water availability, governance and community resilience across four countries within southern Africa's Limpopo Basin. The project explores how communities can better adapt to changing environmental conditions while maintaining access to water and supporting sustainable livelihoods. By improving understanding of how water systems and social systems interact, the research helps inform climate adaptation strategies in some of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions.
Supporting net-zero transitions through social science research
Researchers at ARU are helping ensure that climate policy reflects the realities of people's lives and communities. Through the SSH CENTRE, a €3 million Horizon Europe project, researchers work across sectors to empower citizens, organisations and policymakers to develop socially innovative solutions that support Europe's climate transition. The project recognises that achieving net zero requires changes in behaviours, institutions and decision-making as well as technological innovation. By strengthening collaboration between communities, policymakers and researchers, ARU is helping create more socially just approaches to climate action and adaptation.
Supporting climate policy through energy transition research
ARU's Energy-SHIFTS and Energy-PIECES projects have helped strengthen the role of social sciences and humanities research within European energy policy. The research examines how societies can transition to low-carbon energy systems while ensuring that policies remain socially acceptable, equitable and effective. By improving understanding of public engagement, governance and behavioural change, these projects have contributed evidence to energy policymaking processes and helped ensure that climate mitigation strategies take account of social as well as technological factors.
Providing evidence for low-carbon innovation and climate policy
Through the EEIST (Economics of Energy Innovation and System Transition) project, ARU researchers contribute to the development of modelling approaches that help governments understand how to accelerate low-carbon innovation and technological change. The project supports evidence-based policymaking by exploring pathways that can speed up decarbonisation while delivering wider social and economic benefits. By informing policy decisions around climate mitigation and energy transitions, the research contributes directly to the implementation of net-zero strategies and long-term climate action.
Understanding how poverty increases vulnerability to climate change
Poverty and climate change are closely interconnected, with environmental shocks often having the greatest impact on those with the fewest resources to respond. Research led by Dr Xin Sheng has demonstrated that lower-income households in the UK are disproportionately exposed to the impacts of climate change and less able to recover from climate-related disruptions. The research showed that climate shocks can deepen existing wealth inequalities over time, creating a cycle in which environmental risks reinforce social and economic disadvantage. By highlighting the unequal distribution of climate vulnerability, this work is informing debates on climate justice and helping policymakers develop more equitable approaches to climate adaptation and resilience.
Driving innovation through engineering and architectural sustainability
Our Centre for Engineering and Architectural Sustainability brings together engineers, architects and sustainability specialists to address challenges including climate change, resource scarcity and urban growth. Its research focuses on clean energy, resilient infrastructure, sustainable cities, biodiversity and water security, and is delivered through partnerships with industry, government and communities. By connecting fundamental research with real-world application, the Centre helps turn innovative ideas into practical solutions that support sustainable development and infrastructure resilience.
Last updated: October 2026
To request additions, corrections or changes to the information in these pages, please contact: Dr Zareen Bharucha: [email protected]. Please use the subject line ‘ARU SDG’.