Lecture 2023
“Measuring our sustainable future – how metrology contributes to energy and climate change”

Thursday, 2 November 2023
17:00 h
DESY Auditorium

Prof. Dr. Cornelia Denz
President of Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, the National Metrology Institute of Germany

Changes in the global climate, especially the warming of the atmosphere, oceans and land areas have been known for a number of years. As early as 1972, the Club on Rome warned of the impending overload of our planet.
It was not until four decades later that the UN called for action with its Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Climate Agreement set clear objectives: limiting global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial era and achieving climate neutrality by the middle of this century.
Measures that may counteract this exponentially growing climate change include the massive expansion of renewable energies, increasing their efficiency, and a significant limitation of greenhouse gas emissions.
But how can we measure the climate system, how can we systematically quantify climate changes?

They cannot be measured as easily or as precisely as classical standard units, because different influencing factors interact and produce a highly complex behaviour.
This presentation will illustrate how the metrology of the future will work for accurate measurement of complex systems and how it can provide essential information on the energy transition and climate change. In addition to presenting systemic and sustainable metrology, we will show what we need these measurements for: Not only to quantify energy efficiency and climate change to reduce heat, drought and extreme weather in the future, but also to provide a modern quality infrastructure for climate and environment for a healthier and sustainable life on a liveable earth.