About CLIMACT
CLIMACT is a joint EPFL and UNIL Center whose mission is to promote systemic actions as well as interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research in the climate field.
About CLIMACT
CLIMACT (Center for Climate Action and Impact) is a joint center of EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne) and UNIL (University of Lausanne), established to promote interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research and initiatives that address the challenges of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Our mission? To pave the way for a sustainable future, by promoting interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research and implementing cutting-edge initiatives that address the social, scientific, and technological dimensions of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
By consolidating research and innovation activities related to climate change, CLIMACT aims to give them greater visibility and impact within the broader community. With a focus on collaboration and innovation, CLIMACT is taking important steps towards a more sustainable future.
Through our research and outreach activities, we hope to inspire and engage communities in the fight against climate change.
Together, we can make a difference!
History
CLIMACT launched its activities in June 2021, spearheaded by its executive director, Dr. Nicolas Tetreault, and guided by its two academic co-directors: Professor Samuel Jaccard from the Faculty of Geosciences and Environment (FGSE) at UNIL and Professor Michael Lehning from the Faculty of Natural, Architectural and Built Environment (ENAC) at EPFL. Professor Julia Steinberger (FGSE UNIL) also served as CLIMACT's acedemic co-director for UNIL from June 2021 to April 2023.
In its short existence, CLIMACT has already provided direct funding for twelve innovative projects and actively participated in countless others. Additionally, the center's affiliated researchers have launched two major SWEET, one ERC and four ETH Joint Initiatives projects demonstrating their commitment to being at the forefront of climate change research and promoting a sustainable future for all.
Objectives
Research
Reinforce interdisciplinary and interinstitutional climate and sustainability research between UNIL and EPFL
Community
Create bonds between academia and civil society to facilitate ecological transition
Implementation projects
Work on implementation projects with climate positive impacts
Visibility
Increase the visibility of UNIL and EPFL climate and sustainability research in Switzerland and abroad
Partners
The CLIMACT team
Aïcha Besser
Communications Manager CLIMACT
With a background in Political Sciences and a Bachelor in Marketing and Public Relations, Aïcha has been working in institutional communications, media relations and events for the last 15 years, among which 13 years for IMD Business School. Passionate about environmental questions, she joined CLIMACT as a communications specialist in August 2021.
Prof. Samuel Jaccard
Academic co-director CLIMACT UNIL FGSE
Prof. Samuel Jaccard is a specialist in earth sciences. He trained in geology before exploring paleoclimate, paleoceanography and recent climate change. Having been an assistant professor at the Institute of Geological Sciences and the Oeschger Centre of the University of Bern, and an active member of the IPCC, he joins the Institute of Earth Sciences at UNIL on 1 August 2020 and becomes academic co-director of CLIMACT in May 2023.
Prof. Michael Lehning
Academic co-director CLIMACT EPFL | WSL ENAC
Michael (Michi) Lehning has been leading the CLIMACT development on the EPFL side and is a joint professor of cryospheric sciences and snow processes between EPFL and WSL (SLF Davos). He is an expert in snow-atmosphere interactions in extreme environments. He has been serving as CLIMACT's academic co-director since its creation in June 2021.
Dr Nicolas Tetreault
Executive director CLIMACT
After 15 years of academic research at University of Toronto, Cambridge University and EPFL, Dr. Nicolas Tetreault joined Sofies SA in 2015 as senior consultant to help public and private entities reach their climate goals. Expert in climate strategy and planification, as well as in renewable energy, H2, green chemistry and CCUS in particular, Nicolas is the executive director of CLIMACT since June 2021.
