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
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.

Isabelle Derivaz-Rabii
Isabelle Derivaz-Rabii

Administrative assistant CLIMACT

Passionate about administration, organisation and human contacts, Isabelle worked for several years at the Bernoulli Interfaculty Centre where she discovered the multiple facets of academia before joining the CLIMACT team.

Samuel Jaccard
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.

Michael Lehning
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.

Charmilie Nault
Charmilie Nault

Project manager CLIMACT

Following a Master in International and European law, Charmilie worked for different programmes dedicated to polar research. Being part of the CLIMACT team is a new way to actively support research dedicated to climate change.

Nicolas Tetreault
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.

Steering committee

Prof.
Prof. Claudia Binder

Dean EPFL ENAC

Prof.
Prof. Estelle Doudet

Vice-rector research UNIL

Prof.
Prof. Anna Fontcuberta i Morral

Associate Vice President for Centers and Platforms EPFL STI

Prof.
Prof. Frédéric Herman

Recteur UNIL FGSE

Prof.
Prof. Samuel Jaccard

Academic co-director CLIMACT UNIL FGSE

Prof.
Prof. Michael Lehning

Academic co-director CLIMACT EPFL | WSL ENAC

Prof.
Prof. Niklas Linde

Dean FGSE UNIL FGSE

Dr
Dr Nelly Niwa

Director CCD UNIL

Prof.
Prof. Wendy Queen

Academic Director - Energy Center EPFL SB

Dr
Dr Nicolas Tetreault

Executive director CLIMACT

Prof.
Prof. Martin Vetterli

President EPFL EPFL IC

Executive committee

Prof.
Prof. Rizlan Bernier-Latmani

EPFL ENAC

Prof.
Prof. Fabrizio Butera

UNIL FSSP IP

Prof.
Prof. Daniela Domeisen

UNIL FGSE

Prof.
Prof. Corentin Fivet

EPFL ENAC

Dr.
Dr. Augustin Fragnière

Directeur-adjoint du Centre de Compétences en Durabilité UNIL CCD

Prof.
Prof. Samuel Jaccard

Academic co-director CLIMACT UNIL FGSE

Dr
Dr Alexandra Kushnir

PRIMA grantee EPFL STI

Prof.
Prof. Michael Lehning

Academic co-director CLIMACT EPFL | WSL ENAC

Prof.
Prof. François Maréchal

EPFL STI

Prof.
Prof. Athanasios Nenes

Head of Laboratory of Atmospheric Processes and their Impacts EPFL ENAC

Prof.
Prof. Nicolas Senn

UNIL UNISANTE

Prof.
Prof. Julia Steinberger

UNIL FGSE

Dr
Dr Nicolas Tetreault

Executive director CLIMACT

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