The Global Research Centre for Changing Climates, based at the University of St Andrews, brings together leading thinkers to conduct climate research spanning science, society, and solutions. 

Much of our work focusses on the new avenues of enquiry found at the interfaces between disciplines.  Climate change knows no disciplinary boundaries, so our response must also span multiple fields.  These interdisciplinary interfaces are where we think the most exciting new insights will arise.

Our research spans climatically critical topics where St Andrews has both well-established and expanding expertise: Environmental History; Climate and Culture; Climate Fundamentals and Impacts; Adaptation and Mitigation; and Climate, Health, and Wellbeing.  Some areas of particular interest include the Philosophy of Climate; Earth System Interactions; and Climate and Society, Past to Future.  Hallmarks of our work include the integration of the arts and humanities with the physical and social sciences; and long-term perspectives, inspired by the 600 year history of scholarship at St Andrews, and drawing from the past to understand our long-term future.

We achieve our research goals by bringing together new combinations of thinkers, through fellowships, workshops, hackathons, and other events.  We are proactively outward looking, bringing together the best researchers worldwide, from our global network of partners and collaborators, to complement expertise at St Andrews.  And we are actively engaged in developing the next generation of climate leaders, though our graduate school and ECR initiatives.

The results of our research connect with real world action and climate solutions.  These range from influence on policy, including national initiatives and the IPCC process, to work on the roll out of climate adaptation and mitigation measures.  We are particularly interested in areas where our expertise across disciplines resonates: for instance, in ethical questions surrounding geoengineering; or how different Earth system components may combine in innovative carbon removal solutions.

Please get in touch if you are interested in engaging with or supporting our goals.