The Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) held its regular board elections on 05.03.2026. The new board will work together with CCCA staff and member organisations to continue driving the strategic direction of the network of Austrian climate researchers. A key focus remains the pooling of expertise from universities and non-university research institutions, bringing together diverse perspectives and enriching scientific discourse. At the same time, the aim is to further strengthen the integration of climate change with sustainability issues and socio-ecological transformation, and to communicate these connections more visibly and clearly.
"Especially at a time when climate and sustainability issues are increasingly being pushed off the political and public agenda, it's crucial that the scientific community sends a clear and audible signal", emphasises the new chair Dr. Daniel Huppmann (IIASA). "Climate change doesn't disappear just because we ignore it — on the contrary: the longer we delay decisive action, the more severe the consequences will be."
Deputy chair Univ.-Prof. Douglas Maraun (Uni Graz) also underlines the responsibility of the research community: "Austria has excellent climate and climate impact research. Our job is to support researchers at universities and non-university institutions as best we can, to network their expertise and give their findings greater visibility. A well-connected research environment creates space for scientific discussion, while also making it possible to present well-founded findings collectively to the outside world — and in doing so, makes an important contribution to strengthening public trust in science."
Dr. Alina Brad (Uni Wien), also on the CCCA board, adds: "Effective and socially balanced policy needs a solid scientific foundation. CCCA sees itself as a bridge between research, policy and society, with the goal of making scientific findings accessible and supporting researchers and decision-makers in their work."
The new board also points to the broad support from the scientific community: 1,225 signatories have highlighted the importance of climate research and evidence-based climate policy in an open letter. This also makes clear the pressing need for reliable, long-term funding for climate research in Austria to meet the challenges of climate change.
The chairs from the previous two board terms remain on the board as well. "Continuity and stability are crucial for securing the strong position of Austrian climate and climate impact research and for setting new impulses", says Univ.-Prof. Harald Rieder (BOKU). Dr. Gerhard Wotawa (GeoSphere Austria) adds: "CCCA itself faces challenges given the declining attention and uncertain funding for climate change and sustainability issues. All the more important, then, to ensure reliability and visibility together."
"Investments in climate protection and adaptation to the impacts of global heating are investments in our security, our prosperity and our quality of life", says Huppmann in closing. "What matters is communicating scientific findings clearly, presenting the available options for action in an accessible way, and continuing to strengthen CCCA as a central platform for exchange between research, policy and society."
CCCA Board 2026–2028
Dr. Daniel Huppmann, Chair (IIASA)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Douglas Maraun, Deputy Chair (Uni Graz)
Dr. Alina Brad, Secretary (Uni Wien)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Margreth Keiler, Deputy Secretary (Universität Innsbruck & ÖAW)
Dr. Gerhard Wotawa, Treasurer (GeoSphere Austria)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Harald Rieder, Deputy Treasurer (BOKU University)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Alexander Passer, Board Member (TU Graz)
Prok. DI Sabine Kamraner-Köpf, MAS, Board Member (HV)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Hautsch, Board Member (Universität Wien)
