GRK 2939:  Economics of Connected Natural Commons: Atmosphere and Biodiversity

• Subject Area: Economics ; Atmospheric Science, Oceanography and Climate Research ; Plant Sciences
• Term: since 2024
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 506392361

The research training group Economics of Connected Natural Commons (ECO-N) develops an integrative perspective on the sustainable use of natural commons related to atmosphere - namely aerosol concentration, regional climate, and urban air - and biodiversity - namely forests and soil. Two key innovations of ECO-N are (a) deep interdisciplinarity and (b) synthesis. (a) Within interdisciplinary collaborative projects, doctoral researchers from economics and natural or life sciences study such prime examples of natural commons from their disciplinary perspectives, and on that basis develop a common, interdisciplinary understanding of the interaction between economic activities and natural dynamics. (b) Overall sustainable development, the goal of the UN Agenda 2030, requires a systemic perspective that takes serious the connectivity - due to physical and economic interactions - of different natural commons. Synthesis working groups of early-career researchers, professors, and international experts identify and understand connections and trade-offs between different natural commons. On this basis and by means of synthesis from a variety of approaches that are used for specific natural commons, ECO-N research suggests new instruments and mechanisms for the sustainable use of natural commons. Thus, ECO-N addresses the increasing need - in academia, policy, and practice - for academically distinguished professionals with profound knowledge and power of judgment who are able to analyze difficult sustainability problems in a cross-cutting and interdisciplinary manner. The basis for interdisciplinary communication in ECO-N is the common focus on quantitative methods. In advanced training modules - intense block courses twice per year - doctoral researchers develop methodical common pool resources, such as identification of causal effects of human action on natural commons, methods to value natural commons, and dynamic models of natural commons. Interdisciplinary collaboration is supported by thesis advisory committees and research group rotations across disciplines. The proponents of ECO-N have excellent track records of disciplinary and interdisciplinary publications, collaborative research projects, and joint activities in research and teaching. ECO-N collaborates with other leading international institutions in the research field, and specifically foresees exchange of doctoral researchers with international 'peer programs' at the University of California in St. Barbara, the University of Exeter, and the Sorbonne Paris. Interaction of all participating researchers is stimulated in annual retreats and the regular core lecture series with external guests from further disciplines (social and political sciences, psychology, humanities) and practitioners (policy-making, public authorities, NGOs).

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Universität Leipzig
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Martin F. Quaas
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Bartosz Bartkowski; Professor Dr. Thomas Bruckner; Professor Dr. Nico Eisenhauer; Professorin Melanie Krause, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Johannes Quaas; Dr. Nadja Rüger; Professor Dr. Sebastian Sippel; Professor Dr. Thomas Steger; Professor Dr. Bernd Süssmuth; Professorin Dr. Ina Tegen; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Daniela Thrän; Professor Dr. Gregor Weiß; Professor Dr. Christian Wirth