Energy landscapes of less than two degrees global warming - modelling regional strategies for the expansion of renewable energies with special consideration of national and international climate protection goals

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A central goal resulting from the UN Climate Conference in Paris is to keep global warming below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels. The expansion of renewable energies is to play a major role in this. However, it is unclear how their accelerated deployment can succeed in view of limited land resources and what social consequences it will entail. Evidently, the countless renewable energy plants have already mechanised the landscapes to such an extent that any further expansion will face very low acceptance. The reasons for the gap between society's desire for a climate-friendly way of life and the reality of a rejection of the required technologies have a strong geographical connection. Therefore, the spatial dimensions and societal implications of those energy landscapes that can limit global warming to less than two degrees must be explored. This subject will be addressed by means of an interdisciplinary research approach by human and physical geography. Our investigations are based on the following central research questions: To which extent do climate protection strategies change the landscapes that surround us? What spatial options are available in this context? Which social and ecological qualities of energy landscapes can be expected in the process? In order to answer these questions, we want to (1.) model potential carbon-neutral energy landscapes and visualise them cartographically. In doing so, (2.), an ensemble of energy-related and multi-variate bias corrected climate scenarios related to the whole of Germany will be created, which will record the central meteorological and climatic variables in their current spatial distribution and long-term variability. Based on this, we want to (3.) analyse which spatial patterns arise if the restrictions for renewable energies are varied in the spatial analyses. The consequent aim is to (4.) identify social and ecological conflicts in selected spatial case studies and to reflect on adaptation strategies. The findings will also be valorised by (5.) developing the conceptual basis for a GIS tool that can be used to develop carbon-neutral energy landscapes.