Net Zero Web Atlas

Our Customer

The Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation. It comprises 18 research centers specialising in the natural sciences, engineering, and the biological and medical sciences. The Helmholtz Center Hereon conducts cutting-edge international research for a changing world: around 1,000 employees generate knowledge and innovations for greater resilience and sustainability.

Initial Situation

The requirement

Climate research is an important focus of the Helmholtz Centre Hereon. Scientists work together to develop strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to unavoidable climate impacts. The focus is on Germany and Europe, for which different scenarios are being developed with regard to “net zero 2050” (mitigation) and “adaptation to extreme events” (adaptation). In order to present the scientific priorities in a way that facilitates broad dialogue within society, a digital tool was to be implemented. The objective was to facilitate the transfer of knowledge from science to actors in politics, public administration, and other “climate-relevant” decision-makers.

Our Solution

That is what we have implemented

In early 2020, the Net Zero Web Atlas was designed in collaboration with the team at the Helmholtz Centre Hereon to visualise possible display options. Just a few months later, the first prototype was presented within the project. A year later, in November 2021, the finished Web Atlas was officially published. The climate road maps developed are stored in a map display. Country-specific data can be selected individually and is presented in an overview in text form and in diagrams. Various CO2-reducing methods and scenarios in Germany can also be accessed via story lines. An overview map further on visualises the partners of the project, which is funded by the Helmholtz Association's Impulse and Networking Fund (IVF). The Web Atlas displays project results that are important for a CO2-neutral Germany by 2050. Net Zero 2050 aims to advance the public and political debate on CO2 neutrality at various levels. The tool is also aimed at the interested public.

The Net Zero 2050 Web Atlas is a platform for digital knowledge transfer. It serves as a showcase for the research contributions of the Helmholtz Centers, which have contributed their expertise to the Net Zero 2050 project. It presents the results of the Net Zero 2050 project in a clear and understandable way and answers the question: what technical and nature-based options and political decisions can help Germany become carbon neutral?

What are the benefits for our customer?

Net Zero 2050 is driving public and political debate on carbon neutrality at various levels
Climate roadmaps developed worldwide are easy to find and presented in a clear manner
Contributions are map- and story-based to support different approaches to information gathering
Extensive background information and a glossary are available
The contents of the atlas are presented in such a way that users can select the depth of information and thus find the information relevant to them quickly and easily

Monika Kerschbaumer