The human carbon footprint sets the direction. The warming stripes are not just lines on a graph, they are the imprint of our choices
Part 2 of “From Blue to Red” explores how regions, institutions, and communities can transform knowledge into effective action.
The scientific question of whether climate change is human-made is settled: it is. Part 1 of the series “From Blue to Red” shows that the recent warming is the direct result of human activity. This second part examines the implications of that certainty. This second part starts where the science ends: with the implications. If climate change is largely the result of human decisions, what does it actually mean to say that parts of it are under human control?
From proof to power
Skepticism is part of science. But at this point, the question “Is climate change human-made?” has been tested, poked, modelled, and checked against multiple lines of evidence. The conclusion is robust. If the warming stripes are the planet’s barcode, then the rest of climate science is the receipt, and it clearly lists our emissions.
What follows from this insight is often misunderstood. “Under human control” does not mean that we can simply dial the climate up or down at will. It means something more specific, and much more demanding: that the main drivers of change are social, political, and economic decisions, not natural forces beyond our influence. In other words, the decisive uncertainty today is no longer scientific. It is institutional, behavioural, and collective.
Why knowing is not enough
There is no shortage of climate knowledge. We know the trends, the risks, and the broad directions needed to reduce emissions and adapt to impacts. And yet, action consistently lags behind insight. This gap between knowing and doing is not primarily a problem of ignorance. It is a problem of legitimate interests. But knowledge must also intersect with decision-making processes, showing where choices have impact and what trade-offs they involve.
Bridging that gap requires tools and approaches that make climate change tangible in the contexts where decisions are made: municipalities, regions, planning authorities, and local communities. Data must be actionable, models must be transparent, and insights must be relatable to the people responsible for shaping our energy systems, land use, and urban development. This is where the KNOWING project situates its contribution.
How KNOWING turns knowledge into agency
KNOWING helps communities, local authorities, and regional actors move from awareness to agency. By combining scientific data, digital tools, and participatory methods, the project makes complex relationships between climate impacts, regional planning, energy systems, land use, and behaviour visible and actionable. It does so through:
- A comprehensive Knowledge Base that consolidates data, insights, indicators, and decision-relevant evidence for all Demonstrator Regions.
- A Decision Support System (DSS) that translates scientific information into actionable options for policymakers, planners, and local stakeholders.
- A modular Modeling Framework that allows regions to explore energy futures, land-use choices, climate risks, and transition pathways in a transparent and comparable way.
- A Climate Coping Typology providing a structured framework for understanding how individuals and communities psychologically and behaviourally respond to climate change — from denial and distancing to engagement and proactive action.
- Empowerment tools that turn abstract climate information into relatable, place-based insights. Playful Trainings that help people understand the causes and consequences of climate change in an intuitive, engaging way. The Shape Your Future App, which visualises future scenarios and invites users to explore the consequences of different societal choices. Local Hubs, where stakeholders, citizens, and experts co-create solutions and connect scientific knowledge with real-world implementation.
In short, KNOWING bridges the gap between what we know and what we need to do. It equips regions with the understanding, tools, and confidence to navigate the transition from “the climate is changing” to “we are changing with purpose.” And in a world where doubts keep popping up, that ability to understand the evidence, trust the science, and turn insight into action may be one of the most powerful climate solutions of all.
What comes next
This two-part series has explored the warming stripes and the human contribution behind them. Next week, we turn to the question: Why does climate action move so slowly and how can systems be changed to accelerate it?
About KNOWING
KNOWING is a Horizon Europe project that develops tools, models and participatory formats to support climate-transformation. By combining scientific analysis with local knowledge and stakeholder input, the project supports regions and sectors to understand climate risks, assess options, and design effective, inclusive pathways for change.