ClimOO

The research project ClimOO – Climate, Plastics and Sustainability: Ontology and Operationalisation – addresses the complex relationship between microplastic pollution and climate change, with a special focus on agriculture in South Tyrol. Plastics contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation throughout their life cycle. The project aims to systematically investigate the causes, effects, and potential mitigation strategies.

ClimOO takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining philosophical, scientific, environmental, and agricultural expertise. On a theoretical level, it explores how climate sustainability is defined and implemented within existing standards, highlighting inconsistencies, gaps, and operational challenges. On a practical level, it involves laboratory analysis of agricultural soils in South Tyrol to detect microplastics and assess their effects on soil fertility, crop quality, and CO₂-binding capacity.

A key innovation of the project is the development of an ontology to semantically integrate environmental data – a tool currently missing in climate and microplastic research. This semantic framework will enhance the comparability and reusability of data across disciplines and sectors, supporting a better connection between scientific knowledge and policymaking.

ClimOO also addresses a major knowledge gap: there is little data on the amount of plastic used in South Tyrolean agriculture and the actual level of soil contamination. The project therefore includes a study of local agricultural practices to identify barriers and opportunities in adopting more sustainable materials, offering concrete support for the goals of the KlimaPlan South Tyrol 2040.

 

Project details

Name: ClimOO - Climate, Plastics and Sustainability: Ontology and Operationalisation

CUP: F54D24002400003

Funding: Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige – il Piano Clima Alto Adige 2040

Project Coordinator: Studio Teologico Accademico Bressanone (PTH-STA)

Project Partners: Studio Teologico Accademico Bressanone (PTH-STA), Eco Research (ER), Laimburg Research Centre (LRC)

Duration: 06.2025- 06.2027

Budget: 327.219,00 € (totale), 60.920,00 € (Fraunhofer Italia)