The goal

UNICORN is an interdisciplinary initiative to build a scientifically robust and socially responsive CO₂ monitoring capacity in the Heidelberg–Mannheim metropolitan region. The 18-node sensor network, supported by funding from Heidelberg University’s Field of Focus 2, the Heidelberg Center for the Environment (HCE) and the Institute of Environmental Physics (IUP), enables an urban observation of greenhouse gases and co-pollutants.

These observations are integrated into a modeling framework using high-resolution atmospheric transport and inverse methods. This allows the estimation of spatially and temporally resolved surface fluxes and the quantification of emission trends—enabling independent verification of urban climate mitigation efforts in line with the Paris Agreement.

UNICORN is also embedded in a broader interdisciplinary collaboration involving researchers from political science, economics, and psychology. In context of HCE, the project investigates how hyper-local CO₂ data affects citizen behavior, public perception, and climate policy. 

The unique integration of atmospheric science with social sciences makes UNICORN a prototype for data-driven, participatory urban climate governance. It aims to bridge the gap between monitoring and action by delivering actionable, trusted information to decision-makers and communities.