Conference on regional climate attracts scientists from over 70 countries

Next week, 14-18 October, almost 500 regional climate researchers, decision makers and users of regional climate information from more than 70 countries will gather for the 4th International Conference on Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (ICRC-CORDEX 2019) in Beijing, China. They will discuss regional climate research and share the latest progress on regional climate information for impact and adaptation planning.

The conference is organized by the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), which hosts the International Project Office for CORDEX (IPOC), in cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Science and The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP).

"Global Climate Models can provide us with projections of how the climate of the earth may change in the future. The impacts, however, of a changing climate, and the adaptation strategies required to deal with them, will to a large degree occur on more regional and local scales," says Dr Iréne Lake, director for the International Project Office for CORDEX.

Regional climate downscaling has an important role to play by providing projections with much greater detail and more accurate representation of local extreme events. The results will also be prominent in the next assessment report currently in preparation by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

"Regional climate information can help us better understand how climate change affects different regions in various ways, and help end users like water managers in sub-Saharan Africa, city planners in Manila or forestry owners in Sweden to plan for the consequenses," says Iréne Lake.

One of the CORDEX goals is to build the capacity on regional climate science and its use in developing and transition regions.

A number of Flagship Pilot Studies, addressing local and regional challenges, will be presented during the sessions. Also, a new climate adaptation game on Minecraft and on the web, developed by the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, will be demonstrated during the conference.

Read more about the conference on http://icrc-cordex2019.cordex.org/about/

Link to abstracts: http://icrc-cordex2019.cordex.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/10/AbstractBook_20191004.pdf

More information

For more information, please contact:

Iréne Lake, director, International Project Office for CORDEX (IPOC), SMHI

Email: irene.lake@smhi.se

Phone number +4611 4958319 - please note that Dr. Iréne Lake is available during office hours, Swedish local time

Erik Kjellström, Professor of Climatology at SMHI, attending the conference in Beijing

Email: erik.kjellstrom@smhi.se

Phone number: +4611 4958501

About CORDEX

The global collaborative initiative CORDEX aims to develop and provide detailed, regional climate information necessary for vulnerability, impact and adaptation studies at local and regional levels where climate change happens. CORDEX is working to meet the increasing need for reliable regional climate information communicated in a manner enabling efficient regional and local decisions on impact and adaptation planning.

CORDEX is a project of the World Climate Research Programme. The Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment Secretariat is located at the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Norrköping. The Science Advisory board consists of members from Argentina, USA, Canada, Germany, Australia, India, South Africa, China, Jamaica, Malaysia, Spain and Sweden.

About The International Conference on Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (ICRC-CORDEX 2019)

• 14 - 18 October 2019, in Beijing, China
• Almost 500 regional climate researchers, decision makers and users of regional climate information from more than 70 countries will gather.
• The conference is organized by the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), which hosts the International Project Office for CORDEX (IPOC), in cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Science and The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP).

About The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)

SMHI is an expert authority with a global outlook and a vital mission to forecast changes in weather, water and climate. With a scientific foundation, we use knowledge, research and services to contribute to a more sustainable society. Every hour of every day, all year round.

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