Author: Irene Lake
See Professor Erik Kjellstrom inteview IPCC co-chair Panmao Zhai
Climate professor Erik Kjellstrom interviews IPCC-co-chair Panmao Zhai on the importance of CORDEX for IPCC. Click here to see the video.
Follow the CORDEX conference in Bejing online!
IPCC co-chair Panmao Zhai answers three quick questions on CORDEX/IPCC
- Why is CORDEX and the work carried out within the CORDEX framework important from an IPCC perspective?
CORDEX aims to develop and provide detailed, regional climate information necessary for vulnerability, impact and adaptation studies at local and regional levels. The aims of CORDEX fit perfectly for IPCC AR6, under the demands of governments for increased policy-relevant regional downscaled information, to fill the noted knowledge gaps in climate change hazards, risks and adaptation at the national, regional or even local levels.
- Could you give some examples?
To address and enhance the treatment of regional climate change issues, the structure of IPCC WGI AR6 has been designed to allow a detailed and comprehensive assessment of regional and sectoral-relevant climate information. Among 12 scoped chapters, we have three dedicated chapters linking global to regional climate change, weather and climate extremes and climate information for regional impact and risk assessment,. We also have an Altlas providing regional climate change information visually.
CORDEX supports IPCC assessment on coordinated regional climate change and extreme information. A comprehensive assessment of multiple sources of regional climate information, including downscaling methodologies is in great need in WGI AR6 report. Thus, outcomes from CORDEX, will be huge support to improve regional scale information not only on historical simulations but also on future climate change.
- What do you hope from the conference – what will it contribute to?
This main focus of the International Conference on Regional Climate (ICRC)- CORDEX 2019 including benefits of downscaling; further development of earth system models; the human factor, impacts and applications and knowledge exchange. Many of these can directly contribute to IPCC AR6, especially on downscaling impact and application, and updated knowledge exchange for various regions. Some others such as further development of earth system models can contribute to future IPCC activities. I hope the outcome of this conference can be published as soon as possible to support AR6 reports for WGI and WGII.
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 https://cordex.org/icrc-cordex2019/about/
Link to abstracts: https://cordex.org/icrc-cordex2019/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.
SMHI. Always the best support for your decisions.
Side Event Future Risk, Future Earth at the ICRC-CORDEX 2019 in Beijing
Thursday 17 October
Location: CNCC Conference venue
Event Duration: 16:30-18:00
The global risks are increasingly complex, uncertain, systemic, and dynamic. To tackle them effectively we will need strong, transdisciplinary understanding and action on global risks.
This side session provides an open platform for scientific communities from across science disciplines on extreme events, disaster risk reduction and governance to exchange information, knowledge and explore to potential opportunities in collaborative research activities. Project representatives from Future Earth Program, IRDR, IRG Project, MAIRS and WCRP will be present their past works and discuss with participants on the future cooperative workplans.
For more information about the conference program click here