Scientists from the National Environmental Research Centre (NERI), Aarhus University, take part in a new ”European Topic Centre” on climate change adaptation. The new topic centre will provide support to the European Environment Agency (EEA) and its monitoring network, Eionet.

2010.07.01

Scientists from the National Environmental Research Centre (NERI), Aarhus University, take part in a new ”European Topic Centre” on climate change adaptation. The new topic centre will provide support to the European Environment Agency (EEA) and its monitoring network, Eionet.

The objective is gradually to gather and integrate all available knowledge on climate adaptation, thereby reducing the current fragmented nature of information. In addition, the topic centre will focus on harmonization of monitoring systems related to climate change impacts, vulnerability and disaster risks. The topic centre will also cooperate and network with member countries not only with regard to status reports but also with regard to climate adaptation strategies. The topic centre has 10 participating institutions from 9 countries and is headed by Sergio Castellari from the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change, CMCC, in Bologna. The topic centre relates primarily to the PEER and CIRCLE2 networks. A Danish contribution will be provided through the Coordination Unit for Research in Climate Change Adaptation (KFT)

Senior scientist Hans Sanderson, NERI, will be in charge of Work Area 3 of the topic centre: “Support the development and implementation of EU policy”. He is pleased that the EU now supports the project.

“Yes, it is fantastic news. NERI, that means I, is mainly responsible for the policy part of the adaptation measures in relation to EU’s white paper on climate change adaptation. This will mainly involve “climate-proofing” of key policies, especially relating to water issues, biodiversity, health, structural policies, agriculture, soil, and prevention of disasters such as the heavy floods that Europe has experienced in recent years. The more precise nature of our involvement and tasks will become apparent when we start receiving more detailed assignments.“

Work area 3 is allocated a total of EUR 700,000 during a 4-year period, but this amount may increase during the course of the project.

Contact: Senior scientist Hans Sanderson, tel. +45 4630 1822, hasa@dmu.dk