Welcome to CIRCLE!
CIRCLE is a European Networking project aiming at implementing a European Research Area (ERA) in the field of climate change and adaptation research. The aim of CIRCLE as an ERA-NET is described on our website: www.circle-era.net.
Contents
CIRCLE news
Other news
Congresses and other announcements
1. CIRCLE news
CIRCLE Vision
The CIRCLE Consortium, jointly with the Advisory Board, has worked out a common vision of future work beyond the life time of the CIRCLE CA. Based on the common understanding gained in the meantime; this vision will form the basis for continuing the collaboration.
Further Information: vision paper
2. Other news
Germany
German BMBF launches new funding programme on integrated land management
The effects of the biofuel boom on the global food economy drastically show how little we actually understand about the interplay of factors and consequences of our decisions in land use. This new funding programme will aim at stimulating the knowledge necessary to make decisions for sustainable land management under conditions of climate change. It will be looking for holistic solutions, innovative technologies and integrated management approaches. The focus will not be Germany or Europe alone, but also on hotspots of land change across the world.
Further information
KLIMZUG (Managing climate change in the regions for the future) started
During summer 2008, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research started the first two network projects within its latest funding programme on adaptation to climate change “KLIMZUG – Managing climate change in the regions for the future”. The objective of KLIMZUG is to integrate climate change and resulting extreme weather phenomena in processes of regional planning and development.
Further information
The Netherlands
Dutch Delta Committee
The Dutch Delta Committee was asked to advise the Dutch government about the protection of the Netherlands against climate change. In September they published their recommendations which were guided by the following elements:
Moral choices (do we remain collectively responsible for water safety; how do we define safety levels in relation to people, economy, environment).
Aspirations (the Netherlands retains its attractive living environment, sustainability as a guiding principle, availability of quality of surface and drinking water).
Implementation processes (safety as a central objective, integrated and multifunctional solutions, flexibility).
Further information
New Dutch research programme: Knowledge for Climate
Knowledge for Climate was approved by the Dutch government with a budget of 50 million euros in July 2007. Its official kick-off was in summer 2008. Knowledge for Climate is an ambitious research program aiming at developing applied knowledge through cooperation between the Dutch (local) government, business community and scientific research institutes. The program aims at incorporating information about the impacts of climate change and adaptation options into short and long term decision making.
Austria
KVP-Climate Impact Assessment
In order to address substantial aspects of the Austrian Climate Strategy, Austria is introducing a climate impact assessment at the federal policy level. It aims to mainstream regulations addressing both mitigation and adaptation in terms of assessing:
potential effects of the regulation with regard to emissions of greenhouse gases;
expected effects on vulnerability and the contribution to climate change response measures.
Further information
Second call ‘New Energy 2020’ (KLIEN)
The Austrian Climate and Energy Fund (KLIEN, established in 2007) has recently opened the second call 2008 for its new research and technology programme “new energy 2020”. About 20 Million euros are allocated for research and development.
Further information
Finland
PEER (Partnership for European Environmental Research) Network
PEER network is undertaking a study by six European countries on comparing national adaptation strategies in European countries. The objective of the project is to support the development of adaptation policies as well as to identify research gaps and strengthen national and European research on adaptation. The final report of the project will be available in the end of November 2008.
Further information
France
The French National Research Agency (ANR) launches two calls
The French National Research Agency (ANR) has launched two calls for Forward Planning Teams (FPT) on “global planetary changes” and on “agriculture and anthropized ecosystems adaptation to climate change”. The objective of FPT is to bring together groups of researchers, experts and industrial and/or governmental representatives to formulate the R&D needs in the specified domains. The ANR call strengthens research coupling environmental research with social and economic approaches on global change issues.
Further information
Greece
Design of a building with positive energy balance
The Mariolopoulos-Kanaginis Foundation for the Environmental Sciences is going to be located in a building with a positive energy balance – a pilot in Greece. The term “positive energy” is used for a building that produces more energy in its public areas than it consumes by applying Renewable Energy Techniques.
3. Congresses and other announcements
Towards a climate proof society
November 27 (2008)
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
On November 27, 2008, the Knowledge for Climate and Climate changes Spatial Planning Research Programmes, will organise the Conference Towards a climate proof society in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. International speakers are Ken Livingstone (former Mayor of London) and James Hansen (world leading climate scientist, involved in the climate policy debate). The morning programme is in English.
Further information
International Dimensions of Climate Policies
January 21-23 (2009)
Bern, Switzerland
The conference will cover a broad spectrum of climate economic research issues and foster cross-disciplinary links. Each topic includes a keynote plenary lecture and numerous parallel sessions. It is open to all interested researchers.
International Scientific Congress on Climate Change
March 10-12 (2009)
Copenhagen, Denmark
The Organisers of the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP15) to be held in Copenhagen at the end of 2009 have asked IARU to organise this scientific Congress as a part of the run-up to the COP15. The main aim of the congress is to provide a synthesis of existing and emerging scientific knowledge necessary in order to make intelligent societal decisions concerning application of mitigation and adaptation strategies in response to climate change.
Further information
Fifth Urban Research symposium: Cities and Climate Change: Responding to an Urgent Agenda.
June 28-30 (2009)
Marseille, France
This Symposium aims at pushing forward the research agenda on climate change from a city’s perspective. Specifically, the main questions will be structured around the impacts of city and urban growth on climate change; measuring and anticipating the consequences of climate change on urban quality of life, city assets, and local and national economies; and assessing alternatives to increase the resilience of cities and related costs and incentives required for successful implementation.
Further information
World Climate Conference
August 31 – September 4 (2009)
Geneva, Switzerland
This conference is focusing on scientific advances in seasonal to inter-annual time-scales, taking into account multi-decadal prediction. It includes the application of climate prediction and information to societal problems, enabling adaptation to climate variability and change in various sectors such as agriculture and food security, forestry, energy, water, health, urban and rural settlements, infrastructure, tourism, wildlife, trade and transport that contribute to sustainable socio-economic development.