UK works on climate change

The UK Research Councils will provide up to £10 million over five years for environmental scientists, engineers and economists to work together on climate change. The aim will be to help society find sustainable solutions to the challenges posed by climate change. The Minister for Science, Lord Sainsbury, in making the announcement today, said, "The aim of the Climate Change Centre is to bring together the diverse scientific disciplines necessary to develop a proper understanding of the effects of global climate change on us here in the UK. Although climate change is a global phenomenon, many of its causes and impacts are local. By integrating research and harnessing new technologies we will be able to prepare for and deal with the sort of problems which could face us, such as increased risks of flooding, the erosion of our coastal areas, the effects on our water supply and water quality and the increased frequency of extreme weather conditions."

The research agenda has expanded from measuring and understanding climate change to helping society find solutions to the problems it creates. Solutions must, however, be sustainable: environmentally, economically, and socially. To achieve this the research in these areas must be integrated. The UK has much to offer in the international debate and is well-placed to develop local and regional solutions within the global context. The three research councils - the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - have agreed to provide up to £10 million over five years for this new activity in interdisciplinary research. The Department of Trade and Industry has pledged additional support for a business contact point.The centre is expected to attract additional funding from elsewhere.

The Centre will draw together researchers from various disciplines to collaborate on climate change. It will:
Work with established bodies such as the Hadley Centre.
Develop an innovative research agenda taking account of existing research
Achieve excellent integrated research
Draw upon relevant expertise in the UK research community and collaborate with research groups abroad
Produce research results relevant to the needs of government and business
Attract additional funding to complement the core support provided by the research councils.

UK Higher Education Institutions, or consortia led by such institutions, are being invited to bid to host the centre. The outcome will be announced in Spring 2000. The centre could start operating later that year.