CIRCLE put Northern dimension into climate change research
14 Oct 08
The ERA-NET CIRCLE (Climate Impact Research Coordination in a Larger Europe) is a network which aims at achieving better coordination in Europe in the field of climate change research. The theme is also included in the pilot project CIRCLE NORDIC, which includes three Nordic consortium projects that have just been started. The pilot project is co-funded by the Academy of Finland.
In terms of climate change, the Northern dimension is now more topical than ever. Research suggests that the Finnish climate will become warmer by as much as 5°C by the year 2010. By the same time, average annual rainfall will increase by much more than ten per cent.
“One of the goals set for the pilot project is to find out how best to incorporate research knowledge on climate into decision-making and practice,” says Project Coordinator Laura Valkeasuo from the Academy of Finland.
CIRCLE NORDIC is the second call launched within the network. The first regional call targeted the Mediterranean region.
Pilots give CIRCLE a flying start
CIRCLE has involved 22 partners from eleven European countries as well as eleven observers. It was launched in 2004 and is scheduled to run until 2009.
“The idea of the pilot calls is also to gain new insights and experience to launch a more comprehensive, pan-European CIRCLE call. The challenge is to work towards a common view on and theme for the call,” says Valkeasuo. The pilot calls are also meant to identify best practices for future application and funding processes.
Eight consortia lined up to vie for funding from the Nordic CIRCLE call, which was carried out in 2007, and each of them include research teams from Finland, Sweden and Norway. Funding worth a total of about 300,000 euros was subsequently granted to three consortia.
Keeping a multidisciplinary approach
“Our consortium had its first teleconference in late August this year. Our aim is to chart vulnerability and adaptability in relation to climate change at a local level,” explains Research Professor Timothy Carter from the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE).
Carter’s consortium does research in the field of agriculture. “We’re fortunate to be able to make good use of and build on previous studies conducted in Norway.”
In many Nordic countries, agriculture is closely linked to forestry, the fishing industry and tourism. “Our research naturally addresses all these other issues as well,” Carter continues.
Naturally, an essential part of the Nordic pilot project is the networking of researchers. Director Laura Raaska from the Academy of Finland says the pilot indeed has adopted a multidisciplinary approach, which, in terms of collaboration between researchers, “is a truly rewarding, albeit very challenging undertaking”.
Overall goal to implement a climate change programme
Much is being done within climate change research in the Nordic countries alone, not to mention the rest of Europe. “What we need to do is align national research programmes with a view to generating added value and avoiding duplication and overlaps,” says Raaska.
On the other hand, Timothy Carter maintains that Europe has devoted surprisingly little research to the study of climate change adaptation from the perspective of the economy or decision-making, for instance. “Our consortium of course hopes to be able to participate in the extended ERA-NET call as well.”
Carter would also like the Academy of Finland to launch its own research programme for climate change – the sooner, the better. This would breathe new life into fundamental climate change research in Finland as well. “The funding on offer within CIRCLE NORDIC is undoubtedly a good thing, but ultimately it’s only a promising first step on the road ahead for adaptation research.”
According to Laura Raaska, the CIRCLE call, which will most likely be completed this year, will involve careful consideration of the differences in emphasis between different approaches. “One of these concerns the interrelationship between adaptation research and mitigation research.”
Text: Tiina Ruulio
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