The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) is gearing up for the upcoming annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU 2024) in December. The conference is now accepting abstracts and the submission deadline is 31 July 2024.  

Like every year, WCRP’s Core Projects are involved in convening a variety of sessions across a range of topics. The list below will be updated as soon as we receive new information:  

• GC149: The global water cycle: coupling and exchanges of mass and energy between the ocean, land, cryosphere and atmosphere  
• GC046: Climate forcing: quantifying the roles and responses of anthropogenic and natural climate drivers 
• GC128: Robustness of Climate Change Information for Decisions 

To know more and to submit an abstract, please click here. 

The registration deadline for the upcoming APARC Reanalysis Intercomparison Project (A-RIP) kickoff meeting and planning workshop to be held in Boulder from 22 to 24 July is fast approaching. This workshop aims to bring together scientists developing and using reanalyses to share research and plan the next phase of systematic reanalysis evaluations as part of A-RIP. 

The pre-registration deadline is extented to 6 July. Please register your virtual or in-person participation and submit abstracts here.

Additional information on the meeting is available on the A-RIP website.

Submit a photo for the cover of our Science and Implementation plan!

Climate and Cryosphere aims to understand and assess the wide range of societal impacts of the loss of the mountain cryosphere through a newly proposed strategic initiative: Impacts of Changes in the Mountain Cryosphere (IC-MontC).

Applications are now invited by the CORDEX Science Advisory Team (SAT) for groups within regional communities across the globe to propose 'Flagship Pilot Studies' (FPS).

This FPS call consists of two parts:

• An open part where you suggest a topic of your choice as long as it follows the FPS Criteria & Guidelines
• A part dedicated to Climate Risks. We here encourage FPS proposals that target risk producing climatic hazards including assessing and improving simulations of the hazard, understanding the projected future changes, and quantifying the added-value that high-resolution/process resolving brings to the simulation of the hazards and their changes. CORDEX SAT would also highly appreciate proposals related to Small Islands challenges. 

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 21 August 2024.

To read more about the call and to apply, click here

Join us for a special seminar celebrating the career of CMIP Panel member Cath Senior in CMIP and WCRP as she announces her retirement after 38 years working at the forefront of climate science.
This Special Seminar will welcome Cath to share her Perspective on WCRP and CMIP and future challenges. At this session brief remarks will also be provided by CMIP Panel members Karl Taylor and Helene Hewitt.

Date: 24 July 2024, 15:30-16:00 UTC

Register here!

WCRP and CLIVAR are saddened to hear of the passing away of Dr Howard Cattle, Director of the CLIVAR International Project Office from 2002-2010 at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (UK). Dr. Cattle’s background in meteorology, oceanography, forecasting and management had suited him in taking CLIVAR to the next level. He will be remembered as an outstanding scientist. Our thoughts are with his family and many friends.

Please see the obituary on CLIVAR webpage.

Earth System Modelling & Observations (ESMO), one of our core projects, is looking for global experts dedicated to advancing Earth system modelling and observational capabilities. Deadline: 7 July 2024. Click here to apply.

Members of the Safe Landing Climates lighthouse activity have recently published a commentary “Uncertain Pathways to a Future Safe Climate” in Earth’s Future.  

Click here to apply. Deadline: 7 July 2024. 

19 June 2024, 14:30hrs CEST. Click here to register.

The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), a WCRP Project, is now inviting applications to be a panel member. Applicants from “Least Developed Countries", “Landlocked Developing Countries", and “Small Island Developing States" are particularly encouraged to apply.   

Deadline to apply: 21 June 2024.

The International Project Office (IPO) for the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Core Project Regional Information for Society (RIfS), based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada is looking for a Science Officer. The RIfS Project aims to strengthen ties between research on climate and the information needs of societies and governments. The Science Officer will support activities focused on regional climate change information for decisions.

• To read the position in English, click here.
• To read the position in French, click here.

We are excited to announce that, beginning in April 2024, the Manila Observatory in the Philippines is hosting the Support Unit of the WCRP Academy, the research training advisory and coordination arm of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP).

Join experts Franziska Gaupp (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research – PIK), Sol Kislig (University of Bern) and Tom Powell (GSI Exeter University) in a discussion on Accelerating Transformation with Positive Food System Tipping Points. 

The Digital Earths Lighthouse Activity webinar "Km-scale modelling for Destination Earth's Digital Twins" will take place on 14 May 2024 at 13:00 UTC.

The Working Group on Numerical Experimentation (WGNE) seeks global experts who are vested in enhancing the emerging capacities of operational meteorological centers and services. WGNE operates within the WCRP EarthSystem Modelling and Observations (ESMO) Core Project, which oversees and advances all modeling, data assimilation, and observational endeavors within WCRP.

Don’t miss the opportunity to join this group of experts and leave your mark in advancing modelling activities within WCRP. If you are eager to share your expertise with leading researchers and get the chance to contribute to shaping new initiatives and collaborate with new colleagues, send your application.

Information about the call click here. Apply by June 3, 2024 

The Kigali Declaration, one of the biggest outcomes of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)’s Open Science Conference 2023, calls for immediate climate action, amplification of the relevance and benefits of climate research to society, and increased accessible and equitable investments towards climate mitigation.  

Read the WMO article "Kigali Declaration: Climate Science for a Sustainable Future for All" published in the first issue of MeteoWorld for 2024.

Apply to be a member of Global Precipitation EXperiment (GPEX). 

Last date to apply: 28 April 2024

We are excited to announce that WCRP has launched a new logo and brand identity, developed by the award-winning Parenti & Co agency in Geneva. The new logo was agreed by the WCRP Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) in February 2024 after substantial discussions and consideration. The new WCRP website branding was launched on 2 March 2024, with the rest of the new branding to be rolled out over the next few weeks.

Two early career researchers Petronille Dusingizimana and Rachel Isphording reflect on their time at the WCRP Open Science Conference 2023 and share their key takeaways from the experience.  

Petronille Dusingizimana 

The WCRP 2023 Open Science Conference (OSC) is a turning point, emphasizing the urgent call for immediate climate action. In the realm of climate change where boundaries dissolve, a collaborative and transdisciplinary approach is imperative. As an early/mid-career researcher (EMCR) specializing in sustainable agro-food systems, the conference served as a dynamic platform harmonizing the expertise of junior and senior researchers to craft innovative and sustainable solutions. 

The collective commitment witnessed at the conference reflected a rich diversity of perspectives converging toward a sustainable future, with EMCRs as the driving force behind innovation in climate science. The OSC provided a unique space for EMCRs to contribute insights and engage with established researchers and policymakers, fostering a shared sense of responsibility in shaping the trajectory of climate research. This collaborative spirit extended to discussions on the intersection of climate science and sustainable agriculture; a theme echoed in the WCRP conference and COP28.  

The WCRP conference can be viewed as a blueprint for COP28, evident in the aligned calls for transformative actions, a shift from fossil fuel energy, and the pursuit of climate justice. This alignment underscores the potency of collaboration and trans disciplinarity in advancing climate research. 

Looking forward, the future of climate science hinges on working together, inclusivity, and actionable knowledge. EMCRs are pivotal in propelling innovation and transformative actions, emphasizing multidisciplinary research, effective policymaker engagement, and translating scientific knowledge into actionable climate information. The Kigali Declaration is a guiding compass steering us towards a sustainable future. 

The optimism ignited by the WCRP 2023 OSC resonates in the face of climate challenges. EMCRs, with their diverse perspectives and unwavering dedication, are poised to shape the evolving landscape of climate science significantly. As we collectively embark on the journey towards sustainability, the Kigali Declaration serves as a powerful catalyst for positive change, offering hope and direction in our pursuit of a resilient and sustainable future. 

Rachael Isphording 

Attending the WCRP Open Science Conference (OSC) in Kigali, Rwanda, was a profoundly rewarding experience, contributing significantly to my personal and professional growth as an Early Career Researcher (ECR) in climate science. The incredible diversity of the attendees spanning multiple disciplines, career stages, and global regions—most notably from the Global South—provided an unparalleled opportunity for networking and thought-provoking discussions. Conversations were inspiring and insightful, allowing me to gain fresh, transformative perspectives.  

The OSC not only broadened my technical knowledge but also heightened my awareness of stark inequities between the global North and South. I vividly recall round-table discussions at the Early and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCR) events and Townhalls where I heard firsthand accounts from colleagues that underscored the impacts of climate change on their communities and exposed resource disparities within the global climate science community. Colleagues from Barbados, Jamaica, South Africa, and Brazil shared their struggles of computational resource limitations, barriers to accessing and publishing in renowned scientific journals, inaccessible international career development opportunities, and biases and discrimination. 

Reflecting on the OSC, the ideas discussed, and the awareness gained from such a beautifully diverse cohort will shape the priorities for the global climate science community in the coming decades. I am truly grateful to have contributed to these discussions. Aligned with the WCRP’s ethos, I am committed to the collective pursuit of interdisciplinary and inclusive knowledge that will inform urgent action to create a more sustainable and equitable future.  

The Kigali Declaration, one of the biggest outcomes of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)’s Open Science Conference 2023, calls for immediate climate action, amplification of the relevance and benefits of climate research to society, and increased accessible and equitable investments towards climate mitigation.