The last ten years have seen a particularly intense increase in the degree of emphasis to climate issues as a whole and in the level of attention paid to climate change in particular. Finding practical, workable and cost-efficient solutions to the problems posed by Climate Change is now a world priority and one which links government and non-government organisations as well as the general public in a way not seen before. But even though climate change is a matter of great scientific relevance and of broad general interest, there are many problems related to its communication.

The understanding about the causes, consequences and means to tackle climate change is one of the most important challenges of modern times. Without a holistic understanding of the problem and its various ramifications, there can be no effective handling of the problem, nor can long-term solutions be sought. This paper outlines the need for better information, networking and technology transfer on climate change. It describes the International Climate Change Information Programme (IICIP), as well as its activities and projects, which ultimately aim to support the on-going efforts towards the search for solutions for the problems associated with climate change, an issue which is global in nature, but which needs to be supported by concrete regional and local efforts.

Based on experiences gained in the frame of the climate project CELA funded in the context of the European Commission ALFA III Programme, this paper focuses on networking and technology transfer in the field of climate change between Latin America and Europe to illustrate how higher education institutions (HEI) can contribute to sustainable socio-economic development in Latin America. The paper will provide evidence for the fact that, despite the fact that many Latin American states have given climate change adaptation a high priority, the same states often have neither the technology nor the resources needed in order to adapt successfully. Also, to cope with the many challenges climate change poses, the role of HEIs, especially in terms of research, consultancy and technology transfer as well as the capacity-building and qualification of human capital within the HEI and beyond, will be explored further. Finally, the paper will introduce a university-industry networking project which fosters the transnational transfer of climate change technology between Europe and Latin America and concludes by indicating some emerging themes which ought to be tackled to foster adaptation to climate change in this region.

This paper is based on the experiences gained by “The Small Developing Island Renewable Energy Knowledge and Technology Transfer Network (DIREKT)”, which is a cooperation scheme involving universities from Germany, Fiji, Mauritius, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago, with the aim of strengthening science and technology capacity in the field of renewable energy of a sample of ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) small island developing states, by means of technology transfer, information exchange and networking. Developing countries are especially vulnerable to problems associated with climate change and much can be gained by raising their capacity in the field of renewable energy, which is a key area. The project is funded by the ACP Science and Technology Programme, an EU programme for cooperation between the European Union and the ACP region (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific). This paper discusses the contribution that can be made by renewable energy as a tool in addressing the challenge of climate change on a global level. It shows the extent to which renewable energy systems are being used in order to satisfy current energy demands and which positive effects have been achieved with these measures. The paper also discusses some of the empirical evidence available and outlines some of the actions currently being taken in the Pacific region. Finally, it summarises some of the lessons learned from the Pacific region and lists some of the challenges and measures that need to be implemented in order to achieve a better integration between the use of renewable energy and climate change goals in the Pacific region.

Essaouira synclinal area is part of the semi-arid areas of Morocco that are subject to the impact of climatic and human pressures. In the case of this coastal area, which includes two main aquifers superimposed; the Plio-Quaternary and Turonian, the resulting vulnerability is compounded by the risk of infiltration navy. The Rainfall in the area does not exceed 300 mm year^-1, the average temperature hovers around 20 ° C, the piezometric map of Essaouira synclinal basin was made, different water samples have been collected from October 2009 after exceptional rainfall, all waters are sodium-chloride facies, interpretation of mineralization indicates power by the Ksob Wadi in the northeast and increasing levels of chlorides in the central part generated by the Essaouira diaper hidden. Excessive levels of nitrates have been identified, as well as chlorides after rains of winter 2009. The electrical conductivity and concentrations of ₁₈O and ₂H were measured, a local meteoric water line was determined according to the Atlantic origin of precipitation. The Essaouira Basin is more vulnerable to drought because its climate is entirely dependent on recharge meteoric waters.

This paper describes the methodology and results from the analysis of climate scenarios and their impact on hydrometeorological variables and the energy system in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile´s capital city. Data are reported for historical and future scenarios. Meteorological data were obtained from meteorological stations and water resources administration, and GCM climate projections were obtained from globally available sources (A2-worst case and B1-best case scenarios). For future scenarios, a standard, simple downscaling methodology based on the probability distribution of each variable was used. A special study on the impact on the energy system was carried out. Overall results indicate that in the near future (2045-2065 period) Santiago will be a dryer, hotter city, with a high number of days with extreme temperatures, increased drought during the winter and summer, and lower life quality indexes derived from climate change effects. In the energy sector a decrease in the hydropower electricity is expected as well as a change in patterns of consumption with a shift in the peak demand, which will impose a growing stress on the longitudinal transmission network of the country.

Global warming will have far-reaching consequences for agriculture that will disproportionately affect poor and marginalized groups who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods and have a lower capacity to adapt. Sustainable food security in a world of growing population and changing diets is a major challenge under climate change. A recent study estimates the annual costs of adapting to climate change in the agricultural sector to be over US$ 7¬ billion. Agriculture and related activities also contribute to global warming with agriculture estimated to account for about a third of global GHG emissions. This paper makes the case for heightened focus on agriculture if the triple challenge of adaptation, mitigation and food security are going to be achieved. It suggests four key areas for research and action: understanding trade-offs amongst adaptation, mitigation and food security; implementing accelerated adaptation strategies; enhanced climate risk management; trialling and testing agricultural mitigation options that don't compromise food security. In the conclusions we call for a new “green agriculture”.