The purpose of this conference is to bring researchers, practitioners and policy makers to a world-wide platform to share research and discuss creative solutions related to global climate change impacts. The conference will emphasize the importance of global climate change impacts on agriculture while covering a range of topics related to climate change impacts on land and water resources.
Global Climate Change has been related to increases in temperature, prolonged wet and dry hydroperiods, and an increase in climatic extremes. In the US, the recent 2014 US National Climate Assessment report (http://nca2014.globalchange.gov) recognizes that effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in every corner of the United States, with water growing scarcer in dry regions, torrential rains increasing in wet regions, heat waves becoming more common and more severe, wildfires growing worse, and forests dying under assault from heat-loving insects. Such extreme events are already impacting our ecosystems (e.g., agricultural, urban/suburban, aquatic, wetlands, forests, coastal, etc.). Melting of glaciers, sea level rise, and salt water intrusion in coastal areas are stressing our water resources. Recent literature indicates that to combat climate change, two approaches must be applied, those of adaptation and mitigation. Considering that the impacts of climate change are already being observed, we must develop adaptation strategies to cope with existing impacts while developing mitigation strategies to reduce future impacts. The first day of the symposium will focus on Adaptation to Climate Change while the second will focus on Mitigation of Climate Change.
For more information, please visit the symposium website.