Climate Impacts Group

Director’s Corner: Celebrating 25 Years of Building Climate Resilience

This year, the Climate Impacts Group marks 25 years of building climate resilience through rigorous science and innovative, cross-sector partnerships. We are excited to spend the academic year celebrating efforts across the Northwest to prepare for the effects of climate change. We invite our partners, fellow scientists, supporters of our work and members of the public to join us.

Over the next six months, we will host three virtual lectures related to climate resilience.

Our first event, scheduled for Thursday, December 3, features Climate Impacts Group scientists and partners in discussion about efforts across the state of Washington to prepare for rising sea levels and shifting ecosystems. 

CIG Director Presents at Insurance Commissioner’s Climate Summit

Dr. Amy Snover, director of the Climate Impacts Group, was among several leaders advancing climate resilience who presented at the Climate Summit hosted by Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. Dr. Snover discussed Pacific Northwest climate change science: Impacts, risks & vulnerabilities. View a recording of her presentation as well as other talks from the Summit.  

Climate change poses risks to insurers and consumers alike. Insurance companies must be prepared to pay increased property, life and health claims resulting from a changing climate. The virtual 2020 Climate Summit brought together a national audience of climate, government and insurance professionals to understand and explore how climate change affects our communities, regulatory efforts and businesses.   

REGISTER: Oregon-Washington Water Year Meeting, October 28 & 29

The Oregon-Washington Water Year 2020 Recap & 2021 Outlook Meeting will be held as two virtual meetings on the mornings of October 28 and 29. The annual water year meeting is an opportunity to review climate-related impacts of the previous water year and learn about the forecast for the upcoming water year.

In addition to hearing from the forecast experts, both days will include time for discussion and peer-to-peer learning. We encourage participation from a wide range of sectors including utilities, agriculture and forestry.

Register

Day 1: October 28; 9 a.m. to noon P.T.

The first day will feature a recap of the 2020 water year with a focus on extremes — from winter flooding to drought to wildfire. 

Northwest Climate Conference to be Held April 6-8, 2021 

The 11th Northwest Climate Conference, hosted by the UW Climate Impacts Group, will be held Tuesday, April 6—Thursday, April 8, 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the conference will be held entirely online.

The NW Climate Conference annually brings together more than 500 researchers and practitioners from around the region to discuss scientific results, challenges, and solutions related to the impacts of climate on people, natural resources and infrastructure in the Northwest. The conference also provides a forum for presenting emerging policy and management goals, as well as information needs related to regional climate impacts and adaptation. Conference participants include policy- and decision-makers, resource managers, and scientists from academia, public agencies, sovereign tribal nations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.