Future Directions for Climate Research in Asia and the Pacific

Abstract

There are clear trends of increasing temperature in the Asia-Pacific region. There are observed trends in extreme climate events and evidence of changes in large-scale climate systems including the monsoon and the associated Hadley circulation. Modeling the climate of the region provides opportunities for improved understanding and prediction, but there remain challenges especially for mountainous terrain and small islands. Current projections for future climate indicate that existing stresses are likely to be exacerbated. Urbanization is expected to continue and better understanding of the interactions between climate and urban areas is essential. Further work is needed to improve our understanding of adaptation and mitigation both in urban areas and in small communities. Significant challenges exacerbated by climate variability and change need to be overcome so that future needs for rice and wheat can be met. Management strategies need to be implemented globally so that fisheries will be able to provide necessary food for the region. Local management strategies are also needed to ensure water security. Regional and international cooperation is providing initial support for integrated assessments that can investigate pathways towards low carbon development (LCD) across the region. Natural ecosystem services support substantial components of economies across the region and new strategies are being developed to enhance the resilience of natural ecosystems impacted by climate change. Natural ecosystems in Asia and the Pacific can contribute significantly to the mitigation of climate change. Communities, particularly poor and remote communities, are vulnerable to climate change and there is a need for capacity building in research, policy development and implementation to reduce these vulnerabilities. International cooperation exists in the development of mechanisms to promote systematic observations of geophysical variables. Further cooperation is needed to ensure that consistent high-quality socio-economic data are collected, archived and accessible. Continuous monitoring of the geophysical environment and associated socio-economic variables, and developing and analyzing indicators of climate interactions with natural ecosystems and human societies is needed to fully interpret and respond to the complex socio-economic interactions with the Earth’s climate.