The Energy, Environment and Water Research Center of The Cyprus Institute is organizing an international Conference on 'Energy, Water and Climate Change in the Mediterranean and Middle East’. The conference will be held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E. Demetris Christofias.

The Mediterranean and Middle East, with a combined total population of more than 400 million people, are characterized by strong environmental gradients, climate extremes and diverse economic, social and cultural identities. It is expected that throughout the 21st century the region will experience substantial adverse climate changes and face major challenges in energy demand and supply, as well as a decreasing availability of potable water. It will be essential to address the undesirable economical and societal consequences and manage them cooperatively. Rethinking energy and water policies and adopting new concepts to respond to these challenges are increasingly recognized as a high priority, both regionally and internationally.

The conference aims to contribute to this effort, and to the development of sustainable strategies and effective decision making to ameliorate the adverse impacts of climate change. It is organized by the Cyprus Institute (CyI), and is a follow-up of an initiative by the Italian Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in 2008 (Grosetto meeting). Scientific experts in climate change, energy and water along with economists and policy makers will be invited to Cyprus to present their views and engage in a dialogue about the scientific, technological and policy strategies that need to be implemented to avoid impending crises.

1st day: Climate change, energy and water: are we facing a crisis?
2nd day: Technological and policy options, possible strategies
3rd day: National initiatives and international collaborations
4th morning: Discussion, synthesis and conclusions
4th afternoon: Excursion

Local organizing committee: Manfred Lange, Jos Lelieveld, Bruno Rostand, Meryem Tanahrte and Elena Xoplaki

Program committee: Jos Lelieveld (CyI, Chair), Richard Cooper (Harvard University), Joshua Jortner (Tel Aviv University), Manfred Lange (CyI, Nicosia), Hervé le Treut (Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Paris), Ernest Moniz (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston), Antonio Navarra (National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology, Bologna), Theodore Panayotou (Cyprus International Institute of Management) and Christos Zerefos (Athens Observatory).

For more information please contact Elena Xoplaki or visit the website The Cyprus Institute.