2002 Monographs

Preparing for El Niño: Advancing Regional Plans and Interregional Communications: workshop proceedings, Palisades, New York, April 29-May 2, 2002

Columbia University. International Research Institute for Climate and Society

A workshop on Preparing for El Niño: Advancing Regional Plans and Interregional Communication was hosted by the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction (IRI) on April 29 - May 01, 2002 in Palisades, New York. The workshop was organized to bring together leading regional representatives of the seasonal forecasting and applications community to advance regional preparedness by informing plan- ning processes and developing communications networks, and to draft action plans to confront an El Niño event in 2002-2003.
Participants were invited from 12 regions that are characterized by significant historical El Niño impacts or that otherwise manifest societal vulnerability to climate variations. Many have been involved in the development of regional climate information and applications networks, while others were recommended as strong candidates for network development. Representatives from regional, national, and international organizations (World Meteorological Organization, World Bank, US Agency for International Development, NOAA’s Office of Global Programs, US Climate Prediction Center and Dialogue on Water and Climate) also participated in the discussions and planning.

The specific objectives of the workshop were to:
• Evaluate the current state of the global and regional climate system and regional forecasts
• Evaluate regional preparedness and potential El Niño impacts
• Share experiences inter-regionally
• Develop a global strategy for regional preparedness
• Refine mechanisms for interregional knowledge exchange.

This document provides a summary of the workshop outcomes and next steps as defined by the meeting participants. The wealth of knowledge and experience shared among participants was far beyond what can be expressed in these pages, although, a synthesis of major themes is attempted.

This workshop was prepared on short notice, to advance preparedness for an emerging El Niño in 2002. To paraphrase one participant, “its long-term goal is to effectively build resilience in societies, and there- by reduce the vulnerability to El Niño related regional climate effects.” In preparing for the next El Niño and in building systems for the future, much work remains to be done. We hope that this workshop con- stitutes one small step towards assisting affected regions to cope with this El Niño, and strengthens region- al systems in the long run for managing climate variability and change.

Workshop Steering Committee, June 2002