cc: B.Trewin@bom.gov.au, "acre-discussion@met-acre.org" <acre-discussion@met-acre.org>, "'Rob Allan'" <allarob@googlemail.com>, "Walter E. Baethgen" <baethgen@iri.columbia.edu>, "catharine@aol.com" <catharine@aol.com>, "C.W.Wilkinson@uea.ac.uk" <C.W.Wilkinson@uea.ac.uk>, "'Dennis Wheeler'" <dennis.wheeler@sunderland.ac.uk>, "D.J.Nash@bton.ac.uk" <D.J.Nash@bton.ac.uk>, "'J.G. Guzman'" <jgg29@cam.ac.uk>
date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:08:35 +0200
from: David_Bresch@swissre.com
subject: Economics of Climate Adaptation (ECA) - shaping climate-resilient
to: David_Bresch@swissre.com

   Dear colleagues - this might be of interest, so I took the liberty to send this to my ACRE
   contacts -  please disregard, if not interested.
   It is my pleasure to inform you about the launch of the report on Economics of Climate
   Adaptation (ECA), an important contribution to the debate in the run-up to Copenhagen.
   Societies need to understand how and where they must adapt to climate change. The ECA
   report introduces an approach and methodology to make this happen. Authored by the ECA
   working group, this report applies the methodology to 8 case studies (US-Florida, UK-City
   of Hull, India, Guyana, Tanzania, Mali, China and Samoa). In these locations studied,
   annualised losses of 1-12% of GDP result from existing climate patterns and are likely to
   rise to up to 19% of GDP by 2030.
   The report identifies significant potential for cost-effective adaptation measures. The
   methodology gives decision makers and their stakeholders the facts to design a climate
   adaptation strategy, combining risk avoidance, loss reduction, and risk transfer measures -
   following a pre-emptive approach to manage total climate risk.
   The ECA report found that, in order to foster climate-resilient development, one needs to
   apply a pre-emptive approach to manage total climate risk.
   1. Despite much uncertainty, it is possible to provide a basis for decision-making, even in
   developing countries where
       historical climate data may be limited.
   2. Market-based insurance solutions can contribute significantly and efficiently to locally
   adapt to a changing climate.
   3. The methodology outlined in the report (and illustrated by the eight case studies) can
   be applied to other countries
      or regions to help develop concrete data for political decision-making on adaptation
   strategies and resource allocation.
   The project sponsor consortium consisted of Swiss Re, McKinsey, Global Environment
   Facility, European Commission, the Rockefeller Foundation, Climate Works, and Standard
   Chartered Bank. Swiss Re's role as a project partner was that of a lead contributor to the
   research, defining the assessment and risk modelling approach and providing overall risk
   assessment knowledge and tools.
   Please find the full study (pdf, 6 MB) and the executive summary here:
   [1]www.swissre.com/climatechange
   I am looking forward to learn about your thoughts on this - with best regards,
   David Bresch

   Dr. David N. Bresch | Director | Head Sustainability & Emerging Risk Management
   Swiss Reinsurance Company | Mythenquai 50/60, 8022 Zurich, Switzerland
   Direct: +41 43 285 6361 Fax: +41 43 282 6361 Mobile: +41 79 834 6959 E-mail:
   [2]David_Bresch@swissre.com
   [3]http://www.swissre.com

   Blair Trewin <B.Trewin@bom.gov.au>

   21.09.2009 00:19

                                                                                            To

   "'J.G. Guzman'" <jgg29@cam.ac.uk>, "Walter E. Baethgen" <baethgen@iri.columbia.edu>

                                                                                            cc

   'Dennis Wheeler' <dennis.wheeler@sunderland.ac.uk>, "D.J.Nash@bton.ac.uk"
   <D.J.Nash@bton.ac.uk>, 'Rob Allan' <allarob@googlemail.com>, "acre-discussion@met-acre.org"
   <acre-discussion@met-acre.org>, "C.W.Wilkinson@uea.ac.uk" <C.W.Wilkinson@uea.ac.uk>,
   "catharine@aol.com" <catharine@aol.com>

                                                                                       Subject

   RE: CHILEAN ACRE [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

   It might be of interest to know that a paper by a number of South American authors on
   'Latitudinal position of the subtropical anticyclone along the Chilean coast' was recently
   published in the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal
   ([4]http://www.bom.gov.au/amm/docs/2009/minetti_hres.pdf). This used century-long Chilean
   pressure records; further data might provide scope for this analysis to be extended further
   back into the 19th century.
   Blair Trewin
   National Climate Centre
   Australian Bureau of Meteorology
   (also AMOJ editor)
   -----Original Message-----
   From: J.G. Guzman [[5]mailto:jgg29@hermes.cam.ac.uk] On Behalf Of J.G. Guzman
   Sent: Saturday, 19 September 2009 2:02 AM
   To: Walter E. Baethgen
   Cc: 'Dennis Wheeler'; D.J.Nash@bton.ac.uk; 'Rob Allan'; acre-discussion@met-acre.org;
   C.W.Wilkinson@uea.ac.uk; catharine@aol.com
   Subject: CHILEAN ACRE
   Dear colleagues,
   Many thanks indeed for your comments and your interest in supporting a Chilean chapter of
   ACRE.
   As mentioned in one of my previous emails, last April together with Rob, Julian, Catharine
   and Clive, we paid a visit to Santiago and Valparaiso.
   We met a number of Chilean agencies and services; all of them ensured their interest in
   establishing cooperation with ACRE.
   Very important is that all entities depending of the Ministry of Defence ensured us open
   access to the data. This never happened before. No Chilean nor foreign team have ever
   obtained such access.
   We talked about funding with the Board for Science and Technology (CONICYT) and with the
   Commission (now Ministry) of Environment (CONAMA). We even made a formal presentation to
   the Chilean Ambassador in London, but after six month in waiting, no news has arrived from
   Chile. Te reason: the elections of next December. In my view, we will not able to obtain
   any answer until next June or July, when the next government could be settle.
   In the meantime, and if we really want to take advantage of the access to the data we
   presently have, we should proceed without waiting any news from Chile. Just go there and
   start working.
   If we wait for the next government and this is, as the polls indicate, from the present
   opposition, I fear that then we will have to start once again
   with the bureaucratic via crucis
   We need funding. How much? Of course it depends of how much we want to do.
   As Catharine and Clive could explain in detail, just in logbooks we have more than 7000. In
   terms of meteo stations, we have more than 100. In terms
   of Navy stations in oceanic islands, we have many        If we want to include a
   chapter in glaciology or do something with Chilean Antarctic data and then combine it this
   with British and Argentinean info, then even more.
   I you all agree, we could try to get together in Cambridge, Exeter or London. Then we can
   analyse the subject in detail and, probably, find the way to go on with a Chilean ACRE.
   Best regards to you all,
   Jorge Guzman
   SPRI-University of Cambridge
   On Sep 18 2009, Walter E. Baethgen wrote:
   >Dear all,
   >
   >I strongly agree with Jorge Guzman's comments regarding the great
   >potential that exists in Chile to reconstruct long-term climate data.
   >I also agree that the Center for Global Change Research is a great
   >partner to involve in this effort.
   >
   >Furthermore, in my opinion, if efforts will be made to reconstruct the
   >long-term climatologies in Chile, I would like to suggest that you try
   >to expand the geographical scope to include other regions of the
   >Southern Cone of South America (i.e., Argentina, Uruguay, south
   >Brazil).  These are areas where there is also a great potential to
   >reconstruct climatologies, and where many ongoing research projects could be contacted to
   contribute.
   >
   >As the leader of the Latin American program of the IRI (International
   >Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University, NY), I
   >would like to offer my help to identify these research groups and to
   >help connecting with them.
   >
   >I believe that the additional efforts needed to expand the geographical
   >scope are probably low. Once that funds are identified to start this
   >work in Chile, I believe that little more would be needed to expand the
   >efforts to neighbor regions (and ACRE would greatly benefit from this expansion).
   >
   >Best regards,
   >
   >Walter
   >
   >
   >
   >-----Original Message-----
   >From: J.G. Guzman [[6]mailto:jgg29@hermes.cam.ac.uk] On Behalf Of J.G.
   >Guzman
   >Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 9:30 AM
   >To: Dennis Wheeler
   >Cc: D.J.Nash@bton.ac.uk; Rob Allan; acre-discussion@met-acre.org
   >Subject: Re: Research Fellow in Historical Climatology
   >
   >Dear Dennis,
   >
   >Many thanks for your comments.
   >
   >As you probably known from Rob, Clive and Catharine, the Chilean
   >records are really first class.
   >
   >A second relevant point is that we obtained access to the files, which
   >was
   >
   >not granted no anyone before.
   >
   >Thirdly, we found a partner in the Centre fro Global Change in
   >Santiago, certainly the best unit in Chile and probably in the region.
   >
   >What we need is funding. A couple of months ago I approached the Royal
   >Society and they said that, if there is another possible sponsor, they
   >could consider an application.
   >
   >Another possible funding could come from our Newton Fund, which is
   >something that our Director Julian Dowdeswell could consider to
   >sponsor, if we can match the requirements.
   >
   >If you need any specification on the kind of records available in
   >Chile, please let me know.
   >
   >Best regards,
   >
   >
   >Jorge Guzman
   >SPRI-University of Cambridge
   >
   >On Sep 18 2009, Dennis Wheeler wrote:
   >
   >>Hi All
   >>
   >>This is potentially such an important project that it cannot be
   >>allowed to slip by. I suggest that we discuss possible funding via
   >>Leverhulme Trust. I do not think that NERC are a useful source of
   >>funding for this sort of work, but maybe others have ideas also.
   >>
   >>regards
   >>
   >>Dennis
   >>
   >>----- Original Message -----
   >>From: "J.G. Guzman" <jgg29@cam.ac.uk>
   >>Date: Friday, September 18, 2009 9:54 am
   >>Subject: Re: Research Fellow in Historical Climatology
   >>
   >>> Dear David, dear Georgina, As Rob can inform you, since last year we
   >>> try to obtain some funding to do implement a project using
   >>> historical Chilean records.
   >>>
   >>> Last April we paid a visit to Chile and found an enormous amount of
   >>> data, which, in some cases, even cover the Southern Pacific and the
   >>> Southern Ocean since early XVII century......
   >>>
   >>> After many months in waiting, everything point to say that the
   >>> Chilean will not commit any money, despite they look interested in
   >>> the
   >>issue.......
   >>>
   >>>
   >>> If you of any source of funding that could be interested in doing
   >>> some historical climatology in South America, the South East pacific
   >>> and the American sector of the Southern and Antarctic Oceans, please
   >>> let us know.
   >>>
   >>> Many thanks and best regards,
   >>>
   >>> Jorge Guzman
   >>> SPRI-University of Cambridge
   >>>
   >>> On Sep 17 2009, D.J.Nash@bton.ac.uk wrote:
   >>>
   >>> >Dear ACRE Discussion List members
   >>> >
   >>> > We are currently advertising for a postdoctoral researcher to
   >>> work on our
   >>> > Leverhulme Trust funded project examining climate histories in
   >>> southern
   >>> > Africa (see below). If you know of any suitable candidates I
   >>> would be
   >>> > grateful if you could forward this email to them.
   >>> >
   >>> >Many thanks
   >>> >
   >>> >David Nash and Georgina Endfield
   >>> >
   >>> >***
   >>> >
   >>> >University of Brighton
   >>> >
   >>> >Research Fellow in Historical Climatology
   >>> >
   >>> >from 31,513 to 37,651 per annum
   >>> >
   >>> > The School of Environment and Technology wishes to appoint a
   >>> > post-doctoral Research Fellow to support the Leverhulme Trust
   >>> funded
   >>> > project 'Societal responses to El Nino-related climate extremes
   >>> in
   >>> > southern Africa during the 19th century'. The project and post
   >>> run for 36
   >>> > months, starting 1 January 2010. The Principal Investigator on
   >>> the
   >>> > project is Dr David Nash, with Co-Investigators Dr Georgina
   >>> Endfield
   >>> > (University of Nottingham), Dr Dominic Kniveton (University of
   >>> Sussex)
   >>> > and Dr Jorgen Klein (Hedmark University College, Norway).
   >>> >
   >>> > You will be involved in lengthy periods of residential archival
   >>> research
   >>> > in locations across the UK and overseas. You should have a good
   >>> (1 or
   >>> > 2:1) degree, preferably in a subject area such as geography,
   >>> history,
   >>> > archaeology, meteorology or a related discipline. You will have
   >>> > completed, or to be close to completing, research for a PhD.
   >>> Fluency in
   >>> > spoken and written German is essential, as is competency in the
   >>> use of IT
   >>> > for data entry, storage and management. Experience of working
   >>> with
   >>> > historical documents in archives would be advantageous.
   >>> >
   >>> > Informal enquiries can be made to the Principal Investigator, Dr
   >>> David
   >>> > Nash (telephone: +44 [0]1273 642423; email:
   >>> d.j.nash@brighton.ac.uk).>
   >>> > For further particulars and an application form, telephone +44
   >>> (0)1273
   >>> > 642849 (24 hours) or visit [7]http://www.brighton.ac.uk/personnel.
   >>> Please
   >>> > quote reference number SV4057.
   >>> >
   >>> > The closing date for applications is 6 October 2009. Interviews
   >>> will be
   >>> > held in Brighton during the week beginning 26 October 2009.
   >>>
   >>>
   >>>
   >>
   >
   >
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   Attachment Converted: "c:\eudora\attach\ECA Press Release_14Sept09.pdf"

