The Issue

Extreme weather and climate pose significant economic, food security, and environmental risks worldwide. Drought, storms with heavy rain, high winds, flooding, and freeze events cause billions of dollars in losses to the agricultural and natural resources sectors locally in Florida and globally. The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that by the year 2100 global average temperature is likely to increase by 1.1 to 6.4°C (2 to 11.5°F), global mean sea level will rise from 0.18 to 0.59 m (7 to 23 inches), and increases in precipitation intensity and variability will increase the risk of both flooding and drought. The IPCC AR4 also states that many regions will experience considerable deviations from the global averages and there is tremendous uncertainty regarding the regional and local impacts of global changes. Some regions will warm more than the global average while others will warm less or even cool.

Mission

The Florida Climate Institute (FCI) is an 11-univeresity consortium that works collaboratively and voluntarily to foster interdisciplinary research, education, and extension to:

  1. Improve our understanding of the impact of environmental change and flooding on the economy, ecosystems and human-built systems;
  2. Develop technologies and information for creating opportunities and policies that reduce economic and environmental risks;
  3. Share research, extension and education initiatives for enhancing adaptive capacity and responses to associated risks; and
  4. Leverage our collective strengths in order to secure grants and external funding to support our goals in lieu of institutional or state funding.

Goals

  • Collaborate to produce the best available science and tools to build resilience and adaptive capacity at a variety of spatial scales.
  • Enhance understanding of the interrelationships among systems and society.
  • Develop improved methods, technologies, and decision support systems for addressing risks and opportunities that arise from change.
  • Promote and support effective partnerships between universities, municipalities and businesses.
  • Share science-based information on regional change and associated societal response options.