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Rising global food prices and favorable rainfall patterns in recent decades have allowed farmers in South America's Southern Cone region to grow crops on formerly marginal lands. But if climate patterns shift and the rains start to fail, the region could face devastating losses in its economy, livelihoods and infrastructure.
The IRI is working with local partners to characterize the climatic variability of the region and to take actions that will make people in these marginal lands more resilient to climate-related risk.
Read more...
Upcoming events and seminars...
May 2, 2009: The 350 Conference. The 350 Climate Conference brings together the world's foremost minds to describe, discuss, and debate how we might down to safe levels of carbon dioxide before it's too late. view
May 7, 2009: The Earth Institute Fellows' Symposium, presenting the Second Year Fellows' research and "Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Millennium Development Goals: A Scenario-Building Approach." view
May 21, 2009: IRI Seminar: Climate, Forecast and Impacts Briefing. Our monthly meeting during which we unveil the latest global and regional forecasts, as well as discuss climate-related events around the world. view
Meeting the Climate Challenge...
IRI's Walter Baethgen spoke at Columbia Climate Center launch. To paraphrase his most provocative point:
"The probability of a year behaving like an average year is zero. Yet our planning is often based on averages, and we pay little regard to the variability that occurs around those averages."
(Click on image, 22nd minute, RealPlayer needed)
Recent news, publications and other notables...
US forecaster sees better monsoon rains. (Hindu Business Line). view
India May Receive Near Normal Rains, Driving Growth. (Bloomberg.com). view
Global warming 'might hinder coconut production'. (SciDev.net). view
Maltempo, Coldiretti: colture stanno fiorendo. (Viniesapori.net) view
Seasonal Climate Outlook April-June 2009 (scoop.co.nz). view
Scientists quantify El Nino's effect on malaria (SciDev.net). view
Operational Coconut Yield Predictions (Climate Matters Blog). view
Current precipitation forecast...
See all of our forecasts...
For additional resources, please visit our Media Page.