We provide an overview of how climate-change-science knowledge transfer is achieved at Ouranos in support of vulnerability and impact assessments and adaptation (V&I&A) activities. Ouranos is a Canadian consortium concerned with regional climatology and adaptation to climate change, launched in 2002 by the Government of Quebec, Hydro-Quebec and the Meteorological Service of Canada to coordinate climate-change research in Quebec. Focusing on Ouranos' ongoing V&I&A projects in coastal regions, we describe the current knowledge-transfer environment. We also discuss how climate indices and indicators of vulnerability-which are developed by Ouranos following a 'pressure-state-response' (PSR) framework-form useful knowledge-transfer tools. Two specific case studies exemplify the development of (1) a set of temperature-trend indices for southern Quebec and (2) climate-social indicators for the assessment of risks to public health due to extremely high temperature events. Case Study (1) illustrates how a systematic analysis of climate variability and relevant indices of extremes can be useful for decision makers at regional scales (southern Quebec). Case Study (2) examines the potential, and feasibility, of using a risk-assessment framework for regional climate-change studies that focus on impacts and adaptation.
Vescovi, L; Bourque, A; Simonet, G; Musy, A
Transfer of climate knowledge via a regional climate-change management body to support vulnerability, impact assessments and adaptation measures
Climate Research