AIC2023

Climate change, population growth, urban expansion, land cover modifications and the accelerated development of economic activities are but some of the many evident transformations that have affected our planet in recent decades, with significant societal and environmental impacts. These changes have caused alterations in the atmospheric and aquatic environments, threatening their sustainability. Moreover, extreme hydro-meteorological events, which seem to have increased in frequency and intensity in recent years, have caused significant, sometimes catastrophic human, economic and environmental damage.

Under these circumstances, reducing the air and water environment – related risks and ensuring their sustainability are major challenges of contemporary society. Consequently, climate and water are the main concerns of two of the 17 major Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015 by the United Nations as part of The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, namely the 6 (Water and sanitation) and 13 (Climate change). Research plays a major role in providing relevant scientific information, thus helping to find adequate and effective solutions to hydro-climatic issues and to achieve these objectives.

In this context, the 36th Conference of the International Association of Climatology*, with the general theme Climate, water and society: Changes and challenges, creates a new opportunity to disseminate the results of current research in the field of climatology, hydrology and other related sciences. This scientific event is a good opportunity to bring together researchers/professionals/specialists/managers from different institutions and countries, thus favouring the development of inter-institutional and international cooperation.

* International Association of Climatology

The International Association of Climatology (in French, l’Association Internationale de Climatologie - AIC) is a professional, non-profit organization joining researchers, academics, specialists and professionals in the field of climatology from all over the world. It aims to develop the relationships between specialists in climatology and related fields by promoting: exchanges of information/knowledges/experiences; scientific activities common to the association members; meetings and conferences; publications of scientific works.

The International Association of Climatology was set up in 1988 and initially the French was the main working language. Later on, as relationships among climatologists became more numerous, the English has been introduced in scientific presentations and publications within AIC that thus extended beyond the francophone area, actively promoting worldwide cooperation on climate-related issues.

Each year, AIC organizes an international scientific conference which is alternatively held in France and in one of the countries with active members in the association. The previous AIC conference was held in Toulouse (on 6 – 9 July 2022) and it was jointly organized by Météo-France and the University Toulouse III (LINK).

For more information on AIC, please see the website : http://www.climato.be/aic/.