Workshop objectives
The objective of the workshop is to exchange views and experiences on science-policy interactions in support of the development and implementation of adaptation strategies in Europe, to further research and policy development, and explore opportunities for international collaboration.

Workshop background
After focusing on mitigation for the last decades, Europe now started to adapt to climate change. Many countries are currently in the same phase of developing adaptation research and policy, but are yet searching for the most effective and efficient way of developing and using relevant scientific information. There appears to be ample scope for information exchange and collaborative research at the European level. The complex nature of climate adaptation requires science and policy to interact closely. The awareness has grown that in addition to pure science on climate change, now co-produced and tailored knowledge is needed at all governance levels to assist policy makers in developing adaptation strategies to reduce the impacts and vulnerabilities and enhance adaptive capacity of systems. In response, European countries have started to design specific science-policy processes, targeted research programmes, policy instruments, and internet-based and other tools to provide scientific and technical information to support policy development.  The PEER report ‘Europe adapts to climate change’ has made a first inventory of the activities of European Member states in developing national adaptation strategies. One of the main conclusions is that there are many similarities and differences between countries and there is a large potential for mutual learning. The workshop will cover the following topics:

• How countries are dealing with science-policy interactions at the national level
• Designing targeted adaptation research programmes and stakeholder participation
• Experiences in developing methods and tools to disseminate information about climate change impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptation options
• Discuss methods and tools to assist and support actors in adaptation practices
• Dealing with uncertainties in communication about climate change adaptation 

Conference organisation
The workshop is organised by the Dutch 'Knowledge for Climate' research programme in collaboration with the German Aerospace Centre, the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the CIRCLE ERA-Network. The workshop programme committee exists of

• Rob Swart, Coordinator International Climate Change Adaptation Research, Wageningen University and research centre, the Netherlands
• Chris West, Director of the UK Climate Impacts Programme, United Kingdom (TBC)
• Timothy Carter, Finnish Environment Institute, Finland
• Gregor Laumann, DLR, Germany
• Reija Ruuhela, Coordinator Climate Change Adaptation Research Programme ISTO,  Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland 

Indicative programme:

Monday 14 September 2009

09.00-12.40   Session 1   Working at the boundary of science and policy
13.30-15.30   Session 2   Science-policy interactions at the national level
16.00-17.30   Session 3   European research and action on adaptation
19.30-                            Joint dinner (optional)

Tuesday 15 September 2009

09.00-10.45   Session 4   Experiences of participatory approaches in climate adaptation
11.00-12.45   Session 5   Uncertainties in climate change adaptation
13.30-15.15   Session 6   Tools to disseminate climate change information 15.45-17.00   Panel discussion 7   Closing session

Lunches, tea and coffee will be served at the workshop location. For more information about the workshop programme please contact Robbert Biesbroek (robbert.biesbroek(at)wur.nl).

Date, venue, audience and registration
The conference will be held at the 'academy building' in Utrecht, the Netherlands from Monday 14 September 2009 – Tuesday 15 September 2009. We seek to pull together a diverse group of both scientists and policy makers that are involved in science-policy interactions in the field of climate change adaptation. More detailed information about the programme will follow shortly. Please contact Robbert Biesbroek for more information about the content of the workshop. The conference is on invitation only with a maximum of 50 participants. Participation is free of charge.