Ouranos Receives a Major $10 Million Subsidy from the Quebec Government.

February 23, 2009

  Ouranos Receives a Major $10 Million Subsidy from the Quebec Government

Press release                                                                                                 For immediate release

Montreal, February 23, 2009. Ouranos, a consortium of research experts in regional climatology and adaptation to climate change, has received a major additional $10 M subsidy from the Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs (MDDEP) to allow it to develop research projects in the field of impacts and adaptation to climate change. The subsidy was awarded to Ouranos as part of the Quebec government's 2006-2012 climate change action plan, in addition to its basic funding.

Ouranos is a consortium that brings together some 250 scientists and professionals from different disciplines. It focuses on two main themes:

• Climate science, aimed at developing knowledge in regional climatology, providing the simulation data and climate scenarios required for impact and adaptation studies and processing and validating the results obtained through relevant and adequate hydro-climatic analyses, and

• Impacts and adaptation, aimed at evaluating the impacts of climate change on the environment, the public and socio-economic activity, assessing the vulnerabilities of systems and identifying and recommending to decision makers the best approaches for adapting to climate change.

Under this complementary subsidy, the focus will be on:

• Biodiversity and ecosystems in Quebec:  Acquiring knowledge on the status and vulnerability of species to climate change, and developing decision-making tools for managers of these resources.
• Municipal issues:  Studying the vulnerability of municipal infrastructure and facilities, along with land development, and developing decision-making tools.
• Water:  Studying water quantity and quality and the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence system and acquiring additional knowledge on surface and ground water.
• Agriculture:  Evaluating and identifying sustainable management practices.

Many projects are already underway or in preparation in these different fields. Others have already provided decision-makers with relevant information, for instance on northern hydrology, coastal erosion and public safety. The complementary subsidy will allow Ouranos to expand its efforts and to provide decision-makers with valuable information.

The financial support from the Quebec government, in addition to support from other Ouranos members, will make it possible to reach the consortium's objectives.

Information: www.ouranos.ca

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Source:          

Isabel Coulombe, Communications Co-ordinator, 514 282-6464, ext. 227, coulombe.isabel@ouranos.ca

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