Climate change projections for small island states are currently limited due to the lack of fine-resolution models. This insufficiency in data and projections presents a pressing concern for these vulnerable regions. As such, there is an urgent call for global and regional collaboration to develop climate projections that are compatible with the scales of these small nations.
High-resolution climate data would provide these regions with valuable information and tools for local decision-making, assisting them in creating effective mitigation and adaptation strategies. In an era where climate change has become an undeniable reality, access to accurate and detailed information is more critical than ever.
An international team of experts, composed of authors from a variety of institutions including the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Weather of the 21st Century, has called for the creation of these higher-resolution projections. They assert that current global climate models are neglecting small island nations, leaving them inadequately prepared for the impacts of climate change.
The team, which includes researchers from Australia, France, Jamaica, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, stresses the importance of higher resolution climate models. They argue that these advanced models can help island nations prepare effectively for the impacts of climate change, from rising sea levels to increased frequency of extreme weather events.
Current models, like those coordinated by CORDEX, do not accurately reflect the differences in climate between islands and their surrounding oceans. This leads to an incomplete understanding of climate change risks and hinders the creation of effective adaptation strategies.
The team strongly believes that a funded, comprehensive, and international effort is necessary to aid small island nations in understanding and adapting to their unique climate change risks. Without such an effort, these nations may face catastrophic consequences from climate change that they could otherwise mitigate or adapt to. In conclusion, the need for higher resolution climate models for small island states is urgent, and should be a priority in the global climate change discourse.
Science4Data is committed to cut through greenwashing and measure real impact. Join the journey to a sustainable future. Your actions matter.
