CHANGE: Climate and Hydrology Academic Network for Governance and the Environment

Abstract

Recent research shows profound changes underway in climate and hydrology and their effects on ecosystems and water resources. Along international borders, climate, water, and governance interact at multiple levels, increasing the complexity of managing water and natural resources. Moreover, the effective use of climatological and hydrological information particular to the border areas is constrained by a lack of understanding between scientists and decision makers and by regulatory and legal constraints. Motivated by these concerns, Mexican, American, and Canadian climate specialists, social scientists, and agency representatives attending a workshop on environmental change proposed a collegial North American knowledge network to better infuse climate, water, and policy science into transboundary decision making.