The document discusses the development of a Severn Climate Change Research Advisory Group (RAG). It summarizes preliminary research on climate change impacts in the Severn Estuary region. This included a workshop with researchers and policymakers to identify priority areas of research. Key priorities included downscaling climate change assessments and mapping assets at risk. The document proposes the formation of a RAG to better link researchers and policymakers. It would prioritize research, increase access to existing research, and translate findings for public use. Future plans include establishing a steering group and holding additional workshops.

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The development of the
Severn Climate Change RAG
Dr Rhoda Ballinger

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Format of talk
• Progress to date
– Background research
– Bristol January 07 Workshop
• Today’s discussion
– Development of Research Advisory
Group
• Future developments & events “We have oceans of
data,
rivers of information,
puddles of knowledge
and the odd drop of
wisdom.”
Nix H. “A National Geographic
information – an Achievable Objective?

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Preliminary workPreliminary work

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• Impetus:
– Severn Estuary Strategy
action
– INTERREG COREPOINT
funding
• Preliminary work
– Review of research strategy
development of other UK
coastal partnerships
– SEP discussions
• JAC / MG
Climate Change: Impetus & Preliminary Work

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Lead to focus on climate change

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Climate Change: Preliminary Work
• Severn Estuary Research
Citations Database
– over 450 references
– ENDNOTE
• Severn Estuary Contacts list
– 135 organisations

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Bristol WorkshopBristol Workshop

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Bristol Workshop: Aims & Attendance
• Aims:
– To raise awareness, network scientists &
professionals
– To identify research priorities related to climate
change
– To explore integration of research / policy
• Attendees:
– representatives from universities, government
agencies, ngos and local authorities around the
Estuary

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Focus of Bristol Workshop
• Presentations:
– Impacts of climate change on the Severn Estuary
– Thames Estuary Partnership Research Forum
– Planning & management perspectives (UKCCIP; EA)
– Science perspective
• Discussions focused on:
– The research community’s needs & aspirations on
coastal change
– Policy makers needs for climate change information
– Synergies between priorities for coastal climate change
research from researchers & policies makers
– Preliminary discussions on the development of a
Severn Climate Change Advisory Group

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Bristol Workshop Outcomes & Outputs
• Outcomes:
– Useful networking opportunity
& benefits
– Agreement to pursue Severn
Climate Change Research
Advisory Group
– Agreement to bring discussions
to the Severn Estuary Forum
• Outputs
– Report including presentations
– Summary of meeting
• including suggested research
priorities
• ideas for RAG development

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• Key priorities:
– Downscaling of climate change assessment for the estuary
– Assessments of the state of the whole estuary
– Social and economic assessment of climate change impacts
– Mapping of assets (including nature conservation, built
heritage and tourism) at risk from climate change
– Implications of climate change on coastal risk management
– Identification of the climate change-related scientific and
research inputs required for estuary-wide, local authority and
other plans
• Driving factors:
– renewables
– tourism; beach management
Bristol Workshop Research Priorities

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Research Outputs Required
• Updated, projected
probabilistic estimates
of climate change
• Development and
monitoring of key
indicators
• Risk and scenario-
based predictions
• Visualisation of how the
estuary is going to
change
FlatholmFlatholm
Future?!Future?!

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Development of SevernDevelopment of Severn
Research AdvisoryResearch Advisory
GroupGroup
- today’s discussions- today’s discussions
including comments from ‘criticalincluding comments from ‘critical
friend’ Graham Lymbery, Seftonfriend’ Graham Lymbery, Sefton

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RAG: Development considerations
• Purpose & Membership - a forum for:
• Linking researchers with interests on climate change in
the Severn Estuary
• Linking researchers with policy-makers & user groups
• Priorities from today’s workshop
• ‘bridge’ between strategic & tactical research
• need to define levels of risk with monitoring of
baseline indicators for future climate change
• need for signposting of existing & future research
(UKSSIP08)
• need to increase accessibility of & trust in existing
research (& research community)
• translation - plain & simple - mobilise the public

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RAG Operating Procedures
• Membership
• size & structure, need for dedicated Officer / Secretariat
• representation & responsibilities - other models e.g. CCO
• Operating procedures - small
• terms of reference
• potential frequency & topics of meetings
• reporting structures
• Links to other groups - SEP
• Funding support - incremental

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Future developmentFuture development

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Future Development & Events
• Future development:
– Small Steering Group
• RAG & Research Priorities
• Research needs
– Review of citations &
contacts databases
• CoastNET / COREPOINT
conference
– Conference on Coastal
Climate Change
– Friday 22 June 2007, Cardiff
– SPACES still available:
• SEP partners REDUCED
conference fee of #50
• Autumn Second Workshop
– October 19 (Friday), Cardiff

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Further information:Further information:
General COREPOINT enquiries / Climate change:General COREPOINT enquiries / Climate change:
BallingerRC@Cardiff.ac.ukBallingerRC@Cardiff.ac.uk
Report & other materials available from:Report & other materials available from:
http://www.severnestuary.net/sep/publicationshttp://www.severnestuary.net/sep/publications
/workshopreports.html/workshopreports.html
Thank you