General Information (Venue, Publications, Optional Excursion) 

GENERAL INFORMATION

   Venue

Wengen is located in the Bernese Alps, which is famous for its spectacular views and the fact that it is a resort free of car and truck traffic; access is only by rail. If you come by train from Geneva or Zurich Airports, you will need to travel to Bern and then on to Interlaken Ost, which is the start of the Bernese Oberland mountain railroad (Berner Oberland Bahn). If you come by car, you need to park at Lauterbrunnen and take the mountain railroad for the 14-minute journey to Wengen.

Click here to find general information on Wengen and its surroundings.

This site provides you with a link to the Swiss Federal Railroad timetables, which will help you plan your travel to Wengen (if you wish to access the railroad timetable directly, click here)

The Workshop will take place at the Hotel Regina, located 2 - 3 minutes walk uphill from Wengen station.
 

   Optional Excursion

An optional excursion is being planned following the close of the Workshop (on October 7, 2006)  to the scientific station of the Jungfraujoch , located at 3,600 m above sea-level.

More information on these excursions will be provided during the Workshop. In addition, the Jungfraujoch High Alpine Research Station provides information on the scientific aspects of the site.
 

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WENGEN WORKSHOPS ON GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH

Since 1995 we have held specialized Workshops on themes related to climate and global change research in the mountain resort of Wengen (Bernese Alps, Switzerland). In each case, a number of internationally-recognized experts have actively contibuted to the meetings. Along with young scientists and graduate students, the total number of participants has been between 45-75. So far, we have held the following Workshops:

Since 1995 we have held specialized Workshops on themes related to climate and global change research in the mountain resort of Wengen (Bernese Alps, Switzerland). In each case, a number of internationally-recognized experts have actively contibuted to the meetings. Along with young scientists and graduate students, the total number of participants has been about 50. So far, we have held the following Workshops:
 

• 1995:Climatic Change at High Elevation Sites (September 11-16, 1995), co-organized with Prof. R. S Bradley, University of Massachusetts, USA, and Dr. H. F. Diaz, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado, USA. A special issue of the journal Climatic Change has been published with selected papers from this meeting (Vol. 36, 1997), and it has also been published as a book by Kluwer Academic Publishers in The Netherlands
• 1996: High Resolution Climate Modeling (September 23-26, 1996), co-organized with Prof. L. Bengtsson, Max-Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, Germany
• 1997: Past, Present and Future Climate Variability and Extremes: The Impacts on F orests (September 22-26, 1997), co-organized with Dr. J. Innes, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Birmensdorf, Switzerland. Published in 1998 by Springer Verlag, Berlin and New York. Click here for summary.
• 1998: Biomass burning and its Inter-Relationships with the Climate System (September 28 - October 2, 1998), co-organized with Prof. Michel Verstraete, Joint Research Center of the EU, Ispra, Italy, and Prof.J. Innes, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Birmesdorf, Switzerland. Published in 2000 by Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht and Boston, in the book series "Advances in Global Change Research". Click here for summary.
• 1999: Satellite Remote Sensing and Climate Models (September 20 - 24, 1999), co-organized with Prof. Michel Verstraete, Joint Research Center of the EU, Ispra, Italy (for operational reasons, the 1999 edition of the Workshops on Global Change Research was held in Les Diablerets, Switzerland). Published in 2001 by Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht and Boston, in the book series "Advances in Global Change Research". Click here for summary.
• 2000: Climatic Change, Implications for the Hydrological Cycle and for Water Management (September 22 - 29, 2000), co-organized with Prof. U. Luterbacher, Graduate School of International Studies, Geneva, Switzerland, Dr. E. Weigandt, University Institute Kurt Boesch, Sion, Switzerland, Prof. P. Vellinga, Free University Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Dr. Holger Hoff, Potsdam Institute for Climate-Impacts Research, Potsdam, Germany. Publication under preparation for 2002 with Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht and Boston, in the book series "Advances in Global Change Research". Click here for summary.
  2001: Environmental Change and its Implications for Population Migrations (September 19 - 22, 2001), co-organized with Prof. U. Luterbacher, Graduate School of International Studies, Geneva, Switzerland, Dr. E. Weigandt, University Institute Kurt Boesch, Sion, Switzerland, and Dr. Sylvia Karlsson, International Human Dimensions Program, Bonn, Germany. Publication under preparation for 2003 with Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht and Boston, in the book series "Advances in Global Change Research". Click here for summary.
• 2002: Quantifying Terrestrial Carbon Sinks; Science, Technology and Policy (September 25 - 28, 2002), co-organized with Prof. Michel Verstraete, Joint Research Center of the EU, Ispra, Italy, Dr. Bernard Pinty (same address), Prof. Martin Heimann (Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany), and Dr. J. (Pep) Canadell (Global Carbon Project, CSIRO, Australia) Publication under preparation for 2004 in the journal "Climatic Change". Click here for summary.
• 2003: Regional Climatic Change in Europe. The 3rd Annual Meeting of the EU-PRUDENCE Project, with sponsorship by the European Science Foundation in its Exploratory Workshop series (September 29 - October 3, 2003), co-organized with Dr. Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen, Danish Meteorological Institute, Copenhagen, and co-ordinator of the EU-PRUDENCE Project. Click here for summary.

• 2004:Mountain Glaciers and Society (September 29-October 3, 2003), co-sponsored by  the Graduate School of International Studies (Geneva, Switzerland), L'Association Montagne 2002 (Sion, Switzerland), the Mountain Research Initiative (Berne, Switzerland), the University of Zurich (Switzerland), the University of California at Davis (United States), and the Swiss National Science Foundation.
• Publication in preparation for 2005/2006 in the book series "Advances in Global Change Research"
  
• Click here for summary
 

• Scientific themes which require special attention in the context of global change, and which are usually not sufficiently addressed at large international meetings
• Interdisciplinary topics, allowing researchers from different backgrounds to meet, discuss, and plan future joint collaboration
• A relatively small number of speakers (35-40), where sufficient time is allocated for discussions and exchange of ideas
• A Workshop spanning less than a full working week, allowing flexibility for scientists with a heavy schedule
• No registration fees for students or persons from developing countries, Central and Eastern Europe
• Some financial support, for Keynote Speakers and/or scientists from Eastern Europe and developing countries
• A quiet environment away from the standard stress factors of the office, i.e., telephone, fax, E-Mail
• A high quality hotel with superior accommodation and food at very competitive prices
• The possibility of participating in an optional excursion to the world-renowned scientific research station of the Jungfraujoch on the last day of the Workshop

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WENGEN-2006

 

Wengen Workshop on Global Change Research

Adaptation to the Impacts of Climatic Change

in the European Alps

Hotel Regina, Wengen (Bernese Alps) Switzerland

October 4-6, 2006

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Background Information

Impacts of climate change are now being felt across the European Alps and future scenarios predict even greater changes. Direct consequences of climate change for the alpine regions include a reduction in snow cover at lower altitudes, receding glaciers and melting permafrost, and changes in temperature and precipitation extremes. These changes have potential implications for critical aspects of Alpine economies, including winter tourism; exposure of human settlements and infrastructure to natural hazards; mountain agriculture; and natural resources and ecosystems. Adaptation to these observed and projected impacts is therefore becoming increasingly important – both to limit near and medium term damages and also to avoid decisions that might exacerbate vulnerability to climate changes over the longer term.

Call for Papers

The “Wengen Workshops on Global Change Research” series will host a workshop on Adaptation to the Impacts of Climate Change in the European Alps from October 4-6, 2006.

This workshop will bring together experts from the climate science, policy, and economics communities together with decision-makers from countries within the Alpine Arc to examine the vulnerability of particular sectors and systems to climate change impacts, and more importantly to assess progress on the formulation and implementation of adaptation responses at local, regional, and national levels. A particular focus will be on: the role of government and private actors; comparative experiences between the Alpine countries; synergies and conflicts between adaptation responses and sectoral or other priorities.  

Contributions related to the proposed agenda below are sollicited:

1.      Overview Session (Invited talk – no papers)

Overview of Alpine regions sensitivity to climate change.

2.    Sectoral/Thematic Sessions

2.1) Winter Tourism

2.2) Agriculture

2.3) Forestry

2.4) Water Resource Management and Hydropower Industry

2.5) Natural Hazards and Infrastructure

2.6) Natural Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Potential topics to be addressed under each theme:

Economic and social impacts of climate change on the industry/sector within different countries.

Assessment of cost/benefits and distributional impacts of adaptation or mal-adaptation.

Observed adaptations in different Alpine countries.

 Interactions between governance/regulations and the adaptation behaviour.

Synergies and conflicts between adaptation strategies and other social and environmental goals.

 Adaptation measures in the private sector versus the public sector

 Barriers and limits to adaptation

3. Cross-Cutting Sessions

3.1)  Economic Tools to Assess the Costs and Benefits of Adaptation

Quantitative/Qualitative methods to assess adaptation costs and benefits

Criteria selection to assess the value of adaptation strategies

Applicably and limitations of different methods

3.2)  Adaptation Across Scales and Sectors in Alpine Countries

Role of governments, private sector, and civil society in adaptation.

  Macro-level versus project based adaptation.

4. Experiences from other mountain regions of the World

4.1)  Adpatation and mitigation strategies in the Rockies, Andes, Himalayas, East African Highlands, etc.

4.2) Comparative studies, etc.

5. Concluding Session (moderated discussion - no papers)

       Key messages from the workshop

         Priorities for research and policy action on Adaptation in the Alps

 
Deadlines for paper submissions via on-line registration is June 15, 2006

Instructions for authors:

• Keynote speakers should generally plan for 45 minutes of presentation, including 10-15 minutes of discussion. Other speakers should plan for 30 minutes, including 10 minutes of discussion.
• Abstract should highlight key points and should not exceed 1 A-4 page.
• Analyses that compare experiences across countries/regions within the Alpine arc are particularly welcome
• Work to be presented  look at private or public responses to climate change and may range from micro analysis and case studies to sectoral or macro level studies.
• Preference will be given to abstracts containing elements of research results and results implications.
• The paper and presentation should offer a pragmatic application of results (i.e. policy implications, priority responses…etc.)

An optional excursion will be held on Thursday, October 7, 2006, to the Jungfraujoch High Alpine Research Station, (NOTE: this URL is different from the one under the "General Information" Section) Europe’s highest scientific observatory at close to 3,600 m above sea-level (11,800 ft). It is located in the spectacular world of the high Alpine glaciers of the Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau Massif, with views as far as the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains to the North, and the Valais Alps to the South. The Jungfraujoch is the source of the Aletsch Glacier, which is the longest valley glacier in the Alps.

The High Alpine Research Station is funded by a consortium of countries; Switzerland contributes annually to 50% of its budget. Numerous scientific experiments take place here, from astrophysics and climate research to health and technology-oriented studies. Participants to the excursion will be able to visit some of the experiments taking place at the Jungfraujoch. Weather-permitting, there will also be the possibility of walking on the upper reaches of the Aletsch glacier. Weather-proof clothing and good shoes are essential; persons who are sensitive to low oxygen levels associated with high elevations should seek medical advice prior to the excursion.

We look forward to hearing from you in due course and to meeting you at what will undoubtedly prove to be an exciting meeting.

More information can be obtained on the scientific aspects of the Wengen-2006 Workshop from...

• Shardul Agrawala, OECD, Paris, France (ENV.CC@oecd.org)
• Martin Beniston, Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland (Martin.Beniston@unifr.ch), Meeting coordinator

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Registration fees are 100 EUROS (approximately USD 110 or CHF 150 at current exchange rates). These fees are payable in cash upon arrival in Wengen (unfortunately, as a small organization, we have no facilities for credit cards). 

There are NO registration fees for students, nor  for participants from Central and Eastern Europe, and those from Developing Countries. 
 
 

The Hotel Regina, where the meeting will take place, has set aside a block of rooms at the following special rate for Workshop participants:

CHF 160 per person single (approx. €105 or US$ 125 at current exchange rates betweeen the Swiss Franc and the Euro and US Dollar)
CHF 145 per person sharing a double room (€ 95 or US$ 110)

This rate includes in addition to the room, a full buffet breakfast, a 4-course evening meal, and all taxes.

Please insert  in the space reserved for "Remarks" on this reservation form "WENGEN-2006 WORKSHOP". You will not be required to pay any fees in advance, and you will be granted the special rate for scientists.
 

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• Shardul Agrawala, OECD, Paris, France, (ENV.CC@oecd.org), Meeting Initiator
• Martin Beniston, Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, (Martin.Beniston@unifr.ch), Meeting coordinator and member of EU-ENSEMBLES RT8      From October 1, 2006: University of Geneva, Switzerland

• Marc Gillet, ONERC - Observatoire National sur les Effets du Réchauffement Climatique - Paris, France (Marc.Gillet@onerc.pm.gouv.fr)
• Alessandra Goria, FEEM - Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei - Milano, Italy (Alessandra.Goria@feem.it)
  
• Greg Greenwood, Mountain Research Initiative, Zürich, Switzerland (Greenwood@scnat.ch)
• Richard Tol, University of Hamburg, Germany (Tol@dkrz.de), coordinator of EU-ENSEMBLES RT7
• Ellen Wiegandt,  Graduate School for International Studies, Geneva, Switzerland  (Wiegandt@hei.unige.ch)