These needs include:

Better baseline data, both climatic and socio-economic

Better scenarios, especially of precipitation, extreme events, sulfate aerosol effects and regional-scale changes

Better understanding of the ecological and physiological effects of increasing CO 2 concentrations, taking account of species competition and migrations, soil and nutrients, acclimation, and partitioning between crop yields, roots, stems and leaves

Dynamic models of climate, biospheric processes and other socio-economic factors to take account of the developing, time-varying nature of global change

Impact assessments across a range of scenarios and assumptions to enable the assessment of risk, particularly in regions comprised primarily of developing countries and small island states, where resources for research and assessment have been inadequate to date

Analysis of adaptation options, including the need for development of new technologies and opportunities for adapting existing technologies in new settings

Integrated assessments across sectors, from climate change to economic or other costs, across countries and regions, including adaptations, and including other socio-economic changes.

Authors/Contributors

Robert T. Watson (USA), Marufu C. Zinyowera (Zimbabwe), Richard H. Moss (USA), Reid E. Basher (New Zealand), Martin Beniston (Switzerland), Osvaldo F. Canziani (Argentina), Sandra M. Diaz (Argentina), David J. Dokken (USA), John T. Everett (USA), B. Blair Fitzharris (New Zealand), Habiba Gitay (Australia), Bubu P. Jallow (The Gambia), Murari Lal (India), R. Shakespeare Maya (Zimbabwe), Roger F. McLean (Australia), M.Q. Mirza (Bangladesh), Ron Neilson (USA), Ian R. Noble (Australia), Leonard A. Nurse (Barbados), H.W.O. Okoth-Ogendo (Kenya), A. Barrie Pittock (Australia), David S. Shriner (USA), S.K. Sinha (India), Roger B. Street (Canada), Su Jilan