CARE-C of the Cyprus Institute a key partner of the new PREVENT project
CARE-C of the Cyprus Institute is participating as a key partner in the new Horizon Europe project PREVENT- Improved Predictability of Extremes Over the Mediterranean From Seasonal to Decadal Timescales. This significant project is one of the Horizon programmes focusing on supporting the formulation of adaptation strategies through improved climate predictions in Europe and beyond.
It is well-established that the Mediterranean is a climate change hot spot that warms faster than the global mean rates and the frequency of extremes increases. Moreover, climate models often fail to provide sufficient skill in predicting extremes. Extremes are of utmost importance for many socio-economic sectors and activities, including human health, agriculture and water resource management, ecology, and tourism. Most of these activities are dominant drivers of the Mediterranean macro- and micro-economy.
The overall objective of PREVENT is to improve the predictability of impact-relevant extremes in the Mediterranean region on timescales from seasonal to decadal using state-of-the-art dynamical, statistical, and machine learning methods. Additionally, PREVENT brings together experts in different disciplines and geographical regions for a comprehensive study of impact-relevant climate extremes in the Mediterranean to improve their seasonal and decadal predictions in a changing climate.
PREVENT intents to a) Define local climate extreme hotspot regions in the Mediterranean; b) Provide new management tools that can be used in many domains to guide and direct processes, support monitoring activities, and increase organizational efficiency; and c) Develop awareness and competencies by enabling policymakers, industry, and other stakeholders to understand, promote and practice including seasonal and decadal predictions in their planning. PREVENT has a small, flexible consortium consisting of colleagues with significant experience in the Mediterranean climate, especially in the analysis of extreme events and the application of impact models.
The programme was launched on 1 October, 2023 and it’s expected to end on 30 September, 2026. It is coordinated by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and 7 other partners take part from 6 different countries in Europe as well as Morocco and Israel. On behalf of the Cyprus Institute, Dr George Zittis, an Associate Research Scientist at CARE-C leads the project as a PI. CARE-C’s Dr Georgia Lazoglou and Dr Theo Economou are also actively involved in the project.
You can find out more about the project here.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Research and Innovation Actions, under grant agreement No 101081276
