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THE GOVERNMENT OF QUÉBEC ANNOUNCES THE CREATION OF A
RESEARCH CONSORTIUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE OF INTERNATIONAL SCOPE
Montréal, May 16, 2002 – The Minister
of State for Municipal Affairs and Greater Montréal, the Environment and
Water, André Boisclair, and the Minister of Public Security, Normand Jutras,
have launched Ouranos, a Consortium in regional climatology and adaptation
to climate change. This research initiative of international scope will be
the only one of its kind on our continent. What distinguishes Ouranos is the
sum of scientific expertise it brings together into a single team.
The mission of Ouranos is to develop, structure and produce synergetic team
work dedicated to the analysis and the search for solutions to climate
change adaptation issues in a North American context. In addition to
greenhouse gas emission reductions called for by the Québec government, the
creation of Ouranos constitutes an additional means of addressing climate
change and a tool for adaptation to new regional situations stemming from
global warming.
A partnership that is truly unique and without precedence in Canada, Ouranos
will regroup over 250 persons in multidisciplinary research teams hailing
from universities and governmental and para-governmental organizations in
areas that have been traditionally working apart: climate sciences,
statistical analysis, characterization, impact and adaptation studies. The
merging of isolated teams of scientists under Ouranos, it is hoped, will
pull in relevant scientific data and information needed by decision makers
to plan responses to the rapidly evolving climate situation.
The creation of Ouranos has been made possible thanks to financial
contributions from nine Québec government departments and agencies:
Environnement, Affaires municipales et Métropole, Ressources naturelles,
Sécurité publique, Recherche, Science et Technologie, Agriculture, Pêcheries
et Alimentation, Transports, Hydro-Québec, Valorisation-Recherche Québec, as
well as the Canadian Meteorological Centre, Natural Resources Canada and the
Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences.
This effort to unify human, financial, technical and computer science
resources is estimated to cost upwards of 9 million dollars a year and is
supported by four universities, namely, Université du Québec à Montréal,
McGill University, Université Laval and the Institut national de la
recherche scientifique (INRS), all Ouranos Consortium members.
"The Ouranos Consortium will make coordination and
support of fundamental research possible," specified the Minister of
Public Security, Normand Jutras. "This research on climate change is an
advantage for setting up a true emergency preparedness culture and a sound
prevention policy. It is consistent with the Québec government's mission to
provide for the safety and protection of the population. We need to better
understand the phenomenon to better plan, better prepare ourselves and,
consequently, better protect ourselves."
"The sensitivity of Québec in conjunction with its
geoclimate amply justifies the efforts and investments expended in setting
up Ouranos," declared Minister Boisclair, who went on to point out that
the Ouranos Consortium will enable the rapid expansion of two unique panels
of experts recognized by climatology researchers throughout the world:
natural variability at McGill University, and regional modelling at
Université du Québec à Montréal. "Our scientists working in both these
fields have known great success worldwide. And I will venture to say that
the relationships they will build with Ouranos can only lead to greater
recognition," Minister Boisclair said in conclusion.
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Sources:
Jean-Louis Laplante
Press Attaché
Office of the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Greater
Montréal, the Environment and Water
Tel.: (418) 521-3911
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Rolande Laveau
Direction des communications
Ministère de l’Environnement
Tel.: (418) 521-3823, ext. 4494
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Martin Roy
Press Attaché
Office of the Minister of Public Security
Tel.: (418) 643-2112 |
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Rachel Delisle
Direction des communications
Ministère de la Sécurité publique
Tel.: (418) 644-6774
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