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Research addressing major environmental challenges posed by climate change was showcased by global partnership the Belmont Forum at an event hosted by UK Research & Innovation and NERC.

Attendees at the Belmont Forum

A selection of international, multidisciplinary research projects were shared on Tuesday evening (16 October 2018), coinciding with the UK government's Green GB Week.

Co-founded by NERC and the United States research funding body National Science Foundation (NSF) in 2009, the Belmont Forum is a global partnership of funding organisations, international science councils and regional institutions committed to funding and supporting the advancement of environmental change research.

The showcase evening, aimed at politicians and government officials, presented a range of high impact Belmont Forum supported research projects from around the world. The projects included examples from the forum's collaborative research actions: Arctic observing and research for sustainability, climate predictability, food security and land use change, freshwater security, coastal vulnerability and inter-regional linkages, and mountains as sentinels of change.

The 28 forum members and partner organisations work together by issuing international calls for research proposals, committing to best practices for open data access, and providing multidisciplinary training. The evening showcase was opened by Professor Ian Boyd, Chief Scientific Advisor at Defra, who stressed the importance of the international collaboration at the heart of the Belmont Forum and the need to focus on solutions to the big environmental issues of today.

The showcase formed part of the Belmont Forum's three-day annual meeting which was held this year in the UK. The meeting is a chance for the member organisations to come together and discuss opportunities for the collaborative funding of the multidisciplinary science behind environmental change. A closed session during the annual meeting also saw the formal election of Dr Kate Hamer, Head of International at NERC, as Co-Chair of the Belmont Forum for a three-year term.

NERC Executive Chair Professor Duncan Wingham said:

The Belmont Forum is a strong example of the kind of international, cross-disciplinary collaboration required to effectively tackle the complex challenges presented by climate change now and in the decades to come.

Science Minister Sam Gyimah said:

The Belmont Forum's successful support for environmental research and innovation is proof of what can be achieved through international collaboration: science has no borders.

I am proud that the forum met in London for the first time ever during Green GB Week, as we reaffirm our commitment to tackling climate change and look forward to the contribution our partnership can bring to future research in this important area.

Since its establishment, the forum has successfully led ten calls for proposals, supporting 92 projects and more than 1,000 scientists and stakeholders, representing over 35 countries on six continents.

Further information

Ione Bingley
Press & Communications Officer
01793 411616
07864 972302
ione.bingley@nerc.ukri.org