World Renowned Experts Join Global Adaptation Institute Council of Scientific Advisers

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following the success of the Global Adaptation Institute's first Annual Meeting and Consultation on the Global Adaptation Index™ (GaIn™), eight scientists, representing seven countries, have become founding members of the Institute's Council of Scientific Advisers. The Council will advise the Institute on creating rigorous and useful metrics and effective demonstration projects that will help the world's most vulnerable adapt to the effects of climate change and other global trends.

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Founding Council members are:

• Maria de Lourdes Dieck-Assad, Ph.D. (Mexico) Director General of Graduate Schools of Business and Government, ITESM – Tecnologico de Monterrey
• Hans-Martin Fussel, Ph.D. (Germany) Project Manager for Climate Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation at the European Environment Agency
• Richard Moss, Ph.D.(United States) Senior Staff Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Joint Global Change Research Institute
• Mark Myers, Ph.D.  (United States) Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Alaska
• Anand Patwardhan, Ph.D.(India) Professor, S J Mehta School of Management, Indian Institute of Technology
• Claudio Szlafsztein, Ph.D.(Brazil) Professor, Center of Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Para
• Caroline Sullivan, Ph.D.(Australia) Associate Professor of Environmental Economics and Policy and Director of Research, School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University
• Jintao Xu, Ph.D. (China) Professor of Natural Resource Economics and Chair, Department of Environmental Management at the College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University

The Council's first task will be to advise in the development of GaIn™, an index that measures two main concepts: 1. The vulnerability of a country to the effects of climate change and other global forces and 2. The readiness of a country to successfully implement adaptation solutions. Dr. Caroline Sullivan stated that adaptation is "an urgent issue that needs urgent action as well as a targeted response for resource allocation. While there are assessments being conducted on adaptation, few can assist decision makers, whether in the private or public sectors, on what actions to take. The Global Adaptation Index™ has the potential to help guide these decisions."

The Council consists of experts in ecology, sustainable development, economics, geology, business, and computer science with several actively involved in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) process and other international bodies.

"I congratulate the Global Adaptation Institute on the work it has accomplished in a short period of time," stated Dr. Hans-Martin Fussel. "The Institute has brought together a high level group of experts from around the world who will ensure a balanced assessment of the vulnerabilities faced by nations as well as the opportunities for private sector action in promoting adaptation."

"We are guided by the maxim - That which cannot be measured cannot be improved," said Dr. Ian Noble, the Chief Scientist of the Institute. GaIn™ will include indicators designed to accelerate private sector investment in adaptation initiatives and encourage governments and civil society to ramp up their efforts on adaptation.

"This is a truly global representation of experts who share the Institute's passion for improving peoples' lives while holding our work up to the highest scientific standards" said Dr. Juan Jose Daboub, Founding CEO of the Global Adaptation Institute.

Dr. Mark Myers noted, "the Institute is filling some significant gaps in worldwide capacity to confront adaptation challenges. The Institute's ambitious goals of increasing awareness, opportunities for investment and demonstration of viable and profitable private sector opportunities can really make a difference."

Council members will join Noble, who will chair the Council, and Dr. Bruno Sanchez-Andrade Nuno, Director of Science & Technology, Global Adaptation Institute in creating GaIn™ and leading the scientific endeavors of the Institute.

The Institute, which was recently covered by Scientific American in a June 30, 2011 article and SolveClimate News in a July 6, 2011 release, will unveil GaIn™ this fall.

The Global Adaptation Institute™ is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c) 3 environmental organization guided by a vision of building resilience against climate change and other global forces as a key component to sustainable development. Visit us at: www.globalai.org

SOURCE Global Adaptation Institute