ACCION

The retreat of glaciers and decreased water availability in paramo environments, coupled with warmer temperatures and enhanced probabilities of drought occurrence, suggests the potential for a severe future water crisis in the tropical Andes. As a response to these documented effects, and to increase the capacity in the Andean region to deal with this crisis in an anticipatory manner,, with funding from the US State Department we created the Andean Climate Change Interamerican Observatory Network (ACCIÓN). The goal of this program is to enhance capacity building at both the scientific and the communications levels in four target countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru & Chile) so as to catalyze networking and strengthen simultaneously local research institutions and policy making inthese countries. The ACCIÓN Program contributes to maintaining a sustainable network of local scientists and stakeholders that can translate and implement the latest scientific results into on-the-ground adaptation measures.

ACCION/UNESCO Summer School on Andean Climate Dynamics held at SENAMHI, Lima -Peru

The project focuses on three main activities:

1) train local scientists, educators, water managers and policy makers;

2) provide cutting-edge education for a group of young scientists from the region in climate change and glacier modeling, and

3) outreach to affected population segments, industries, water managers and other decision makers in order to promote policy dialogue with local stakeholders, national governments and regional bodies, and to strengthen human and institutional capital.

A major goal of the ACCION project is to facilitate a dialogue between scientists, policy- and decision makers. Two workshops were held in Santiago (Chile) and Quito Ecuador) focused on climate change, glacier retreat and water resources management. ACCION also contributed to the organization of a similar meeting, the Foro de Aguas, in Huaraz Peru. ACCION-related research outcomes were translated into glossy brochures for non-scientists and published in both English and Spanish with support from UNESCO-IHP and Grid-Arendal.

A summer schools on Andean Climate Change and Dynamics was held at the Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hídrologia (SENAMHI), Lima, Peru, with students from South America and the US, and led by instructors from Chile, Peru and the USA.

The ACCION project provided fellowships for 2 PhD Students from Ecuador (Oscar Chimborazo) and Peru (Christian Yarleque), one M.S. Student from Peru (Juan Sulca) and one Visiting M.S. Student from Chile (Claudio Bravo).

A summer schools on Andean Glaciology, organized by the Centro de Estudios Cientícos (CECS), Valdivia Chile, was held on Villarica volcano, exposing South American students and researchers to the latest techniques in glacier energy and mass balance measurements.

Implementing partners of the ACCION Project include:
· Centro de Estudios Cientícos (CECS), Valdivia Chile· Departamento de Geofísica, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile· Instituto Geofísico del Peru (IGP), Lima, Peru· Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hídrologia (SENAMHI), Lima, Peru· Consorcio para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Ecoregíon Andina (CONDESAN), Lima, Peru and Quito, Ecuador· UNESCO-International Hydrologic Program (IHP), Paris, France· Imperial College London, UK· University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria· University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, SUNY
ETEC Bldg. - Harriman Campus, 1220 Washington Ave.,
Albany, NY 12226, USA

ACCION Summer School on Volcan Villarica - Chile

Andean Climate Change Interamerican Observatory Network (ACCION)

ACCION Deliverables

Andean Glacier and Water Atlas

Andean Mass balance manual

IDB Andean Water Resources Report

UNESCO Andean Water Brochure