The First International Forum on Climate Extremes and Societal Resilience:
Drought, Heat Stress, and Human Livability in a Warming World

The Taiwan and Global Drought Information and Research Center (TGDIRC / DroughtHub), established in 2024 and led by the Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research at National Central University, is dedicated to integrating research and development for global drought monitoring, early warning systems, and adaptation strategies. The core mission of the center is to address the increasingly severe challenges of global climate change, particularly the profound impacts of extreme climate events like droughts and heat stress on human society.

The Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) clearly states that global warming will lead to more frequent and severe drought events. It is projected that by 2050, over 5 billion people worldwide will face water shortages. As a high-risk region for climate change, Taiwan has deeply experienced this trend in recent years: the centennial drought in 2021 caused a nationwide water supply crisis with economic losses exceeding NT$100 billion; the record-breaking extreme heat events in 2023 not only impacted the energy system but also directly threatened public health and quality of life.

In the face of these unprecedented challenges, the efforts of a single country or institution are no longer sufficient. The international scientific community widely recognizes that only through cross-border, interdisciplinary collaborative research and knowledge sharing can effective solutions be developed. TGDIRC was established against this backdrop, aiming to build an integrated international research platform.

Since its inception, TGDIRC has actively established cooperative relationships with top international institutions such as the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) in the United States, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia, and the European Climate Adaptation Platform. It also participates in relevant initiatives from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). At the same time, the center has established research partnerships with countries in the Asia-Pacific region facing similar challenges, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, and Vietnam.

To establish a permanent international academic exchange and policy dialogue platform that gathers the wisdom of top global experts in climate extremes, societal resilience, and human livability, TGDIRC has specially planned the first “International Forum on Climate Extremes and Societal Resilience.” This forum aims to become a major annual event in the field of climate science in the Asia-Pacific region and globally, establishing a long-term mechanism for promoting international cooperation, fostering knowledge innovation, and strengthening the scientific basis for policymaking.

Through this forum, we hope not only to showcase Taiwan's strength and international contributions in the field of climate science research but also to provide innovative solutions for the global community to face the challenges of climate change, working together to maintain a livable environment for humanity in a warming world.

Objectives

This forum is committed to developing the world's most influential research exchange platform on climate extremes and societal resilience, bringing together top interdisciplinary expert wisdom to provide innovative solutions for human sustainability in a warming world. The conference will be held in-person, emphasizing deep face-to-face exchanges and the development of collaborative networks. Paper submissions will use an English abstract system to ensure a high degree of integration in international academic exchange.

The forum focuses on core issues such as drought monitoring and early warning, health impacts of heat stress, water resource security, agricultural resilience, ecosystem adaptation, energy system stability, urban climate governance, and disaster risk management, aiming to establish a complete knowledge chain from scientific research to policy implementation. Based on TGDIRC's founding mission to "promote global climate resilience and safeguard a livable future for humanity," this forum has the following strategic objectives and core values:

1. Leading Global Climate Science
   Special emphasis is placed on integrating cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, satellite remote sensing, and big data analytics to establish a next-generation, long-term, and real-time climate monitoring and early warning system. We invite top global scientists to jointly explore the theoretical and practical optimization of these systems. By promoting forward-looking practical technology applications and deep dialogue with theory, we aim to set a new benchmark for global research on climate extremes, transitioning from a follower to a leader in scientific innovation. We will shift from responding to challenges to predicting them and establishing diverse solutions.
2. Building an International Scientific Research Ecosystem
   Taiwan holds a unique geographical and research advantage in climate studies. This forum will connect with the international academic community to establish interdisciplinary strategic partnerships, making Taiwan a hub for climate science in the Asia-Pacific region. Through the TGDIRC platform, we will deepen strategic partnerships with top research institutions in the US, Europe, and Australia, establish a permanent global expert network, promote long-term research cooperation, and encourage dialogue between young scholars and the international community. The goal is to shape Taiwan into a bridge for knowledge and policy exchange in global climate governance and to enhance Taiwan's voice and influence on international climate governance issues.
3. Enhancing National Climate Resilience
   Establish a complete transformation mechanism from "science → policy → practice," effectively translating scientific results into practical policy recommendations and assisting the government in implementing them in society and industry. Provide the government with forward-looking climate adaptation strategies, shifting from reactive responses to proactive prevention. When future climate change disasters occur, Taiwan can transform from being merely a victim to a solution provider, becoming a model case for global climate resilience governance.
4. Promoting the Realization of Sustainable Development Goals
   Closely align with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly addressing SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Propose breakthrough solutions in areas such as water resources, urban resilience, climate change response, and environmental protection to ensure that the conference outcomes have a substantial impact on the sustainable development agenda and demonstrate Taiwan's tangible contribution to global sustainable development.
5. Catalyzing Interdisciplinary Innovation and Integration
   Solving climate challenges relies not only on in-depth exploration within a single discipline. By breaking traditional disciplinary boundaries, we will promote deep integration between climate science, public health, sociology, economics, and engineering technology. We will cultivate a new generation of climate experts with systemic thinking, foster new frontiers of research knowledge and innovative policy strategic frameworks, and drive solutions from single-point breakthroughs to systemic innovation.
6. Establishing a Global Knowledge Sharing Mechanism
   Create an open international research platform to incentivize cross-national research team exchanges and collaboration. Promote data sharing, technology transfer, and talent exchange to ensure that climate science research results can be rapidly transformed into global public welfare, allowing scientific knowledge to truly serve the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.