EGU Great Debate Session: Does climate change affect earthquake risks?

GeoHazards International (GHI), a US-based non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives ahead of disasters, is convening a Great Debate (GDB) session on “Does climate change affect earthquake risks?” at this year’s European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly to be held in Vienna, Austria. The session is co-convened by colleagues from the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and McGill University, and co-sponsored by the Japan Geosciences Union (JpGU), American Geophysical Union (AGU) and German Geological Society (DGGV).  It will take place on 18 April, 8:30 -10:15 am and will be available via a hybrid virtual/in-person format.

The motivation for organizing the session relates to the current GHI-led and USAID-funded “Amplified Risks” program, which seeks to understand how climate change may alter earthquake and volcanic processes and associated hazards, and the resulting impacts on people and society. As part of the program, GHI conducted an extensive literature review and consultation workshops with subject matter experts, the results of which point to a connection between increased volcanic and earthquake activities and a warming climate. The connection between earthquake hazards and climate change is ripe for exploration. The convenors and sponsors of the session are excited to bring the topic to the scientific community for discussion through a Great Debate.

Great Debate sessions are a highlight at EGU. They are intended to be cutting-edge, focusing on research and innovation topics as well as on outstanding issues that matter for research, such as those interfacing science with society, practitioners and policy makers. They can bring forward unresolved and highly debated research topics with an important broad scientific and societal impact. The sessions are open to registered participants (on-site and online) of the EGU General Assembly.