CMCC At AGU25: Connecting Water, Climate Research, And Global Solutions

At AGU25, water becomes a symbol of connection, resilience, and shared responsibility – a theme deeply aligned with CMCC’s work on water resources, vulnerable communities, and the natural and urban systems increasingly exposed to climate extremes. From Mediterranean agriculture and African river basins, to climate-proof cities and the role of artificial intelligence in water management, CMCC scientists present their latest research on water management, weather forecasting, and climate adaptation. Joining global researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in New Orleans from December 15 to 19, CMCC will explore solutions grounded in science, cooperation, and innovation. If you are attending AGU25, come meet us – visit the CMCC booth and connect with our researchers!

CMCC Foundation – the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change will take part in AGU25, one of the largest international gatherings in Earth and climate sciences, with researchers presenting their latest findings through talks and poster sessions. This year, the meeting’s theme – “Where science connects us” – resonates deeply with CMCC’s research identity and global mission: using science to build bridges across disciplines, geographies, and scales to support communities facing the accelerating impacts of climate change.

Taking place from December 15 to 19 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, a city shaped by the Mississippi River, AGU25 embraces water as both a symbol and scientific reality. The conference’s visuals and graphics trace the historic meanderings of the Mississippi – a river that connects ecosystems, economies, and cultures across thousands of kilometers. Similarly, water is the guiding thread behind the research showcased at AGU25 by CMCC. Water connects landscapes and borders; it fuels economies and ecosystems; it is both a source of risk and a pathway for solutions. And, like science, water moves – sometimes slowly, sometimes abruptly – reshaping that which surrounds it.

From the Mississippi to the Zambesi, from Venice’s fragile lagoon to the Nile Delta, from Mediterranean farming communities to rapidly urbanizing cities navigating flood extremes, at AGU25 CMCC researchers are presenting new knowledge on how climate change is reshaping water systems – and how society can respond.

Climate science as a connection: CMCC themes at AGU25
This year’s CMCC contributions explore how data, technology, and governance can support fair and climate-resilient water management and support climate adaptation.

Through oral presentations, panels, and poster sessions, CMCC researchers will explore a variety of themes: examining the potential of artificial intelligence and large language models to help manage droughts or mimic human decision-making in water operations – showing how emerging digital tools may support adaptation where decisions grow more complex and uncertainties deepen; or reflecting on how technological innovation and integrated planning can reshape water–energy–food systems, offering new pathways that reduce conflict, increase cooperation, and build resilience in the face of climate pressures in regions such as the Nile and Zambezi.

Research from the Mediterranean area can also help highlight the growing tension between agricultural water demand, climate extremes, and basin-level sustainability – demonstrating that efficiency alone is insufficient unless technology is coupled with good governance and coordinated decision-making. Finally, work on climate-proofing urban water systems – from rainfall-driven flooding to stormwater management – shows how local knowledge, engineering, and climate modelling can help cities better prepare for a wetter and more uncertain future.

Together, these contributions outline a common message: water connects challenges – but it also connects solutions.

Other CMCC contributions at AGU25 will cover a wide range of topics at the forefront of climate research and resilience science. Researchers will present studies on the transport of pollutants from wildfires, advancements in seasonal forecasts of tropical cyclone activity, predictions for decadal climate variability, and new approaches to modeling Antarctic ice.

CMCC scientists will showcase innovations for coastal resilience, including the latest developments in the GlobalCoast Cloud initiative, high-resolution wave projections, and digital twin models for oil spill risk. Presentations will also explore global coastal hazard assessment, tracking multi-hazard footprints under climate change through machine learning, and applying deep reinforcement learning to improve emergency response in coastal areas. Together, these contributions demonstrate CMCC’s multidisciplinary approach to understanding climate impacts and developing practical solutions for vulnerable environments and communities worldwide, in water, on land, and in-between.

Meet CMCC at AGU25
Throughout the conference, CMCC will host a booth featuring institutional materials, videos, visual stories, and digital content showcasing ongoing work from projects and field sites. Attendees – including researchers, policymakers, partners, journalists, and students – are invited to stop by, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

If you are at AGU25, you can find CMCC’s researchers at booth #1349.

At AGU25, CMCC brings science shaped by rivers, cities, and communities across the world – science rooted in connection, shaped by collaboration, and driven by the shared responsibility of building a climate-resilient future.

About The Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC)
The Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC) is a leading research institution dedicated to climate science, providing cutting-edge insights and innovative solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. CMCC plays a pivotal role in global climate research, working closely with international partners to advance climate modeling, forecasting, and policy recommendations.