The Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change (CMCC) is a newly established research centre, funded by the Italian Ministries of the Environment and Land Protection, of Education, University and Research, and of Economy and Finance, that aims at furthering knowledge in the field of climatic variability, including causes and consequences, through the development of high-resolution simulations and impact models. It represents the most ambitious initiative undertaken in Italy, within the framework of the National Research Plan, and specifically the National Research Plan on Climate.

The mission of the CMCC is to improve the understanding of the nature and mechanisms of climate variability, its causes and its impacts, with a special emphasis on the Mediterranean Area and its interactions with the global climate.

It targets several ambitious objectives. First of all, the CMCC produces numerical models, simulations, applications and assessments in the specific field of climate dynamics, climate modelling, climate impacts and policy. The CMCC also offers high level training on climate modelling. Second, it establishes a significant computational facility to support Italian climate numerical simulation research and contribute to capacity building in the Mediterranean region. Third, the CMCC disseminates the products of its activity to the national scientific community.

The CMCC has a flexible structure able to connect public institutions such as Universities and public funded research organisations and private organisations or private companies. The Centre is structured into the following 6 research divisions:

- Informatics Technology and Operations;

- Impacts on Agriculture, Forestry and Land Natural Ecosystems;

- Direct and Indirect Economic Impacts;

- Impacts on Soil and Coastal Zone;

- Numeric Applications and Scenarios;

- Training and Dissemination.

Given that the CMCC aims at providing a key contribution to climate research both at national and international level, its organisation is well connected in the international context, both within the European Union and with external partners of the European Union, in particular with the Mediterranean Countries, the United States and Japan.

Further information is available at http://www.cmcc.it/.