Wellington, New Zealand, will welcome more
than 500 of the world’s leading climate scientists when it hosts the Climate
and Cryosphere Open Science Conference (CliC) in 2026.
Hosted by the Antarctic
Research Centre at Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington (VUW),
this once-in-a-decade international conference focuses on how climate change is
affecting our planet’s frozen regions.
Sponsored by the World Climate
Research Programme, the conference will be part of the United Nations
International Decade of the Cryosphere and will bring scientists and
policymakers together to better understand and predict climate impacts on
frozen parts of the planet and the consequences of such impacts for people and
ecosystems.
The bid was led by Tim Naish, Professor of
Earth Sciences and Director at the Antarctic Research Centre, and Lauren Vargo, Research
Fellow in Glaciology at VUW, with support from Business Events Wellington and
Tourism New Zealand Business Events.
Prof. Naish said the
conference could not come at a more important time for our planet.
“Global warming is melting the
polar ice sheets and mountain glaciers at an alarming rate, and will directly
impact 4 billion people who live on the world’s coastlines through rising seas,
and in high mountainous regions who rely on water stored in glaciers for food
supply.”
Wellington’s world leadership
in Antarctic and climate change research at VUW – home to both the Antarctic
Research Centre and the New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute – played
an important role in securing the conference.
Prof. Edward Hanna of the
University of Lincoln, UK, and CliC's Scientific Steering Group co-chair said:
"We have a very active ice and snow research community in New Zealand. We
want to showcase their work and raise the profile of their involvement, and of
other scientists and early-career researchers across the wider Australasian
region and Southern Hemisphere, where some of the most rapid changes in the
cryosphere are taking place.”
Taking place in February 2026
at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre, the conference’s
benefits will reach far beyond the expected economic impact of nearly $1
million, says Business Events Wellington Manager Irette Ferreira.
