Global climate change is a global phenomenon. Integrating global data and cooperation through an internationally-oriented research program is essential to understanding the biological consequences of climate change.

Program Aims
Biological Consequences of Global Change intends to coordinate and integrate scientific research from leading scientists around the world. Its principal aims are:

•  To select and monitor key species in key regions around the globe and track changes over time.

•  Collect new data, draw comparisons with historical data, and determine the impact of climate change on key populations, species distribution and behavior.

•  Predict global changes and provide an improved scientific base for national and international management and decision-making on biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and disaster control.

•  Generate a global database of the biological consequences of climate change.

•  Improving understanding of the sensitivity and adaptability of ecosystems and species to climate change.

•  Develop adaptation measures to allow sustainable development.

•  Explore options to manage risks and to reduce negative effects of global climate change as well as natural disasters.

Program Scope

1.  Impact on biodiversity patterns and complexity of ecosystems. This will consist of researches on temperatures, humidity and drought impacts on biological structure, composition, and ecosystem functions in keystone regions in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Australia, as well as biological diversity losses and species relations.
2. Global climate change impact on key endangered species. This will consist of researches on temperatures, humidity and drought impacts on population and distribution of endangered species in key regions, giant panda in southwestern China, for example.
   
3. The global climate change impact on biological disasters. This will consist of researches on temperatures, humidity and drought impacts on biological disasters, such as infectious diseases, agricultural pest, crop and livestock productions, etc.
   

Expected Program Outcomes

1. Improved knowledge on global climate change impact on keystone species population, distribution and behavior as well as their structure, composition, and functions in ecosystems around the globe.
2. Online global database for studying and doing research on biological consequences of global change.
   
3. On-site monitoring hubs on key species in key regions in Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, North America and Australia.
   
4. A computer-based predicting model on biological consequences of global change.
   
5. International symposia to exchange information and share research achievements.
   
6. Special issues of the ISZS official journal --Integrative Zoology – on biological consequences of global climate change.
   
7. Personnel training, education courses and capacity building in key regions.
   
8. Scientific research papers, manuscripts and working reports on biodiversity and complexity of ecosystems conservation, sustainable development, risk control and disaster prevention, such as infectious diseases, agricultural pest, crops and livestock productions.