Following a successful first writing workshop in Lecce, Italy, in January 2026, authors of the AMOC in Focus Scientific Assessment will reconvene in Brussels from 29 June to 2 July 2026 for their second in-person workshop.
The assessment, a joint initiative of JPI Climate and JPI Oceans, brings together leading experts from Europe and North America to evaluate the latest scientific knowledge on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) – a key component of the climate system with important implications for climate, sea-level rise, ecosystems and society.
The first workshop in Lecce brought all authors together, allowing them to align on chapter structures, key scientific questions and the overall narrative of the report. Since then, substantial progress has been made in developing draft chapters and synthesising the latest scientific evidence.
Co-hosted by the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI), the Belgian Climate Centre (BCC), and the Royal Observatory of Belgium, the second writing workshop in Brussels will focus on strengthening cross-chapter collaboration, consolidating emerging findings and advancing the report towards a coherent and policy-relevant assessment.
Led by co-chairs Hans Pörtner (Alfred Wegener Institute) and Gerard McCarthy (Maynooth University), the assessment will examine the current state and evolution of the AMOC, future projections, evidence of potential tipping points, and impacts on climate, ecosystems and societies.
Supported through the MAGICA project, the initiative exemplifies the importance of connecting scientific expertise, research coordination and policy relevance to address pressing climate challenges.
The final assessment is expected to provide an authoritative synthesis of current knowledge and contribute to international climate assessment processes, including preparations for the IPCC Seventh Assessment Report.
