George Zittis, CARE-C The Cyprus Institute

I am a Research Scientist at the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C) of the Cyprus Insitute, where I lead the Climate Change Downscaling & Extremes Research Group. My research interests include climate change and impacts, regional climate modeling, Mediterranean climate, extreme weather events, land-atmosphere interactions, climate change education and communication. I am the Chair of the MedCLIVAR scientific network, and contributes to CORDEX, MedECC and other international initiatives about climate change and its impacts on the broader Mediterranean and Middle East region.

What motivates you about being part of OptimESM? I am motivated by the opportunity to contribute to a pioneering project. OptimESM offers a unique platform to develop future scenarios, advance Earth System modeling and deepen our understanding of tipping points of critical climate processes and their impacts. Being part of this collaborative effort allows us to work alongside leading experts and apply our team’s expertise to address pressing climate challenges, ultimately supporting more resilient and informed communities.

Being part of this collaborative effort allows us to work alongside leading experts and apply our team’s expertise to address pressing climate challenges, ultimately supporting more resilient and informed communities.

What particular perspective, skills or expertise do you bring to OptimESM? The CYI team brings specialized expertise in regional climate modeling, particularly through dynamical downscaling, which will serve as a benchmark for the Machine Learning downscaling methods developed in WP6. Our research focuses on understanding how climate change and abrupt shifts influence extreme weather events, including their large-scale drivers, frequency, and intensity, directly contributing to WP5. Additionally, we will enhance the impact analysis in WP6 by integrating assessments across key socio-economic sectors, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of climate impacts relevant to stakeholders and societies.

What impact do you hope OptimESM will have, for science or society? OptimESM is a flagship project which will advance scientific understanding by providing a robust framework for developing the next generation of scenarios and Earth System Models. This will enable more accurate global and regional climate projections, particularly for extreme weather events, which are critical for assessing climate risks. For society, OptimESM aims to support evidence-based decision-making by delivering actionable climate information for scientists, policymakers and stakeholders, helping to mitigate climate impacts and foster resilience in vulnerable regions.