Multiannual research programme (EEC) in the field of climatology (indirect action), 1980

This first Community R&D programme in the field of climatology was initially adopted for the period 1980-1984 by Council Decision 80/27/EEC. However, the Decision was subsequently repealed with effect from 1 January 1981 by Council Decision 81/213/EEC of 3 March 1981 adopting a sectoral research and development programme in the field of environment (environmental protection and climatology) for the period 1981-1985. Research on climatology therefore continued as a subprogramme within the framework of the new sectoral programme.
To promote a better knowledge of the mechanism and behaviour of climate through a study of past climatic data and the development of climatic models in order to assess the impact of climatic change on European resources and evaluate the contribution of chemical atmospheric pollution to climatic instability.
Two research areas:
- Understanding climate:
. Reconstruction of past climates (exploration and analysis of natural records and of observational and other historical records);
. Climate modelling and prediction (investigations to improve models which are capable of simulating climate and of assessing climate predictability on time and space scales that are of interest to the Community);
- Man-climate interactions:
. Climate variability and European resources (the impact on agriculture and water resources, climatic hazards evaluation and the impact on energy requirements, use and production);
. Man's influence on climate (chemical pollution of the atmosphere, with special emphasis on carbon dioxide accumulation, and release of energy);

Two service activities:
- Interdisciplinary studies for the analysis, evaluation and application of the results of research into man-climate interactions;
- Inventory, coordination and enrichment of European climatic data sets.
The Commission, assisted by an Advisory Committee on Programme Management (ACPM), was responsible for implementing the programme by means of contracts.

In accordance with Article 228 of the Treaty, the Commission was authorized to conclude agreements with non-Member States, in particular those involved in European cooperation in the field of scientific and technical research (COST), with a view to associating them with the programme.