Bolstering the University of Newcastle's research efforts on the environment, the University has today announced the creation of a new research centre on climate change.

The Centre for Climate Change Impact Management (C3IM) will undertake pioneering research on the issue of climate change and its impact on water availability.

C3IM Director, Professor Garry Willgoose, said the Centre's work would identify a new generation of management and policy tools that assess the security of urban and rural water supplies.

"Understanding the magnitude of predicted climate change, the environmental impact of a changing climate, and optimal management of water resources are the key issues C3IM will address," Professor Willgoose said.

"By bringing together researchers with expertise in hydrology, ecology, climatology and paleoclimatology, we will achieve an integrated examination of the environmental response to climate change.

"We will develop science-based methods for assessing and managing the potential effect of climate change on water availability."

The C3IM is in addition to the University's Priority Research Centres, which focus resources into areas of existing and potential research strength, and promote cross-faculty and cross disciplinary research.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Barney Glover, said the C3IM would build on the extensive research capacity of the University on environmental issues.

"The existing Priority Research Centre for Energy is focussed on one of the most challenging contemporary issues - the management of Greenhouse Gas Emissions," Professor Glover said.

"The Centre for Organic Electronics is concentrating efforts on the next generation of environmentally friendly energy sources, and the Tom Farrell Institute is a partnership between the University and community to focus regional expertise on the environmental challenges of the future.

"The work of the C3IM will add significant value to the important work already underway at the University to address the impact of climate change on the global environment."