Seventh Assessment Report — Advancing the global scientific assessment on climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability from the front lines of the climate crisis.
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Office of the Prime Minister · The BahamasThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for assessing the science related to climate change. It comprises 195 member countries and provides policymakers with rigorous, regular scientific assessments on climate change impacts, risks, and adaptation and mitigation options.
Approximately 250 climate scientists from over 100 countries convene in Nassau to advance the structure, content, and scientific direction of the WGII contribution to the IPCC Seventh Assessment Report.
Lead Authors at this meeting will make critical decisions on the structure, content, and direction of their contribution. The six-day programme encompasses opening ceremonies, chapter meetings, coordinating lead author meetings, plenary sessions, breakout groups, and social events.
Co-hosted by BACSWN and the Climate Change & Environmental Advisory Unit (C²EAU) of the Office of the Prime Minister, this event represents a singular opportunity to position The Bahamas as a global leader in climate science, adaptation policy, and integrated environmental innovation.
BACSWN has secured a Heads of Agreement with the Government of The Bahamas valued at more than $400 million to modernize meteorological, aviation, and environmental monitoring systems nationally, ensuring The Bahamas controls the data, systems, and services governing 173,000 square miles of sovereign airspace.
BACSWN, along with its partner Tribune DigitalLabs, has developed a first-of-its-kind aviation carbon credits platform that generates credits in real time and will be CORSIA-compliant and tradable on ICAO’s Aviation Carbon Exchange. The platform was awarded Breakthrough Technology Partner at the 2024 S&P Global Carbon Markets Conference in Barcelona and will play a pivotal role in assisting WGIII’s mitigation mandate, as well as the broader IPCC framework.
Office of the Prime Minister · The BahamasSix days of intensive scientific collaboration at the British Colonial Hotel, Nassau. Sessions span the Queen Elizabeth Ballroom, Victoria Ballroom, Windsor Ballroom, and the Margaritaville complex.
Credential verification, materials distribution, venue orientation
Hotel LobbyTSU coordination (Deltares / Singapore Management University)
Victoria BallroomWelcome reception for Chapter Scientists
Margaritaville ComplexOfficial press briefing with IPCC WGII Co-Chairs and host delegation
Victoria BallroomOfficial welcome by IPCC WGII Co-Chairs, Government of The Bahamas. Address by Rt. Hon. PM Philip Davis.
Queen Elizabeth BallroomClimate Change Initiatives in The Bahamas
Queen Elizabeth BallroomSponsored by The Ministry of Tourism
Queen Elizabeth BallroomOffice of the Prime Minister · The BahamasThe Co-Chairs and Vice Chair of IPCC Working Group II guide the global assessment of climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability for the Seventh Assessment Report.
Prof Winston Chow was elected Co-Chair of Working Group II in July 2023. He is a Lee Kong Chian Professor of Urban Climate and Pillar Lead, Urban Systems at the Singapore Management University’s College of Integrative Studies. He was a Lead Author in the WGII chapter on “Cities, Settlements and Key Infrastructure” and Lead for the Cross-Chapter Paper on “Cities and Settlements by the Sea” in AR6, as well as contributing to chapters in Working Groups I and III that had urban assessments. His main research interests are on urban climate change risk and vulnerability, and on urban climatology with a focus on heat island adaptation and mitigation. He is a Co-Lead Principal Investigator for the Cooling Singapore initiative, which is a major multi-disciplinary and multi-institute research project dedicated to developing solutions to address Singapore’s urban heat challenge since 2017. He has a Ph.D. in Geography from Arizona State University, and holds Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Geography from the National University of Singapore.
Dr Bart van den Hurk was elected Co-Chair of Working Group II for the seventh assessment cycle in July 2023. An expert in the field of weather and climate information, he is currently the Scientific Director at Deltares, Delft in The Netherlands. Prior to that, he spent about 23 years at the Dutch Meteorological Institute, working on climate change scenarios, land-atmosphere interaction, and leading a research team on weather and climate modelling. He was a Lead Author of the Sixth Assessment Report. He coordinated European research projects on soil moisture data assimilation, climate services for the water sector, and the effects of global climate features on European socio-economic impacts. He joined international expert teams on land-atmosphere interaction, the development of storylines to communicate climate change information, the analysis of compound events, and the application of forecast-based financing of preventive disaster relief measures in developing countries.
Dr Adelle Thomas leads NRDC’s adaptation and resilience work, supercharging the growth of their excellent, longstanding domestic work and burgeoning global efforts in these areas. Thomas brings more than 17 years of expertise in scientific research, policy development, and advocacy around climate adaptation, along with an extensive background in engaging with communities to identify climate-related risks and articulate adaptation needs. This includes serving as a scientific advisor in negotiations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, working as a lead author for several Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, collaborating with developing nations to craft and implement National Adaptation Plans, providing training on adaptation, and helping formulate New York State’s inaugural adaptation plan. Thomas currently serves as vice chair for the IPCC Working Group II for its seventh assessment cycle. Thomas holds bachelor’s degrees from Macalester College and the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in geography and a PhD from Rutgers University. She is based in NRDC’s Washington D.C. office.
Mrs. Rochelle W. Newbold is a premier environmental scientist, climate change strategist, and senior policy advisor from The Bahamas. She currently serves as the Special Policy Advisor on Climate Change and Environmental Matters and Director of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister. Widely recognized as the nation’s first “Climate Change Tzar,” she has spent over 23 years spearheading environmental protection laws, climate finance negotiations, and sustainable development initiatives. Throughout her career, Newbold has broken ground in institutionalizing environmental protection. She served as the first Director of the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) and acts as the National Designated Authority to the UN’s Green Climate Fund. On the global stage, she has guided technical delegations through multiple UN Climate Change Conferences (COP25 to COP28) and served as Rapporteur to the COP29 Bureau. Notably, she successfully secured a seat for The Bahamas on the internationally established Loss and Damage Fund Board in 2023. Her work seamlessly blends high-level diplomacy with local action. Newbold contributed heavily to drafting the pioneering Climate Change and Carbon Markets Initiatives Act (2022) and recently spearheaded a landmark $300 million Debt Conversion Project for Marine Conservation. In early 2026, she secured a historic $65.2 million project to overhaul national water infrastructure against rising ocean temperatures. Newbold holds a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She is also a certified Chartered Scientist.
Office of the Prime Minister · The BahamasThe Bahamas Aviation, Climate & Severe Weather Network has evolved from a weather data interpretation initiative into a multisector platform spanning aviation infrastructure, meteorological modernization, real-time aircraft tracking, environmental monitoring, emergency medical services delivery, and climate adaptation technology.
Robert Dupuch-Carron is a Bahamian businessman, media executive, entrepreneur, and communications pioneer known as the founder of 100 JAMZ, the first independent radio station in The Bahamas. Through the launch of 100 JAMZ, he played a transformative role in modernizing Bahamian radio broadcasting and expanding independent media in the country. He recently succeeded his mother, Rt. Hon. Eileen Dupuch-Carron, CMG, MS, BA, LLB, as Publisher of the Tribune Media Group, one of The Bahamas’ leading media organizations, founded by his great-grandfather, Leon E. H. Dupuch, in 1903. Under Robert’s leadership, the organization continues its longstanding tradition of journalism, public engagement, national commentary, and entertainment. Continuing his trailblazing work in The Bahamas, Robert remains committed to innovation, public safety, and national development. After becoming stranded in Crooked Island during the life-threatening Category 5 Hurricane Joaquin, he became determined to change the way weather is visualized, communicated, and understood throughout The Bahamas, to help save lives and strengthen national resilience. That experience became the passion behind his vision for advancing meteorological services and severe weather intelligence across the country. Motivated by the challenges faced by Family Island communities during extreme weather events, he founded the Bahamas Aviation Climate and Severe Weather Network (BACSWN), focused on implementing NextGen weather technologies, advanced forecasting systems, and climate intelligence solutions for aviation and public safety. Through BACSWN, Robert is championing the development of innovative weather visualization platforms and resilient meteorological infrastructure designed to provide faster, clearer, and more actionable severe weather information to aviation stakeholders, emergency managers, and the public throughout The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean region. Robert graduated from the University of Notre Dame with Bachelor of Science degrees in Political Science and Information Technology. Following his studies, he completed an internship with Senator Bob Graham in the United States Senate, where his performance earned him a formal letter of recommendation commending his professionalism, dedication, and contributions during his tenure.
The Rt. Hon. Eileen Dupuch-Carron served as the longest-serving editor in the world during her 53-year tenure at The Tribune, and her father, Sir Etienne Dupuch, was a pioneer in the Bahamian civil rights movement. She has been named a Companion of the Order of the Bahamas for her fearless work at the helm of The Tribune. She is also a pilot—the first woman pilot in The Bahamas—the most senior female barrister-at-law in the nation, an artist, and mother. She graduated from the Columbia School of Journalism in New York, and joined The Tribune as editor in 1962, the same year she became the second woman and the first Bahamian born to be called to The Bahamas Bar. In 1993, she also became the first chief executive officer of a private radio station in The Bahamas, with the launch of The People’s Radio Station (100.3). As Executive Chairman of BACSWN, she signed the historic Memorandum of Understanding with the United States National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, for scientific, technical cooperation and technology collaboration.
H. Patrick Rollins serves as President and CEO of the Bahamas Aviation Climate and Severe Weather Network (BACSWN), directing the organization’s strategic operations and stakeholder relations across aviation, meteorological modernization, and climate resilience. Rollins brings extensive experience in risk management, asset management, strategic planning, and business operations from senior executive roles including Executive Director at Bahamas Power and Light Ltd., Executive Director at the Bahamas Department of Immigration, and management positions at Nassau Flight Services and the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville (1983–1987).
His Excellency Michael A. Strachan is a Bahamian aviation executive, financial strategist, and regulatory compliance professional with extensive experience in aviation, finance, corporate advisory, and operational leadership. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Bahamas Aviation Climate and Severe Weather Network Ltd. (BACSWN), where he oversees the implementation of the organization’s NextGen WxSenseNet Meteorological Watch Office (MWO) platform and leads regulatory compliance initiatives in accordance with ICAO and CAAB standards. Ambassador Strachan has played a central role in advancing aviation meteorological modernization and climate resilience initiatives within The Bahamas, helping to strengthen aviation safety infrastructure and operational readiness through strategic planning, financial management, and regulatory oversight. Through his work with BACSWN, he has contributed to the development of next-generation meteorological systems and aviation weather services designed to support aviation safety and climate resilience throughout The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean region. Prior to joining BACSWN, Ambassador Strachan served as Director of the BMS Advisory Group, where he acted as lead Strategic Financial Analyst for Western Air and advised clients across the aviation, hospitality, financial services, and government sectors. His work included fleet and route development, corporate restructuring, business expansion strategies, and aircraft acquisition negotiations. Earlier in his career, he held senior financial and trading positions with Swiss America Securities, Grant Thornton Chartered Accountants, Rankin Elias & McDonald, and Merrill Lynch, where he gained extensive experience in financial analysis, auditing, investment management, market analytics, risk management, and corporate finance. Ambassador Strachan is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Chartered Market Technician (CMT), and an Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (ACSI), United Kingdom. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Finance from the University of Kentucky. In recognition of his leadership and contributions to international aviation and meteorological advancement, Ambassador Strachan was recently appointed as The Bahamas’ Non-Resident Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), supporting international collaboration on aviation safety, meteorology, climate resilience, and sustainable aviation development.
Trevor Basden is the former Director of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology and currently serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Meteorology at BACSWN. Under his directorship at the national meteorological service, the Government of The Bahamas invested over twenty million dollars for acquisition and installation of four Doppler weather radars to effectively cover the entire island chain. Basden was a member of The Bahamas Hurricane Forecasting Team and the principal officer from the Department of Meteorology attached to the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). He has given numerous talks and lectures on hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and disaster preparedness to schools, civic groups, and disaster preparedness officials. He completed specialized training at the NOAA Aviation Weather Center (AWC) in Kansas City, Missouri, incorporating modernization tools and strategies for aviation weather services—the first time Bahamas Department of Meteorology personnel participated in such training. At BACSWN, he leads partnerships with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), bringing the latest advancements in meteorological science to The Bahamas.
Jeffrey Simmons serves as Vice President of Meteorology and Chief Meteorologist with the Bahamas Aviation Climate & Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) and is the retired Director of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology. With more than forty-six years of experience in tropical meteorology and forecasting, he is widely recognized for his expertise in hurricane tracking and forecasting, aviation and marine meteorology, and climate change. Throughout his distinguished career, he has played a leading role in advancing meteorological services, environmental awareness, and climate resilience initiatives within The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean region. His professional expertise includes sustainable development, environmental issues, environmental impact assessments, public speaking, and public education on weather and climate-related matters. Mr. Simmons holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Meteorology and Mathematics (Double Major) from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, and a Master of Science degree in Oceanography with emphasis on Coastal Zone Management. In addition, he has participated in numerous international workshops, seminars, and conferences covering all aspects of meteorology, tsunami preparedness, disaster management, and climate change.
Quincy Rolle is a Bahamian technologist, digital strategist, and climate-tech innovator with more than twenty years of experience in web development, enterprise systems, multimedia production, and emerging technology solutions. He currently serves as President of Tribune DigitalLabs and is internationally recognized for his work in aviation sustainability, climate intelligence, and advanced weather technology integration. A graduate of the New England Institute of Technology in Web Design and Development, Quincy began his professional career in South Florida, working with government and private sector organizations on large-scale digital infrastructure and enterprise web application projects. He is a CompTIA i-Net+ Certified Professional and holds U.S. Federal certifications in Website Accessibility and Section 508 Compliance. Quincy became the youngest individual and first non-U.S. citizen to serve as Web Coordinator within the State of Florida Judiciary, leading major digital initiatives for the 15th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. During his tenure, he received special commendation from former Florida Chief Justice Barbara Pariente for his contributions to judicial technology innovation and enterprise systems modernization. Throughout his career, Quincy has provided technology and digital infrastructure solutions for organizations including Trump International, Palm Beach International Airport, multiple Palm Beach County Government agencies, and the Bahamas Investment Authority within the Office of the Prime Minister. His expertise spans enterprise portals, eCommerce systems, multimedia integration, branding, server management, and workflow automation. In recent years, Rolle has gained international recognition for his leadership in aviation climate technology through the collaboration between Tribune DigitalLabs and BACSWN. Working alongside the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, he helped spearhead the development of a pioneering aviation carbon intelligence and carbon credits platform integrating advanced weather analytics, real-time flight intelligence, and proprietary emissions algorithms to help airlines reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions. Under Quincy’s leadership, the initiative earned international recognition, including the “Breakout Innovative Partner of the Year” distinction at the S&P Global Carbon Markets Conference 2024. The platform has since evolved into a patent-pending climate-tech ecosystem focused on aviation weather integration, emissions intelligence, and carbon market technologies, helping position The Bahamas as an emerging leader in aviation sustainability and climate resilience innovation.
Office of the Prime Minister · The BahamasThis landmark event is made possible through collaboration between international scientific institutions, national government, and private-sector climate resilience innovation.
Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change
Bahamas Aviation Climate
& Severe Weather Network
Office of the Prime Minister
Commonwealth of The Bahamas