The Working Group III (WG III) of the IPCC focuses its work on the mitigation of climate change. As the other two working groups of the IPCC, WG III is currently preparing the 5th Assessment Report. Between the 5th and 9th of November 2012 the city of Vigo (Galicia, Spain) will host the third meeting of lead authors that contribute to the 5th Assessment Report.
Vigo is a coastal city in the region of Galicia (Northwestern Spain). It lies on an impressive bay in a privileged location. With a population of nearly 300,000 people, this city is the largest in Galicia. A pre-Roman settlement gave rise to Vigo and its exceptional geographical location, which has not only endowed it with a long, rich history but has also made it witness to many legendary battles. Nowadays, Vigo is home to an important industrial sector based on automotive and sea-related industries, and not only it is the biggest fishing port in Europe but also one of the most important fishing ports in the world. More information on the city is available on www.turismodevigo.es
The meeting will take place in two different buildings: Centro Social Novacaixagalicia and Fundación Barrié. Both are emblematic landmarks built during the transition period between the 19th and 20th centuries. They are both on the same street, less than 50 meters apart, and close to the recommended hotels.
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| Centro Social Novacaixagalicia | Fundación Barrié |
By Plane
Vigo Airport (Peinador)
Located 10 km from the city center, there is a shuttle bus service (urban bus number C9A), which costs around 1.2 Euros. Taxi service is also available and costs around 20 Euros. This airport is the closest to the city, although it has fewer international connections than the rest of the alternatives below.
Santiago de Compostela Airport (Lavacolla)
This airport is 12 km from the center of Santiago and around 75 km from Vigo, which can be reached by:
Taxi, costing approximately 125 Euros (plus a 20% surcharge on weekends). This is the quickest and most convenient alternative.
Bus. First take an urban bus, with a cost of around 3 Euros, or a taxi, costing around 20 Euros, from the airport to the central bus station in Santiago. Buses head out to Vigo from that bus station frequently. The cost of the bus fare from Santiago to Vigo is around 8 Euros. Vigo's bus station is not in the city center, so you might want to catch a taxi at the bus station (around 5 Euros) to take you into the city.
Train. First take a taxi, costing around 20 Euros, to the train station in Santiago where trains frequently depart for the Vigo train station at a cost of around 10 Euros. Vigo's train station is not far away from the recommended hotels. However, you may want to take a taxi from the train station into the city center (around 5 Euros).
Porto Airport (Sá Carneiro)
Located 110 km from Vigo, there is a shuttle bus service from the airport to the central bus station in Vigo that costs around 12 Euros. Vigo's bus station is not centrally located, so you might want to take a taxi (around 5 Euros). Taxi service costs around 150 Euros (plus a 20% surcharge on weekends). Please note that this airport is located in Portugal so you cannot enter this airport with a Spanish visa.
By train
Vigo is connected by train with the main cities in Spain. See the timetables and alternatives here.
By bus
Vigo is connected by bus with the main cities in Spain. See the timetables and alternatives here or here.
Please bear in mind that you may not be able to use credit cards or foreign currency to pay for taxi or bus service.
Registration:
The first day, registration will take place on the third floor of Centro Social Novacaixagalicia building. A smaller registration desk will also be made available for this purpose in the same building for participants who arrive on a later date.
Lunch:
A daily lunch service will be provided in the Novacaixagalicia building. The cost will be 11 Euros per meal or 50 Euros for a 5-meal voucher. Vouchers will be made available during registration.
Leisure:
A welcome dinner will be held at Museo do Mar de Galicia on Tuesday. On Thursday, a cocktail will be served at the García-Barbón Theatre, followed by a concert offered to the IPCC by the University of Vigo. This event will be in charge of Carlos Núñez, one of the best-known Galician Celtic musicians.
Phone numbers of interest:
Prefix for Spain (0034)
Post office: 986.438.144
Fire department: 080
Police: 091
Ambulance: 061
Emergencies: 112
Hospitals:
Xeral: 986.816.000
Povisa: 986.413.144
Head of logistics: Luis Rey
email: luisrey@uvigo.es
phone: 986812027
fax: 986812401
The old town, a remnant of Vigo's fishing origins, combines cobbled streets with nice squares and is close to the Berbés quarter. The Porta do Sol is a traditional shopping area and is home to the most important architectural landmarks of the city. The park of O Castro is a nice walking area with some important pre-Roman remains. Among the museums and exhibitions you can visit are the contemporary art exhibitions at MARCO and a nice selection of Galician art in the Novacaixagalicia building, in one of the LAM3 locations. The Museo do Mar, where the official dinner will take place, shows the marine history and life of Galicia. More information on the city is available here.
One of the closest and most interesting places in the surroundings of Vigo is the Parque Nacional das Illas Atlánticas de Galicia, the only national park located in Galicia and the tenth most visited national park in Spain. It comprises the archipelagos of Cíes, Ons, Sálvora and Cortegada. However, this park is generally a summer destination. Another nice site is the historic town of Baiona (30 km from Vigo). This port town received the first returning ship from Columbus’ expedition to America. Another place well worth a visit is Santiago de Compostela, 75 Km from Vigo and UNESCO World Heritage City since 1985. It is the capital of the region, yet it is probably better-known for its Cathedral and the Way of St James. More information on Galicia is available here.
Some of the participants in LAM3 will need a visa to enter Spain, as indicated in the following list of countries. Information on visa requirements can be found here.
- Please bear in mind that most Spanish embassies are currently short-staffed and are not issuing visas on time. Therefore, an early application for the visa is highly recommended.
- Please also check visa requirements for all your transit points as you may need transit visas on your way to Spain.
Several rooms have been booked by a local travel agency, at special rates, in seven hotels with differing characteristics and prices. All of them are in a walking distance from the venue of the Third Lead Author Meeting (LAM3). Below you will find more information on these hotels, with their exact locations and prices per night for a single room (including taxes and breakfast). If you are interested in booking a room in any of these selected hotels, please fill out the following application form and submit it before the 30th of September.
(Price: 76 Euros)
(Price: 82 Euros)
(Price: 82 Euros)
(Price: 76 Euros)
(Price: 45 Euros)
Vigo’s climate is oceanic, with warm summers and mild winters and it is, along with the rest of the Galician territory, abundant in rainfalls. In November, the temperature ranges between 10°C and 13°C and there can be anywhere from 151 l/m2 to 184 l/m2 of rainfall. You can check Vigo's weather here.