"Project SOCCLI - “The role of the Southern Ocean carbon cycle under climate change” aims at realizing a high-level staff exchange and networking activity in the field of climate research, and in particular ocean carbon cycle research, between key research groups of South Africa (CSIR, NTC-UCT) and Europe (Norway: UiB, NERSC; France: CNRS-IPSL). The topic to be jointly investigated is the Southern Ocean’s role in global carbon cycling. Through the exchange programme we will foster already existing cooperation between the partner institutions and establish new links through also involving early stage researchers. The Southern Ocean has been shown to play a key role in controlling the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration both in the pre-industrial and the high CO2 state of the Earth system. The staff exchange will provide a very efficient opportunity to promote joint publications and to exploit the complementary expertise optimally. The project is embedded in and linked with important European collaborative projects and large international research projects. We will also carry out outreach events with policy makers both in Europe and South Africa which will provide the respective communities with essential material for informed decisions on greenhouse gas emission reductions and mitigation of climate change."