An increasing number of researchers are interested in the human causes and impacts of global environmental change, as well as recognizing that local and regional scales are critical for their studies. In response to this interest, the International Scientific Planning Committee (ISPC) guided the organization of an international Open Meeting in the Shonan Village of Japan in June, 1999. The meeting follows the successful international meetings of members of the research community held at Duke University in 1995 and at IIASA in 1997. The 1999 Open Meeting aimed to promote exchanges of information on current research and teaching and to encourage networking and community building in this field.