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Rainfall variability, occupational choice, and welfare in rural Bangladesh
This study investigates the choice of occupational focus versus diversification between household members in rural Bangladesh as an autonomous and proactive adaptation strategy against ex ante local rainfall variability risks. The analysis combines nationally representative household level survey data with historical climate variability information at the Upazila level. The authors note that flood prone Upazilas may face reduced risks from local rainfall variability as compared with non-flood prone Upazilas. They find that two members of the same household are less likely to be self-employed i ...
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Available online: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2012/07/1 [...]
Published by: World Bank ; 2012
This study investigates the choice of occupational focus versus diversification between household members in rural Bangladesh as an autonomous and proactive adaptation strategy against ex ante local rainfall variability risks. The analysis combines nationally representative household level survey data with historical climate variability information at the Upazila level. The authors note that flood prone Upazilas may face reduced risks from local rainfall variability as compared with non-flood prone Upazilas. They find that two members of the same household are less likely to be self-employed in agriculture if they live in an area with high local rainfall variability. However, the occupational diversification strategy comes at a cost to households in terms of consumption welfare. The paper considers the effects of three policy actions, providing access to credit, safety net, and market. Access to market appears to be more effective in reducing the likelihood of costly within-household occupational diversification as an ex ante climate risk-reducing strategy as compared with access to credit and safety net.
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free), Hard copyTags: Climate ; Climate change ; Precipitation ; Climatic variation ; Social aspects ; Food Safety ; Agroclimatology ; Bangladesh
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Available online: http://ccafs.cgiar.org/sites/default/files/assets/docs/CCAFS_AnnRpt2011.pdf
(CCAFS) CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
Published by: CCAFS ; 2012Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Capacity development ; Food Safety ; Climate change ; Agroclimatology ; Climate policies
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The Millennium Development Goals Report 2012
United Nations, 2012Three important targets on poverty, slums and water have been met three years ahead of 2015, says this year’s Report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Meeting the remaining targets, while challenging, is possible ─ but only if Governments do not waiver from their commitments made over a decade ago.
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Available online: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/MDG/english/The_MDG_Report_2012.pdf
Published by: United Nations ; 2012
Three important targets on poverty, slums and water have been met three years ahead of 2015, says this year’s Report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Meeting the remaining targets, while challenging, is possible ─ but only if Governments do not waiver from their commitments made over a decade ago.
Language(s): English; Other Languages: French
Format: Digital (Free) (ill., charts)Tags: Social and Economic development ; Climate change ; Food Safety ; Developing countries
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UN system task team on the post-2015 UN development agenda: disaster risk resilience
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) - UN/ISDR, 2012This thematic think piece addresses the insufficient emphasis that disaster risk and resilience received in the original Millennium Development Goal agenda, despite the relationship between disasters and development. The think piece focuses on how reducing the risks of disasters for predictable events such as major severe weather impact conditions helps to protect both human and economic assets. Issues addressed: (i) disasters and disaster risk are a development challenge, in particular the challenge posed by climate change and weak governance; (ii) how science can inform effective decisions o ...
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
Published by: UN/ISDR ; 2012This thematic think piece addresses the insufficient emphasis that disaster risk and resilience received in the original Millennium Development Goal agenda, despite the relationship between disasters and development. The think piece focuses on how reducing the risks of disasters for predictable events such as major severe weather impact conditions helps to protect both human and economic assets. Issues addressed: (i) disasters and disaster risk are a development challenge, in particular the challenge posed by climate change and weak governance; (ii) how science can inform effective decisions on disaster risk reduction, such as effective early warning systems; (iii) the need for the post-2015 development agenda to recognize disaster risks and resilience and to showcase how economics play a significant role in building resilience.
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Capacity development ; Early warning systems ; Climate change ; Disaster Risk Management (DRM) ; Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) ; Early Warning
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Strategies and on the ground options for climate change adaptation and disaster risk management in the Pacific
This report addresses the challenge to reach a consensus on the contours of an agenda that adequately identifies the development needs of present and future generations, and is capable of crystallizing these priorities in clear sustainable development goals that will help guide coherent policy action at the global, regional and national levels. Issues addressed: (i) growing environmental footprints; (ii) governance and accountability deficits; (iii) transformative change towards inclusive, people-centered sustainable development; (iv) environmental sustainability; and (v) inclusive economic de ...
Strategies and on the ground options for climate change adaptation and disaster risk management in the Pacific
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Available online: http://www.sprep.org/attachments/Climate_Change/strategies_and_on_the_ground_opt [...]
Taniela Faletau ; Peniamina Leavai ; Diane McFadzien ; Espen Ronneberg ; Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
Published by: SPREP ; 2012This report addresses the challenge to reach a consensus on the contours of an agenda that adequately identifies the development needs of present and future generations, and is capable of crystallizing these priorities in clear sustainable development goals that will help guide coherent policy action at the global, regional and national levels. Issues addressed: (i) growing environmental footprints; (ii) governance and accountability deficits; (iii) transformative change towards inclusive, people-centered sustainable development; (iv) environmental sustainability; and (v) inclusive economic development.
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Capacity development ; Climate change ; Disaster Risk Management (DRM) ; Adaptation ; Island ; Region V - South-West Pacific ; Oceania
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Heat waves and climate change
A report about the current scientific understanding of the connection between climate change and the recent increase in extreme temperatures, as reported in peer-reviewed research articles published through May 2012. Issues addressed: (i) heat waves: the details; and (ii) heat waves and wild fires.
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Municipal ICT Capacity and its Impact on the Climate-Change Affected Urban Poor: the case of Mozambique
World Bank, 2012
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Climate change, vulnerability and human mobility: perspectives of refugees from the east and Horn of Africa
This study aims to understand the extent to which refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) have perceived, experienced and responded to climatic variability and long-term negative climatic change in the east and Horn of Africa. The report is based on discussions with 150 IDPs and refugees from Ethiopia and Uganda, many of whom were farmers and pastoralists from Eritrea, Somalia and eastern Sudan. Key findings include: many of the refugees interviewed had perceived discernible shifts in weather in their home countries over the past 10 to 15 years; where movement away from homelands was ...
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Safer Communities Through Disaster Risk Reduction (SC-DRR) in Development
The issue of climate change is set to increase the frequency of extreme weather events. Countries, therefore, are required to undertake adaptive measures to ameliorate the impact of such events; Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is an important element of such measures. This report, published by the United Nations Development Program and the Government of Indonesia, presents findings from the final evaluation of the Safer Communities through Disaster Risk Reduction (SC-DRR) project. The project aimed to improve safety in Indonesia by considering the ways in which DRR can be integrated into the cou ...
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Weathering Uncertainty: Traditional Knowledge for Climate Change Assessment and Adaptation
UNESCO, 2012This report provides an overview of the published scientific literature (primarily peer-reviewed, but also grey) relating to the contribution of traditional/indigenous knowledge to our understanding of global climate change: observations, impacts and opportunities for adaptation. It focuses in particular on post-AR4 literature and also includes inputs from the international expert meeting ‘Indigenous Peoples, Marginalized Populations and Climate Change: Vulnerability, Adaptation and Traditional Knowledge’, held from 19–21 July 2011 in Mexico City, Mexico.
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Thematic debate of the 66th session of the General Assembly on disaster risk reduction: President's summary
United Nations, 2012This document reports on the informal thematic debate on disaster risk reduction convened by the President of the 66th Session of the General Assembly to support and advance the dialogue already under way on how best to integrate the disaster risk reduction approach within the Rio+20 outcome. It summarizes the two interactive panel discussions on: (i) addressing urban risk through public investment; and (ii) increasing resilience to disasters through climate adaptation and risk reduction; as well as (iii) the side event on comprehensive action to sustainably reduce vulnerabilities.
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The decade of Latin America and the Caribbean, a real opportunity
This book takes a unique look at the current economic and social development trends in Latin America and the Caribbean and the region’s challenges for the future, including those of climate change and 'natural' disaster mitigation. It calls on cities to integrate the management of the possible impacts of climate change as well as the obvious disaster risks into urban planning, and to prepare action plans focused on adaptation methods that include an analysis of the added dangers faced by the urban population, adequate land-use planning, effective water resource management, risk management, the ...
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Climate change adaptation: a priorities plan for Canada
CCAP, 2012This document is the final report of the of the Climate Change Adaptation Project (CCAP), which was designed to identify and operationalize practical, meaningful and cost-effective adaptation solutions to the most challenging impacts of climate change facing Canada. It outlines a "Priorities Plan for Canada" based on the CCAP’s work to date.
The document identifies eight priority areas (city infrastructure, biodiversity, freshwater resources, aboriginal communities, agriculture, insurance and building codes adaptation for climate change, insurance and tools for the promotion of ...
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A Workbook on Planning for Urban Resilience in the Face of Disasters: Adapting Experiences from Vietnam’s Cities to Other Cities
This comprehensive work book provides tips on urban adaptation drawn from efforts to boost climate resilience in cities in Vietnam. It has been produced by the World Bank Group and is intended to assist policymakers in developing countries plan for anticipated impacts of climate change. The work book is designed to provide a user-friendly, step-by-step approach to national, provincial and local planning. It is argued that the potential impacts of natural disasters and climate change should be considered in nearly every aspect of urban planning and development.
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Forests and Climate Change Adaptation in Asia
FAO, 2012This policy brief examines the role of forests for climate change adaptation in the region of Asia. It is organized into several sections. Firstly, anticipated changes to precipitation and temperature in Asia under a low and a high emissions scenario, between 2010 and 2039, are outlined. Following on from this, the key elements of Forest-Based Adaptation (FBA) are discussed and the current status of FBA in Asia is highlighted. Finally, recommendations aimed at moving forest-based adaptation forward are made. The following suggestions are made: FBA should be integrated into wider sustainable fo ...
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Status Report on The Application of Integrated Approaches to Water Resources Management
UNEP, 2012Over 80 per cent of countries have reformed their water laws in the past twenty years as a response to growing pressures on water resources from expanding populations, urbanization and climate change.
In many cases, such water reforms have had positive impacts on development, including improvements to drinking water access, human health and water efficiency in agriculture.
But global progress has been slower where irrigation, rainwater harvesting and investment in freshwater ecosystem services are concerned.
These are among the findings of a United ...
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Climate change, disaster risk, and the urban poor: cities building resilience for a changing world
Baker Judy L. - World Bank, 2012This study study examines the inter linkages between climate change, disaster risk, and the urban poor. This study calls on cities to take a lead role in proactively addressing the risks of climate change and natural hazards at the local level, with a focus on populations at highest risk. It suggests a number of actions that cities can take to build resilience, beginning with mainstreaming pro-poor risk reduction policies into urban planning and management.
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Environmental extremes: disaster risk management - addressing climate change
This publication addresses climate change and disaster management issues in South Asia, and more particularly in India. It builds on the theme chosen by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) for the world environment day, "Safeguard the environment for disaster risk reduction," which reflects the pressing need for arresting environmental degradation and improving management of ecosystems and natural resources for achieving disaster risk reduction and adapting to climate risks. It is intended to be used as a reference for the local policy makers and planners, and in general for p ...
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Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future - Human health and the Rio Conventions : biological diversity, climate change and desertification
WHO, 2012The report, Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future
Human health and the Rio Conventions: biological diversity, climate change and desertification, reviews the scientific evidence for the linkages between health and biodiversity, climate change and desertification, the representation of health in the corresponding Rio Conventions, and the opportunities for more integrated and effective policy.
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Acting today for tomorrow: a policy and practice note for climate and disaster resilient development in the pacific islands region
World Bank, 2012This Policy and Practice Note grows out of extensive consultations with countries, regional organizations, and donors and other development partners, and it is addressed primarily to high-level policymakers and decision makers within them. Its analysis and recommendations are meant to inform DRR and CCA planning across a range of institutions at all levels. Specifically, they are intended to inform the design and implementation of the joint Roadmap towards a Post 2015 Integrated Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, as well as preparation ...
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The Climate and Development Challenge for Latin America and the Caribbean: Options for Climate Resilient Low Carbon Development: executive summary
IDB, 2012Climate change will have broad impacts on human activities and ecosystems during this century. The likely consequences are of such magnitude that the simultaneous need to adapt to the new climate conditions and reduce the carbon footprint to prevent further damage will likely become one of the main driving forces for the global community. Specifically, a rise of 2C over pre-industrial levels is now seen as unavoidable with significant negative effects in economic activities, social conditions and on ecosystems.
This study, a joint IDB-ECLAC-WWF effort, addresses key topics related to th ...
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The State of the world's refugees 2012 - Chapter 7: Displacement, Climate Change, and Natural Disasters
UNHCR, 2012This chapter examines the international response to the displacement linked to climate change and natural disasters. It begins by describing the displacement challenges linked to the effects of climate change and natural disasters, and then describes a potential normative gap in the protection of people displaced across borders owing to these phenomena. It concludes that protection gaps need to be addressed by the international community, and that solidarity will be tested by the impacts of climate change.
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Community disaster preparedness guide
This document contains practical information on preparing and recovery from the effects of disaster events which may affect the British Virgin Islands. It includes hazard-specific safety tips and information on personal, family, business and community preparedness and protection. It considers the following hazards: flood, hurricane, including tides and surge, earthquake and tsunami, extreme heat and drought, as well as climate change.
This document is a revision of the 2005 Community Disaster Preparedness Handbook with updated information, pictures and with more colour. Its pro ...
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Adaptation to climate change in semi-arid environments: experience and lessons from Mozambique
FAO, 2012 (Environment and Natural Resources Management-No. 19)Southern Africa and Mozambique are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The region is frequently exposed to droughts, floods, variable rainfall and heat, which are expected to worsen, and sensitivity to such exposure of the natural resource-based livelihood system is very high. The project area is remote and highly underdeveloped and the population is poor, food insecure, and not resilient to the impact of climate shocks. Due to water scarcity, not sufficient for humans and livestock except in a few communities along the Limpopo River, livelihood options are limited. Livelihoods ...
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Disaster risk reduction : a global advocacy guide
IFRC, 2012This study provides an analysis of the current level of integration of DRR and CCA in the region, with an emphasis on the policy and institutional environment. The report outlines some of the barriers to integration and makes recommendations on how they can be addressed. The analysis presented includes seven PICs (Cook Islands, FSM, Fiji, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu).The countries analysed are typical in terms of the current low level of integration of DRR and CCA.This report also explores how and why the fields of DRR and CCA have developed in parallel globally as well as in the Pacific, ...
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Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the Pacific : an institutional and policy analysis
Hay John E.; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR); et al. - UN/ISDR, 2012This study provides an analysis of the current level of integration of DRR and CCA in the region, with an emphasis on the policy and institutional environment. The report outlines some of the barriers to integration and makes recommendations on how they can be addressed. The analysis presented includes seven PICs (Cook Islands, FSM, Fiji, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu).The countries analysed are typical in terms of the current low level of integration of DRR and CCA.This report also explores how and why the fields of DRR and CCA have developed in parallel globally as well as in the Pacific, ...
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Current knowledge on relevant methodologies and data requirements as well as lessons learned and gaps identified at different levels, in assessing the risk of loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change : technical paper
UNFCCC, 2012Drawing on existing relevant work and documents, this technical paper aims to provide an overview of existing methodologies and tools for assessing the risk of loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change. In particular, the paper assesses 18 selected approaches, methods and tools in terms of their data and information requirements, strengths, weaknesses, lessons learned, gaps at different levels and relevance for social and environmental impacts, as well as discussing capacity needs for applying risk assessment methods in developing countries. It also considers risk a ...
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Tackling exposure: placing disaster risk management at the heart of national economic and fiscal policy
As a follow-up to a first paper A preliminary analysis of flood and storm disaster data in Viet Nam, this Quang Binh case study provides a more in-depth disaster profile of one particular province in Viet Nam, including specific temporal and spatial distribution patterns while using district aggregated data. It also looks deeper into the relationship between disasters and poverty through analysis of various indicators: number of deaths, impact on housing and agricultural produce, poverty rate and the percentage of poor households.
The first part of this paper examines the disas ...
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Learning lessons: intense climate-related natural disasters in Asia and the Pacific
ADB, 2012This synthesis addresses the global increase in frequency of intense floods and storms in Asia and the Pacific amid the spectre of climate change, and points to the need for better mitigation and adaptation to natural disasters. It presents the lessons drawn from evaluations of information sourced from publicly available databases
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Application of ICTs for climate change adaptation in the water sector : developing country experiences and emerging research priorities
As a follow-up to a first paper A preliminary analysis of flood and storm disaster data in Viet Nam, this Quang Binh case study provides a more in-depth disaster profile of one particular province in Viet Nam, including specific temporal and spatial distribution patterns while using district aggregated data. It also looks deeper into the relationship between disasters and poverty through analysis of various indicators: number of deaths, impact on housing and agricultural produce, poverty rate and the percentage of poor households.
The first part of this paper examines the disas ...
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Ecosystem approach to disaster risk reduction
This book is intended to provide an overview of the concept of ecosystem approach to disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR), natural resource management and disaster linkages, incorporating Eco-DRR concepts in various phases of disaster management, including post disaster recovery in wide range of human and natural environmental settings. The case studies cover coastal, mountain and urban ecosystems and specific hydro-meteorological risks like floods, forest fire, epidemics and landslides.
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Taking Stock of Durban: Review of Key Outcomes and the Road Ahead
UNDP, 2012The Durban Climate Conference in December 2011 represented a significant step forward for the United Nations climate change process. Although its outcomes continue to be debated, the Durban Conference could prove to be a game-changing conference for the climate negotiations. Governments adopted a comprehensive package of decisions—including an agreement to initiate a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol and the "Durban Platform" to negotiate a long-term, all inclusive future mitigation regime that includes a process to address the "ambition gap" for stabilizing average global temper ...
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Uganda: NAPA project profile
UNFCCC, 2012This paper outlines 9 National Action Plan for Adaptation (NAPA) priority projects in Uganda: 1. Community Tree Growing Project 2. Land Degradation Management Project 3. Strengthening Meteorological Services 4. Community and Water Sanitation Project 5. Water for Production Project 6. Drought Adaptation Project 7. Vectors, Pests and Disease Control Project 8. Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and Natural Resources Management Project 9. Climate Change and Development Planning Project
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Le Karakorum, glacier de l'Himalaya qui ne fond pas: In lemonde.fr
2012Les glaciers de l'Himalaya fondent lentement, mais une partie d'entre eux sont dans un état stable, voire regagnent légèrement du volume : c'est ce qui ressort de deux articles scientifiques parus dans les revues Science du 20 avril et Nature Geoscience du 15 avril.
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Training Guide for Gender and Climate Change Research in Agriculture and Food Security for Rural Development
Together, both women and men play a significant role in safeguarding food security. It is important to understand their respective roles and responsibilities to ensure that they benefit equally from climate-smart agriculture practices. However, insufficient research has been undertaken to understand how they are adapting to climate change, mitigating emissions and maintaining food security. To address the gap, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security have jointly come up with this training guide. Its ...
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Development and Climate Action: reinforcing Synergies
World Bank, 2012"The brief explains that all of the 17 country assistance and partnership strategies prepared in Fiscal Year 2011 address climate change. It also showcases results achieved in projects related to: forestry, which help sequester carbon and increase resilience; “climate smart” agriculture, where the focus is on a triple-win – carbon sequestration, food security and climate resilient livelihoods; and water efficiency measures in urban municipalities that reduce water and energy consumption and emissions from water pumping and distribution.
Results of projects dealing with sustainab ...
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Climate Change and Food Security – New E-learning Course
FAO, 2012Starting with an overview of the concept of climate change, the course then looks at its impact on food security. After examining strategies for mitigating or adapting to the effects of climate change, it suggests concrete ways to make sure agriculture is “climate smart”.
The course is aimed at policy makers and people working in development agencies, who need to better understand how climate change affects agriculture and food systems, and what concrete actions can be taken.
The course also includes face to face training materials, such as exercises, trainer’s no ...
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WMO Statement on the status of the global climate in 2011
The World Meteorological Organization’s Annual Statement on the Status of the Global Climate said that 2011 was the 11th warmest since records began in 1850. It confirmed preliminary findings that 2011 was the warmest year on record with a La Niña, which has a cooling influence. Globally-averaged temperatures in 2011 were estimated to be 0.40°C above the 1961-1990 annual average of 14°C.
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OECD’s Environmental Outlook to 2050 : Key Findings on Climate Change; Trends and projections - we are far off course
OECD, 2012This chapter seeks to analyse the policy implications of the climate change challenge. Are current emission reduction pledges enough to stabilise climate change and limit global average temperature increase to 2oC? If not, what will the consequences be? What alternative growth pathways could achieve those targets? What policies are needed, and what will be the costs and benefits to the economy? And last, but not least, how can the world adapt to the changes that are already occurring?
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Addressing Climate Change and Migration in Asia and the Pacific
ADB, 2012Climate change will increase the frequency of extreme weather events, making more geographic places inhospitable to human habitation and secure livelihoods. This report presents a detailed picture of the potential impacts of climate change on migration in Asia and the Pacific. It draws upon a wealth of research to provide policy makers with informed analysis of an emerging phenomenon requiring urgent attention by governments and the international community. The report also suggests that climate-induced migration should be seen not only as a threat to human well-being but also as a potential to ...
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Adaptation After Durban
The recently concluded 17th session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 17) agreed on a number of seminal decisions to move forward the global agenda for climate change adaptation. However, a less visible yet equally impactful outcome is the subtle change in global orientation and outlook towards adaptation, an evolution which had already started at COP 16 in Cancun and was subsequently solidified by the Durban decisions. This change can be summed up as three major steps forward: towards a reinforced long-term commitment to adaptation action; towards consolidation and defragmentation; ...
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The Drying of Iran's Lake Urmia and its Environmental Consequences
UNEP, 2012Lake Urmia in the northwestern corner of Iran is one of the largest permanent hypersaline lakes in the world and the largest lake in the Middle East (1,2,3). It extends as much as 140 km from north to south and is as wide as 85 km east to west during high water periods (4). The lake was declared a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention in 1971 and designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1976 (5,6). The lake itself is home to a unique brine shrimp species, Artemia urmiana, and along with the surrounding wetlands and upland habitat, it supports many species of reptiles, am ...
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How good are current climate models for predicting agricultural impacts in Africa and South Asia? - Video seminar
CCAFS, 2012
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Testing Climate Models for Agricultural Impacts : recent Trends, Current Projections, Crop-Climate Suitability, and Prospects for Improved Climate Model Information
CCAFS, 2012Good climate projections for agriculture can help guide investments in risk management and adaptation. New reports offer insights into the reliability of future climate projections for agriculture, and show how to make the most of current data.
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Least Developed Countries Expert Group - Best Practicies and Lessons Learned : in addressing adaptation in the least developed countries through the national adaptation programme of action process, volume 1
UNFCCC, 2012At the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties in Cancun, Mexico, in December 2010, governments further recognized that adaptation must be addressed with the same priority as mitigation, and adopted the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF) to enhance action on adaptation. The CAF includes a process to enable LDC Parties, building upon their experience with the NAPAs, to formulate and implement national adaptation plans and an invitation to other developing country Parties to employ the modalities formulated to support those plans. It is in this context that other Parties have shown inc ...
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Financing renewable energy in developing countries - Drivers and barriers for private finance in sub-Saharan Africa : a study and survey by UNEP Finance Initiative on the views, experiences and policy needs of energy financiers
UNEP FI, 2012This report explores how the opening up of energy markets to private sector investment through the introduction of smart government policies will be the key to unlocking Africa's massive renewable energy potential.
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Report of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD to UNCTAD XIII - Development-led globalization : towards sustainable and inclusive development paths
UNCTAD, 2012"The report, titled "Development-led Globalization: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Development Paths," suggests that FDG has led to uneven, unstable and unfair outcomes. It outlines an agenda for DLG based on three pillars: enabling developing countries to mobilize domestic resources, strengthen productive capacities and share the gains in an equitable manner; creating more robust multilateral structures for collective responses to upcoming challenges, such as taming finance and promoting investment-led responses to climate change; and strengthening regional ties, including through South–So ...
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Geo-engineering the climate? What benefits? What impacts?
As climate change impacts become more apparent and global negotiations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are prolonged, have we adequately considered actions that complement carbon emission reductions, such as climate engineering or geoengineering? Geoengineering refers to deliberate large-scale interventions in the Earth’s climate system in order to moderate global warming. Do potential gains from using geoengineering to slow or contain climate change impacts outweigh possible negative impacts on people and biodiversity?
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Fiscal implications of climate change
This paper provides a primer on the fiscal implications of climate change, in particular the policies for responding to it. Many of the complicated challenges that arise in limiting climate change (through greenhouse gas emissions mitigation), and in dealing with the effects that remain (through adaptation to climate change impacts), are of a fiscal nature. While mitigation has the potential to raise substantial public revenue (through charges on greenhouse gas emissions), adaptation largely leads to fiscal outlays. Policies may unduly favor public spending (on technological solutions to limit ...
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IRENA Renewable Energy Country Profiles
IRENA, 2012The IRENA Renewable Energy Country Profiles take stock of the latest development of renewable energy in two regions where renewable energy can make a significant contribution to combat climate change and bring modern energy services to everyone: Africa and the Pacific.
The country profiles combine elements of IRENA analysis with the latest information available from a vast array of sources in order to give a brief yet comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the situation of renewable energy that includes energy supply, electrical capacity, energy access, policies, targets, investment cl ...
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El cambio climático en los Andes y la Amazonía : preguntas frecuentes
Este documento ofrece respuestas claras y concisas a las más frecuentes preguntas sobre: cambio climático; conocimiento tradicional; y, ecosistemas andinos y amazonia.
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Обеспечение повсеместной поддержки глобальной рамочной основы для климатического обслуживания: Краткое руководство для национальных метеорологических и гидрологических служб (НМГС)
BMO, 2012
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Connaître le climat pour agir: Cadre mondial pour les services climatologiques (kit de documents)
Contient:
- Comment obtenir le soutient des pays au Cadre mondial pour les services climatologiques (CMSC) [Brochure]
- Connaître le climat pour agir: un cadre mondial pour les services climatologiques afin de renforcer la position des plus vulnérables (OMM N°1065) [CD-Rom]
- Présentation du CSMC [1 page]
- L'information climatologique au service de la santé [4 pages]
- L'information climatologique au service de la réduction des risques de catastrophes [4 pages]
- L'information climatologique au service de la sécurité alimentaire [4 pages]
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Documento de país DIPECHO, Ecuador 2012
ECHO, 2012Este documento nacional brinda una referencia común para la planificación de la Gestión de Riesgos de Desastres para los responsables gubernamentales, no gubernamentales e internacionales. Además, provee una perspectiva general de los avances y los desafíos de la gestión de riesgos en Ecuador para orientar la cooperación internacional y el fortalecimiento interinstitucional, a través de una serie de materiales de referencia básica y la colaboración interinstitucional que representa. El presente ha sido desarrollado bajo el liderazgo general de la Secretaría Nacional de Gestión de Riesgos (SNGR ...
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Declaración de la OMM sobre el estado del clima mundial en 2011
2011 fue un año de fenómenos climáticos extremos en todo el mundo. Precipitaciones excesivamente abundantes, muchas de ellas relacionadas con uno de los episodios de La Niña más intensos de los últimos 60 años, tuvieron importantes consecuencias en el mundo [...]
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Pays les moins avancés - Meilleures pratiques et enseignements : Expériences acquises dans les pays les moins avancés avec les programmes d’action nationaux aux fins de l’adaptation, volume 1
CCNUCC, 2012Lors de la seizième session de la Conférence des Parties à Cancْn, Mexique, en décembre 2010, les gouvernements ont reconnu en outre qu’il faut accorder la même priorité à l’adaptation qu’à l’atténuation, et adopté à cet effet le Cadre de Cancْn pour l’adaptation en vue de renforcer les actions dans ce domaine. Ce cadre comprend un mécanisme permettant d’aider les PMA parties, grâce à l’expérience acquise avec les PANA, à élaborer et mettre en oeuvre des plans d’adaptation nationaux, et invite d’autres pays en développement parties à appliquer les modalités proposées pour appuyer ces plans. C’ ...
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Objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement 2012
Nations Unies, 2012Le rapport de 2011 souligne des avancées réelles dans la réalisation des Objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement notamment un déclin de la pauvreté dans le monde, reflété par un accès à l’éducation plus poussé et un recul de la mortalité infantile. Qui plus est, l’accès à l’eau potable s’est généralisé malgré l’isolement de certaines régions comme en Afrique subsaharienne, où les populations les plus pauvres en milieu rural – les plus vulnérables - sont souvent les plus dures à atteindre.
Face aux disparités demeurantes, ce rapport n’est pas sans rappeler l’engagement réitéré en s ...
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La alianza mundial para el desarrollo: pasar de las palabras a los hechos - Grupo de Tareas sobre el desfase en el logro de los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio Informe de 2012
Naciones Unidas - Naciones Unidas, 2012El presente informe ha sido preparado por el Grupo de Tareas sobre el desfase en el logro de los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio, creado por el Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas para efectuar un mejor seguimiento del Objetivo de Desarrollo del Milenio 8 aprovechando la coordinación entre organismos. En el Grupo de Tareas están representados más de 20 organismos del sistema de las Naciones Unidas, además del Banco Mundial, el Fondo Monetario Internacional, la Organización de Cooperación y Desarrollo Económicos y la Organización Mundial del Comercio. El Programa de las Naciones Unida ...
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Le partenariat mondial pour le développement : traduire la théorie en pratique - Groupe de réflexion sur le retard pris dans la réalisation des objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement Rapport de 2012
Nations Unies (UN) - Nations Unies, 2012Le présent rapport a été établi par le Groupe de réflexion sur le retard pris dans la réalisation des objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement créé par le Secrétaire général de l’Organisation des Nations Unies afin d’améliorer le suivi de la réalisation du huitième objectif en resserrant la coordination interorganisations. Plus de 20 organismes des Nations Unies sont représentés au Groupe de réflexion, y compris la Banque mondiale et le Fonds monétaire international, ainsi que l’Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques et l’Organisation mondiale du commerce. Le Programm ...
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Efectos del cambio climático en la costa de América Latina y el Caribe
CEPAL, 2012Las zonas costeras son sumamente vulnerables a los potenciales impactos del cambio climático, según diversos estudios e investigaciones de los últimos años. Cuál es la situación de la región en esta materia es lo que busca desentrañar un nuevo informe publicado por la CEPAL.
El estudio "Efectos del cambio climático en la costa de América Latina y el Caribe: Dinámicas, tendencias y variabilidad climática" , preparado en conjunto con el Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, España, examina una zona costera de aproximadamente 72.182 kilómetros distribuid ...
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Vínculos entre las dinámicas demográficas, los procesos de urbanización y los riesgos de desastres: una visión regional de América Latina
Fernandez Rogelio; Sanahuj Haris; United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT); et al. - UN/ISDR, 2012
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- 2009 - Scientific Knowledge for Climate Adaptation, Mitigation and Risk Management (Issue of WCRP Accomplishment report, [09/13/2011])
WMO, 2011
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Terras secas, uma década para os desertos
Esporo, N° 151. CTA, 2011A ONU lançou a sua Década para os Desertos e a Luta contra a Desertificação (2010-2020) num esforço para ajudar a proteger e a gerir as terras secas.
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Drylands, a decade for deserts
Spore: the magazine for agricultural and rural development in ACP countries, N° 151. CTA, 2011The UN has launched the Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification (2010-2020) in an effort to protect and manage drylands.
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Terres arides, une décennie pour les déserts
Spore: le magazine du développement agricole et rural des pays ACP, N°151. CTA, 2011Dans le cadre de la protection et de la gestion des terres arides, les Nations unies viennent de lancer la Décennie pour les déserts et la lutte contre la désertification (2010-2020).
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Vol. 369. N° 1934 - 2011 - 'Four degrees and beyond: the potential for a global temperature increase of four degrees and its implications'
is an issue of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. The Royal Society, 2011
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Agriculture and food systems in sub-Saharan Africa in a 4°C+ world
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. Thornton Philip K.; Jones Peter G.; Ericksen Polly J.; et al. - The Royal Society, 2011Agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa faces daunting challenges, which climate change and increasing climate variability will compound in vulnerable areas. The impacts of a changing climate on agricultural production in a world that warms by 4°C or more are likely to be severe in places. The livelihoods of many croppers and livestock keepers in Africa are associated with diversity of options. The changes in crop and livestock production that are likely to result in a 4°C+ world will diminish the options available to most smallholders. In such a world, current crop and livestock variet ...
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Beyond ‘dangerous’ climate change: emission scenarios for a new world
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. Anderson Kevin; Bows Alice - The Royal Society, 2011The Copenhagen Accord reiterates the international community’s commitment to ‘hold the increase in global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius’. Yet its preferred focus on global emission peak dates and longer-term reduction targets, without recourse to cumulative emission budgets, belies seriously the scale and scope of mitigation necessary to meet such a commitment. Moreover, the pivotal importance of emissions from non-Annex 1 nations in shaping available space for Annex 1 emission pathways received, and continues to receive, little attention. Building on previous studies, this paper uses a ...
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Changes in the potential distribution of humid tropical forests on a warmer planet
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. Zelazowski Przemyslaw; Malhi Yadvinder; Huntingford Chris; et al. - The Royal Society, 2011The future of tropical forests has become one of the iconic issues in climate-change science. A number of studies that have explored this subject have tended to focus on the output from one or a few climate models, which work at low spatial resolution, whereas society and conservation-relevant assessment of potential impacts requires a finer scale. This study focuses on the role of climate on the current and future distribution of humid tropical forests (HTFs). We first characterize their contemporary climatological niche using annual rainfall and maximum climatological water stress, which als ...
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Climate-induced population displacements in a 4°C+ world
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. Gemenne François - The Royal Society, 2011Massive population displacements are now regularly presented as one of the most dramatic possible consequences of climate change. Current forecasts and projections show that regions that would be affected by such population movements are low-lying islands, coastal and deltaic regions, as well as sub-Saharan Africa. Such estimates, however, are usually based on a 2°C temperature rise. In the event of a 4°C+ warming, not only is it likely that climate-induced population movements will be more considerable, but also their patterns could be significantly different, as people might react differentl ...
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Cumulative carbon emissions, emissions floors and short-term rates of warming: implications for policy
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. Bowerman Niel H.A.; Frame David J.; Huntingford Chris; et al. - The Royal Society, 2011A number of recent studies have found a strong link between peak human-induced global warming and cumulative carbon emissions from the start of the industrial revolution, while the link to emissions over shorter periods or in the years 2020 or 2050 is generally weaker. However, cumulative targets appear to conflict with the concept of a ‘floor’ in emissions caused by sectors such as food production. Here, we show that the introduction of emissions floors does not reduce the importance of cumulative emissions, but may make some warming targets unachievable. For pathways that give a most likely ...
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Four degrees and beyond: the potential for a global temperature increase of four degrees and its implications
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. New Mark; Liverman Diana; Schroder Heike; et al. - The Royal Society, 2011The 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change commits signatories to preventing ‘dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system’, leaving unspecified the level of global warming that is dangerous. In the late 1990s, a limit of 2°C global warming above preindustrial temperature was proposed as a ‘guard rail’ below which most of the dangerous climate impacts could be avoided. The 2009 Copenhagen Accord recognized the scientific view ‘that the increase in global temperature should be below 2 degrees Celsius’ despite growing views that this might be too high. At the same time, t ...
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Regional temperature and precipitation changes under high-end (≥4°C) global warming
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. Sanderson M.G.; Hemming D.L.; Betts R.A. - The Royal Society, 2011Climate models vary widely in their projections of both global mean temperature rise and regional climate changes, but are there any systematic differences in regional changes associated with different levels of global climate sensitivity? This paper examines model projections of climate change over the twenty-first century from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report which used the A2 scenario from the IPCC Special Report on Emissions Scenarios, assessing whether different regional responses can be seen in models categorized as ‘high-end’ (those projecting 4°C o ...
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Rethinking adaptation for a 4°C world
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. Smith Mark Stafford; Horrocks Lisa; Harvey Alex; et al. - The Royal Society, 2011With weakening prospects of prompt mitigation, it is increasingly likely that the world will experience 4°C and more of global warming. In such a world, adaptation decisions that have long lead times or that have implications playing out over many decades become more uncertain and complex. Adapting to global warming of 4°C cannot be seen as a mere extrapolation of adaptation to 2°C; it will be a more substantial, continuous and transformative process. However, a variety of psychological, social and institutional barriers to adaptation are exacerbated by uncertainty and long timeframes, with th ...
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Sea-level rise and its possible impacts given a ‘beyond 4°C world’ in the twenty-first century
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. Nicholls Robert J.; Marinova Natasha; Lowe Jason A.; et al. - The Royal Society, 2011The range of future climate-induced sea-level rise remains highly uncertain with continued concern that large increases in the twenty-first century cannot be ruled out. The biggest source of uncertainty is the response of the large ice sheets of Greenland and west Antarctica. Based on our analysis, a pragmatic estimate of sea-level rise by 2100, for a temperature rise of 4°C or more over the same time frame, is between 0.5 m and 2 m—the probability of rises at the high end is judged to be very low, but of unquantifiable probability. However, if realized, an indicative analysis shows that the i ...
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The role of interactions in a world implementing adaptation and mitigation solutions to climate change
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. Warren Rachel - The Royal Society, 2011The papers in this volume discuss projections of climate change impacts upon humans and ecosystems under a global mean temperature rise of 4°C above preindustrial levels. Like most studies, they are mainly single-sector or single-region-based assessments. Even the multi-sector or multi-region approaches generally consider impacts in sectors and regions independently, ignoring interactions. Extreme weather and adaptation processes are often poorly represented and losses of ecosystem services induced by climate change or human adaptation are generally omitted. This paper addresses this gap by re ...
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Water availability in +2°C and +4°C worlds
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. Fung Fai; Lopez Ana; New Mark - The Royal Society, 2011While the parties to the UNFCCC agreed in the December 2009 Copenhagen Accord that a 2°C global warming over pre-industrial levels should be avoided, current commitments on greenhouse gas emissions reductions from these same parties will lead to a 50 : 50 chance of warming greater than 3.5°C. Here, we evaluate the differences in impacts and adaptation issues for water resources in worlds corresponding to the policy objective (+2°C) and possible reality (+4°C). We simulate the differences in impacts on surface run-off and water resource availability using a global hydrological model driven by e ...
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When could global warming reach 4°C?
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. Betts Richard A.; Collins Matthew; Hemming Deborah L.; et al. - The Royal Society, 2011The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) assessed a range of scenarios of future greenhouse-gas emissions without policies to specifically reduce emissions, and concluded that these would lead to an increase in global mean temperatures of between 1.6°C and 6.9°C by the end of the twenty-first century, relative to pre-industrial. While much political attention is focused on the potential for global warming of 2°C relative to pre-industrial, the AR4 projections clearly suggest that much greater levels of warming are possible by the end of the twenty-fir ...
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Mountain glaciers face the heat
Global Change magazine, Issue 76. IGBP, 2011The recognition of an error in the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change put the spotlight on glaciers. Not all glaciers are about to disappear but their recession is real and so are the impacts the loss of this “stored water” will have on ecosystems and societies, Ray Bradley asserts.
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Climate variablity in the southern hemisphere
Global Change magazine, Issue 76. IGBP, 2011Most studies that reconstruct the climatic conditions of the past
centuries to millennia tend to focus on the northern hemisphere.
But now an intriguing multicentennial record of temperature and
precipitation in southern South America is available. Raphael
Neukom and Jürg Luterbacher elaborate on its significance.
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Climate change's famous cousin
Global Change magazine, Issue 76. IGBP, 2011Ocean acidification has transitioned from a littleknown phenomenon to a buzzword within a span of five years. The concomitant explosion of research on this topic has provided many general insights into its effects. But as Sarah Cooley reminds us, many of the specifics regarding its consequences for
humans and ecosystems await elaboration.
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Climate geoengineering. Could we? Should we?
Global Change magazine, Issue 76. IGBP, 2011Radical technological responses to counteract global warming are receiving increased attention as a possible policy option. But is geoengineering a potential safety net, a distraction or a dead end? Phil Williamson explores.
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