Adaptive capacity and regional water governance in north-western Germany

Water Policy ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 794-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Grecksch
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Salt Water ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Salt Water Intrusion ◽  
Communication Tool ◽  
Coastal Zones ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Study Region

Successful adaptation to climate change requires flexible adaptation strategies which consider regional ecological, economic and social circumstances. Coastal zones are considered to be significantly vulnerable to climate change impacts. The projected impacts of climate change in the metropolitan region of Bremen–Oldenburg, Germany (a coastal area), are, for example, rising sea level, salt water intrusion, temporary groundwater scarcity in the summer and increased (heavy) rainfalls. This paper uses an existing framework, the Adaptive Capacity Wheel (ACW), complemented by two additional dimensions: adaptation motivation and adaptation belief. The objectives were first, to assess the adaptive capacity of water governance in the study region, and second, to show how the ACW can be used as an approach and a communication tool with stakeholders to identify strengths and weaknesses. Based on this, a further objective was to discover what lessons and recommendations can be drawn that could help water experts and stakeholders in the future. The results show a high adaptive capacity and that the addition of the psychological dimensions was valuable. However, it is important to look closely at each dimension assessed by the ACW. The key recommendations are: to improve public participation; to ensure better coordination; to raise awareness; and to reduce the lack of political will to overcome adaptation barriers.

scholarly journals MEMAHAMI ADAPTASI PENDUDUK TERHADAP PERUBAHAN IKLIM UNTUK PEMENUHAN KEBUTUHAN AIR BERSIH DI PULAU-PULAU KECIL BELITUNG DAN BINTAN

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Laksmi Rachmawati
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Salt Water ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Salt Water Intrusion ◽  
Small Islands

Freshwater is an essential need for human being thus a sufficient supply of it it is required. Naturally, small islands are vulnerable. The occurence of climate change the vulnerability of these islands increase. Changes on temperature and precipitation can alter the hydrological cycle and will directly affect the water supply in small islands. This paper examines various adaptation efforts implemented by local population and government in small islands situated in Belitung and Bintan. Using quantitative method (survey to 400 respondents) and qualitative method (interview and focus group discussion), the research found that the adaptation has already taken place. The responsive/reactive and anticipatory adaptation are managed by government and local people who live in these small islands. Some of the adaptation actions are widening water storage, buying, searching for new water resources, desalination of salt water, rain water harvesting and improvement of water distribution. In addition, local mangrove management in Selat Nasik acts as adaptation functions for barriers of salt water intrusion. However, water governance has not been prioritized although it is proven to be necessary to support adaptive capacity for fresh water fulfillment Keywords: Fresh Water Fulfillment, Small Islands, Adaptation, Responsive/Reactive, Anticipatory, Adaptive Capacity, Water Governance

The implications of climate change on residential water use: a micro-scale analysis of Portland (OR), USA

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek Shandas ◽  
Meenakshi Rao ◽  
Moriah McSharry McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Residential Water Use ◽  
Residential Water

Social and behavioral research is crucial for securing environmental sustainability and improving human living environments. Although the majority of people now live in urban areas, we have limited empirical evidence of the anticipated behavioral response to climate change. Using empirical data on daily household residential water use and temperature, our research examines the implications of future climate conditions on water conservation behavior in 501 households within the Portland (OR) metropolitan region. We ask whether and how much change in ambient temperatures impact residential household water use, while controlling for taxlot characteristics. Based on our results, we develop a spatially explicit description about the changes in future water use for the study region using a downscaled future climate scenario. The results suggest that behavioral responses are mediated by an interaction of household structural attributes, and magnitude and temporal variability of weather parameters. These findings have implications for the way natural resource managers and planning bureaus prepare for and adapt to future consequences of climate change.

Climate Change and Adaptation through the Lens of Capability Approach

2017 ◽  
pp. 1351-1365
Author(s):  
Bhupen Mili ◽  
Anamika Barua ◽  
Suparana Katyaini
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Study Region ◽  
The People ◽  
Agent Of Change

Climate Change impacts would disproportionately have larger impacts on the developing countries. Both government and development agencies have initiated various adaptation strategies in the developing countries to enhance the adaptation of the local communities. Various policies and programmes have been designed keeping in mind the impact of climate change. This study was conducted in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India, to see the benefits of such policies and programmes. Focus group discussion with community members were held in the study area. Based on the fieldwork it was seen that most of the intervention made in the study area focused on income, resources, and assets. It has failed to benefits the people due to variation in the capability among various section of the society. Various projects related to health, education, housing, and livelihood, have been implemented in the study region. However, due to lack of conversion factors in the form of gender inequality, discriminatory practices, transparency among others have come as a hindrance in the successful implementation of the projects. Hence, such project-based approach to enhance community's adaptation to climate risk, in the end fails to show benefits as it fails to expand community's capabilities and real freedom, due to the project's pre-defined aims. It is important to understand community's as agent of change rather than merely beneficiaries of adaptation projects. This study therefore recommends that to enhance community's adaptation to climate change, the interventions should be such that it enlarges the range of people's choices so that when climate disaster strikes them they will have a set of opportunities.

Helping the Helpless: Contribution of Rural Extension Services to Smallholder Farmers’ Climate Change Adaptive Capacity and Adaptation in Rural Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Asare-Nuamah ◽  
Ebo Botchway ◽  
Justina A. Onumah
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Farming Communities ◽  
Multiple Strategies ◽  
Transfer Of Skills

While there is no doubt that extension services play an active role in promoting smallholder farmers’ adaptive capacity and adaptation to climate change, there is a dearth of information and research on how this institution champions climate change adaptation in rural farming communities in Ghana. This study employed a qualitative case study design and interviewed 15 extension officers and 26 smallholder farmers to understand how extension services enhance smallholder farmers’ climate change adaptive capacity and adaptation in the rural Adansi North District in Ghana. The findings indicate that extension services adopt multiple strategies to build the adaptive capacity of farmers to climate change. Through the transfer of skills and knowledge, technology and innovations, supply of inputs, technical advice and liaison role with existing local institutions, farmers are able to adapt to climate change. The study further revealed that extension services are hindered by geographical, sociocultural and economic challenges which affect their alignment and fitness to effectively assist smallholder farmers. The study recommends strengthening the capacity of the extension institution. Moreover, more experts must be trained to provide special, targeted and important services to smallholder farmers in respect of climate change sensitization and adaptation.

scholarly journals Archetypical opportunities for water governance adaptation to climate change

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasiia Gotgelf ◽  
Matteo Roggero ◽  
Klaus Eisenack
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change

Saltwater intrusion in delta regions around the globe

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Götte ◽  
Josefin Thorslund ◽  
Niko Wanders
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
River Discharge ◽  
Saltwater Intrusion ◽  
Input Data ◽  
Salt Water ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Natural Phenomenon ◽  
Salt Water Intrusion ◽  
Ensemble Simulations

<p>Saltwater intrusion into estuaries is a natural phenomenon which impacts freshwater availability for irrigation and human consumption. The intrusion length is dependent on the river discharge, sea level fluctuation and deltaic shape. As climate change impacts the sea level fluctuations and river discharge in many areas in the world it is expected that the intrusion length of rivers will change in the coming decades. However, global scale assessments are currently lacking, since estimates of the intrusion length are usually done for individual rivers, with complex models requiring extensive spatio-temporal data.<br>In this study, we provide a first global estimate of saltwater intrusion in estuaries. To do this, we first evaluate an existing predictive model for the salt water intrusion length on a local scale, before transitioning to global input data of river discharge, deltaic shapes and sea level. We assess the predictive quality of the model and its sensitivity in regard to uncertainties in (global) input data before giving an estimate of salt intrusion globally.<br>By using large ensemble-simulations of discharge on a global scale in a warmer climate (+2 °C), we further project impacts of climate change on the saltwater intrusion length and identify highly affected delta systems. The ensemble-simulations allow extreme events and respective estimations of frequency and magnitude. This is especially relevant since high salinity levels usually occur during droughts when river discharge is low and freshwater resources are diminished.</p>

scholarly journals An AHP-derived method for mapping the physical vulnerability of coastal areas at regional scales

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1209-1227 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Le Cozannet ◽  
M. Garcin ◽  
T. Bulteau ◽  
C. Mirgon ◽  
M. L. Yates ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coastal Lagoons ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Mapping Method ◽  
Thin Strip ◽  
La Réunion ◽  
Coastal Zones ◽  
Coastal Vulnerability ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change

Abstract. Assessing coastal vulnerability to climate change at regional scales is now mandatory in France since the adoption of recent laws to support adaptation to climate change. However, there is presently no commonly recognised method to assess accurately how sea level rise will modify coastal processes in the coming decades. Therefore, many assessments of the physical component of coastal vulnerability are presently based on a combined use of data (e.g. digital elevation models, historical shoreline and coastal geomorphology datasets), simple models and expert opinion. In this study, we assess the applicability and usefulness of a multi-criteria decision-mapping method (the analytical hierarchy process, AHP) to map physical coastal vulnerability to erosion and flooding in a structured way. We apply the method in two regions of France: the coastal zones of Languedoc-Roussillon (north-western Mediterranean, France) and the island of La Réunion (south-western Indian Ocean), notably using the regional geological maps. As expected, the results show not only the greater vulnerability of sand spits, estuaries and low-lying areas near to coastal lagoons in both regions, but also that of a thin strip of erodible cliffs exposed to waves in La Réunion. Despite gaps in knowledge and data, the method is found to provide a flexible and transportable framework to represent and aggregate existing knowledge and to support long-term coastal zone planning through the integration of such studies into existing adaptation schemes.

Infectious Diseases and Climate Vulnerability in Morocco

2017 ◽  
pp. 138-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Behnassi ◽  
Kholoud Kahime ◽  
Samia Boussaa ◽  
Ali Boumezzough ◽  
Mohammed Messouli
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Health Governance ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Climate Vulnerability

Climate change is expected to affect the distribution, prevalence and life cycle of several infectious diseases. This scenario is relevant to Morocco since the country is considered by many IPCC assessments reports as a climate change hotspot with a high vulnerability to many expected impacts. Given this existing vulnerability, this chapter aims to highlight relevant vector-borne diseases, the risks of their reemergence in many vulnerable regions and the pressing need to understand their dynamics within a context marked by knowledge gaps and limited scientific evidence; underline the problematic aspects of health adaptation to climate change and the current difficulties in terms of policy and governance to manage climate-health linkages; and finally undertake an assessment of Morocco's adaptive capacity from a health perspective and formulate recommendations for effective climate-health governance and policy.

Infectious Diseases and Climate Vulnerability in Morocco

2017 ◽  
pp. 1056-1074
Author(s):  
Mohamed Behnassi ◽  
Kholoud Kahime ◽  
Samia Boussaa ◽  
Ali Boumezzough ◽  
Mohammed Messouli
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Health Governance ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Climate Vulnerability

Climate change is expected to affect the distribution, prevalence and life cycle of several infectious diseases. This scenario is relevant to Morocco since the country is considered by many IPCC assessments reports as a climate change hotspot with a high vulnerability to many expected impacts. Given this existing vulnerability, this chapter aims to highlight relevant vector-borne diseases, the risks of their reemergence in many vulnerable regions and the pressing need to understand their dynamics within a context marked by knowledge gaps and limited scientific evidence; underline the problematic aspects of health adaptation to climate change and the current difficulties in terms of policy and governance to manage climate-health linkages; and finally undertake an assessment of Morocco's adaptive capacity from a health perspective and formulate recommendations for effective climate-health governance and policy.

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