Introducing the beta version of ISIpedia, the open climate-impacts encyclopaedia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Burcu Yesil ◽  
Quentin Lejeune ◽  
Inga Menke ◽  
Kaylin Lee ◽  
Barbara Templ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Climate Services ◽  
Beta Version ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

<p>Despite the existing ample amount of scientific knowledge on the impacts of climate change, this information is often not conveyed in a way that is relevant and useful to decision makers. If designed correctly, climate services can bridge the gap between the knowledge providers and users. The ISIpedia project aims at developing an online encyclopedia  that provides policy-relevant, user-driven climate impact information based on the data and scientific knowledge generated by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Inter-comparison Project (ISIMIP,) community. In order to ensure that the information provided is accessible and understandable, ISIpedia has facilitated a dialogue between modellers and stakeholders through a number of stakeholder engagement activities.</p><p> </p><p>The ISIpedia portal will deliver national- and global- level assessments of impacts of climate change across different sectors to the identified end-users that range from climate adaptation planners (e.g. involved in National Adaptation Plans) and practitioners, regional knowledge hubs, trans- and interdisciplinary scientists to regional climate experts from the private and public sectors. The portal is also characterised by an intuitive and user-friendly interface for better dissemination and application of this knowledge.</p><p> </p><p>Through an interactive exploration of the ISIpedia portal, during this session we will not only introduce the beta version of ISIpedia but also discuss in detail how our stakeholder engagement processes have shaped the portal’s current functionalities and its design. More specifically, the audience will get a chance to create country-specific climate impact assessments and test the legibility of the content, which includes interactive graphs and maps as well as method descriptions. We will also explore how different inter-sectoral indicators, some of which were derived from our workshops in Eastern Europe (Poland, November 2018) and West Africa (Burkina Faso, February 2019), can be applied to managing climate risks, vulnerabilities and planning adaptation and/or larger political contexts, such as the Sustainable Development Goals or Disaster Risk Reduction and what new indicators can be developed. Additionally, we will present other functional and design features, such as the glossary, data download functions and news, that we identified as added values to the portal during diverse stakeholder engagement activities.</p><p> </p><p>The inputs gathered from the EGU conference, along with the ones from the planned feedback workshops in Southeast Asia (April 2020), Eastern Europe (June 2020) and West Africa (October 2020), will be taken into account for further improvement of the portal until its final release in the fall of 2020. Furthermore, a reflection on the successes and challenges of our co-development process will be shared.</p>

Climate services: The product or the user, which came first?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Liersch ◽  
Holger Hoff ◽  
Seyni Salack
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Climate Services ◽  
Information Demand

<p>From our experience in West Africa it is obvious that the concept of climate services is not yet well understood or established in all user groups. Also some scientists still wonder if they have not been working on generating knowledge and information about climate change impacts for decades anyway. In some climate services projects, scientists find themselves in a new role, "selling" their products to users who are not necessarily aware of the existence of the product, where an attempt is made to create a demand. In other projects the demand is clear from the beginning. However, the introduction of the term or the concept of climate services has the potential to add a new dimension to the world of climate impact research and especially its application. It influences the attitude of scientists towards the applicability of their results in the direction of more targeted and demand-driven or ideally even co-produced information and services. Understanding scientific information as a service rather than as self-sufficient information for the scientific community, helps to better meet the needs of users. To improve the production and particularly the use of climate services both parties (producer and user) are challenged. To a certain extent, the scientist has to rethink and see the results as a valuable product that can be easily understood and used by others. This often requires a redesign, not necessarily of the product itself but the way it is presented. The user, in turn, must formulate precisely which information is useful to support her or his daily work, e.g. integrating climate change information into development plans for natural resources, sustainable energy planning or adaptation and mitigation strategies. This part in particular poses a real challenge, as the user does not always urgently need the information that a project intends to provide (bad timing) or is not in a position to adequately formulate the type of information required by the institution where she or he is employed. In this case, scientists occasionally face situations where they try to anticipate what kind of information is really useful for the user. Hence, communication between producer and user is key, but is normally not trivial, because of different backgrounds, expertise, language etc. It’s a process that requires facilitation by skilled staff.In the CIREG project in West Africa we elicited the stakeholder’s information demand in a first workshop. Apparently, the greatest need was formulated as capacity building for planning instruments for water and energy management in the context of climate change. By training on these tools, we gain access to the stakeholders and gain insight into their actual information needs. The willingness to share data and information also increases with this kind of cooperation and can lead to real co-production. However, data availability and the willingness to share is a challenge in many developing countries. Research projects are usually too short to identify the need for information, to jointly develop information and at the same time to guarantee and observe its uptake.</p>

scholarly journals Identifying the Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 361-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Carter ◽  
Xiaomeng Cui ◽  
Dalia Ghanem ◽  
Pierre Mérel
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Impact Measurement ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Empirical Economics ◽  
Economics Literature ◽  
Open Question ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

The ultimate impact of climate change on human systems will depend on the natural resilience of ecosystems on which societies rely as well as on adaptation measures taken by agents, individually and collectively. No sector of the economy is more reliant on climate than agriculture. Evidence from the American settlement process suggests that societies can successfully adapt to new climatic environments. Whether and how much agriculture will manage to adapt to a changing climate remains an open question in the empirical economics literature, however. This article reviews the existing evidence on weather and/or climate impacts on agricultural outcomes from the economics literature, with a focus on methodological questions. Some key econometric issues associated with climate impact measurement are discussed. We also outline important questions that have not been adequately addressed and suggest directions for future research.

Editorial: Adapting Buildings to Climate Change

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 14-18
Author(s):  
Fuad H. Mallick ◽  
Monjur Mourshed
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Science And Society ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

The interdependence and feedback between climate impacts mitigation and adaptation to the inevitable changes in climate are the key challenges for the built environment in the coming decades. These challenges are more pronounced in the interface between science and society, in which scientific knowledge and evidence are transformed into policy actions. This editorial looks at current and growing evidence base on the impacts of climate change and the means to adapt buildings, as well as the interface between policies and evidence base while summarising the contributions to this special issue.

scholarly journals Smallholder Farmers’ Vulnerability to Impact of Climate Change in Central Bhutan

2020 ◽  
pp. 286-299
Author(s):  
Pema Rinzin ◽  
Thubten Sonam ◽  
Sangay Tshering ◽  
Purna Prasad Chapagai
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Food Component ◽  
Central Regions ◽  
Framework Approach ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Climate change carries immense threat to the livelihood and food security of smallholder farmers in Bhutan and it is therefore crucial to enhance their adaptive capacity.  However, building resiliency to climate impact require information on vulnerability of the system of interest. Therefore, this study assessed smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to impacts of climate change and variability in central regions (Bumthang and Trongsa) of Bhutan. Data was collected from 247 randomly selected households by administering a pre-tested survey questionnaire. Data was analyzed using composite index approach (LVI) and IPCC framework approach (LVI-IPCC). The LVI analysis revealed that Bumthang was more vulnerable in terms of Socio-demographic profile (0.55), social networks (0.45), health (0.31) and natural disasters and climate variability (0.47) compared to Trongsa. Whereas, Trongsa was more vulnerable in terms of livelihood strategies (0.31) and water (0.13). Vulnerability score on the food component was same for both the districts (0.27). Overall, Bumthang was more vulnerable compared to Trongsa on both LVI (Bumthang: 0.36, Trongsa: 0.34) and LVI-IPCC (Bumthang: 0.24, Trongsa: 0.13) analysis. The findings could be used for designing micro-level context specific interventions to enhance smallholder farmers’ adaptive capacity to impacts of climate change in central Bhutan.

Supporting European coastal sectors to adapt to changes in extreme sea levels with climate change

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanne Muis ◽  
Maialen Irazoqui Apecechea ◽  
Job Dullaart ◽  
Joao de Lima Rego ◽  
Kristine S. Madsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Sea Levels ◽  
Extreme Sea Levels

<p>Climate change will lead to increases in the flood risk in low-lying coastal areas. Understanding the magnitude and impact of such changes is vital to design adaptive strategies and create awareness. In  the  context  of  the  CoDEC  project  (Coastal  Dataset  for  Evaluation  of  Climate  impact),  we  developed a consistent European dataset of extreme sea levels, including climatic changes from 1979 to 2100. To simulate extreme sea levels, we apply the Global Tide and Surge Model v3.0 (GTSMv3.0), a 2D hydrodynamic model with global coverage. GTSM has a coastal resolution of 2.5 km globally and 1.25 km in Europe, and incorporates dynamic interactions between sea-level  rise,  tides  and  storm surges. Validation of the dataset shows a good performance with a mean bias of 0-.04 m for the 1 in 10-year water levels. When analyzing changes in extreme sea levels for the future climate scenarios, it is projected that by the end of the century the 1 in 10-year water levels are likely to increase up to 0.5 m. This change is largely driven by the increase in mean sea levels, although locally changes in storms surge and interaction with tides can amplify the impacts of sea-level rise with changes up to 0.2 m in the 1 in 10-year water level.</p><p>The CoDEC dataset will be made accessible through a web portal on Copernicus Climate Data Store (C3S). The dataset includes a set of Climate Impact Indicators (CII’s) and new tools designed to evaluate the impacts of climate change on different sectors and industries. This data service will support European coastal sectors to adapt to changes in sea levels associated with climate change. In this presentation we will also demonstrate how the C3S coastal service can be used to enhance the understanding of local climate impacts.</p>

scholarly journals Projected impacts of climate change on marine fish and fisheries

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 1023-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne B. Hollowed ◽  
Manuel Barange ◽  
Richard J. Beamish ◽  
Keith Brander ◽  
Kevern Cochrane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Marine Fish ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Skill Assessment ◽  
Vital Rates ◽  
Marine Research ◽  
Research Teams ◽  
Research Organizations ◽  
Fish And Shellfish ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Abstract Hollowed, A. B., Barange, M., Beamish, R., Brander, K., Cochrane, K., Drinkwater, K., Foreman, M., Hare, J., Holt, J., Ito, S-I., Kim, S., King, J., Loeng, H., MacKenzie, B., Mueter, F., Okey, T., Peck, M. A., Radchenko, V., Rice, J., Schirripa, M., Yatsu, A., and Yamanaka, Y. 2013. Projected impacts of climate change on marine fish and fisheries. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70: 1023–1037. This paper reviews current literature on the projected effects of climate change on marine fish and shellfish, their fisheries, and fishery-dependent communities throughout the northern hemisphere. The review addresses the following issues: (i) expected impacts on ecosystem productivity and habitat quantity and quality; (ii) impacts of changes in production and habitat on marine fish and shellfish species including effects on the community species composition, spatial distributions, interactions, and vital rates of fish and shellfish; (iii) impacts on fisheries and their associated communities; (iv) implications for food security and associated changes; and (v) uncertainty and modelling skill assessment. Climate change will impact fish and shellfish, their fisheries, and fishery-dependent communities through a complex suite of linked processes. Integrated interdisciplinary research teams are forming in many regions to project these complex responses. National and international marine research organizations serve a key role in the coordination and integration of research to accelerate the production of projections of the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems and to move towards a future where relative impacts by region could be compared on a hemispheric or global level. Eight research foci were identified that will improve the projections of climate impacts on fish, fisheries, and fishery-dependent communities.

scholarly journals Assessing the Impacts of Climate change on Crop Yields in different Agro-Climatic Zones of India

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naveen P Singh ◽  
Bhawna Anand ◽  
S K Srivastava ◽  
K V Rao ◽  
S K Bal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Significant Rise ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Climatic Zones ◽  
Emissions Scenarios ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Thestudy attempts to estimateand predict climate impact on crop yieldsusing future temperature projections under two climate emissions scenarios of RCP 4.5 and 8.5 for threedifferent time periods (2030s, 2050s and 2080s) across Agro-climatic zones (ACZ) of India.During the period 1966-2011, a significant rise was observed in both the annual mean maximum and minimum temperature across ACZs. Rainfall recorded an annual decline in Himalayan Regions and Gangetic Plains and a rise in Coastal Regions, Plateau & Hills and Western Dry Region.Our results showedhigh heterogeneity in climate impact onkharif and rabi crop yields (with both negative and positive estimates) across ACZs.It was found that rainfall had a positive effect on most of crop yields, but was not sufficient enough to counterbalance the impact of temperature.Changes in crop yield were more pronounced forhigheremission scenario of RCP 8.5. Thus, it was evident that the relative impacts of climate change and the associated vulnerability varyby ACZs, hence comprehensive crop and region-specific adaptation measures should be emphasized that helps in enhancing resilience of agricultural system in short to medium term. 

scholarly journals Global cotton production under climate change – Implications for yield and water consumption

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Jans ◽  
Werner von Bloh ◽  
Sibyll Schaphoff ◽  
Christoph Müller
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
The Other ◽  
Aral Sea ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Cotton Production ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Abstract. Being an extensively produced natural fiber on earth, cotton is of importance for economies. Although the plant is broadly adapted to varying environments, growth and irrigation water demand of cotton may be challenged by future climate change. To study the impacts of climate change on cotton productivity in different regions across the world and the irrigation water requirements related to it, we use the process-based, spatially detailed biosphere and hydrology model LPJmL. We find our modelled cotton yield levels in good agreement with reported values and simulated water consumption of cotton production similar to published estimates. Following the ISIMIP protocol, we employ an ensemble of five General Circulation Models under four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) for the 2011–2099 period to simulate future cotton yields. We find that irrigated cotton production does not suffer from climate change if CO2 effects are considered, whereas rainfed production is more sensitive to varying climate conditions. Considering the overall effect of a changing climate and CO2 fertilization, cotton production on current cropland steadily increases for most of the RCPs. Starting from ~ 65 million tonnes in 2010, cotton production for RCP4.5 and RCP6.0 equates to 83 and 92 million tonnes at the end of the century, respectively. Under RCP8.5, simulated global cotton production raises by more than 50 % by 2099. Taking only climate change into account, projected cotton production considerably shrinks in most scenarios, by up to one-third or 43 million tonnes under RCP8.5. The simulation of future virtual water content (VWC) of cotton grown under elevated CO2 results for all scenarios in less VWC compared to ambient CO2 conditions. Under RCP6.0 and RCP8.5, VWC is notably decreased by more than 2000 m3 t−1 in areas where cotton is produced under purely rainfed conditions. By 2040, the average global VWC for cotton declines in all scenarios from currently 3300 to 3000 m3 t−1 and reduction continues by up to 30 % in 2100 under RCP8.5. While the VWC decreases by the CO2 effect, elevated temperature (and thus water stress) reverse the picture. Except for RCP2.6, the global VWC of cotton increase slightly but steadily under the other RCPs until mid century. RCP8.5 results in an average global VWC of more than 5000 m3 t−1 by end of the simulation period. Given the economic relevance of cotton production, climate change poses an additional stress and deserves special attention. Changes in VWC and water demands for cotton production are of special importance, as cotton production is known for its intense water consumption that led, e.g., to the loss of most of the Aral sea. The implications of climate impacts on cotton production on the one hand, and the impact of cotton production on water resources on the other hand illustrate the need to assess how future climate change may affect cotton production and its resource requirements. The inclusion of cotton in LPJmL allows for various large-scale studies to assess impacts of climate change on hydrological factors and the implications for agricultural production and carbon sequestration.

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