Climate Change Adaptation Measures Research Articles

Climate change rather than vegetation greening dominates runoff change in China

China leads the world in vegetation greening and accounts for one-fourth of the global net increase in leaf area over the past two decades. However, it remains elusive on the relative importance of vegetation greening and climate change on China’s hydrological cycle due to the lack of observational-based constraints on notorious model uncertainties. Here, we developed a process-based distributed hydrological model that couples a nonlinear runoff generation mechanism with a remotely-sensed evapotranspiration (ET) module. This model could well capture the spatiotemporal patterns of the main hydrological components (runoff, ET, and soil moisture) at grid scale and streamflow at watershed scale during 1982–2012 over the mainland China. We show that the changes in climatic factors (precipitation and potential ET) dominated hydrologic change at the national scale, with climate induced runoff decrease by 7.6 mm year−1 compared to 0.6 mm year−1 caused by vegetation change. Vegetation effect was primarily notable in water-limited regions as a higher correlation between vegetation contribution to runoff change and absolute leaf area index (LAI) trend in water-limited regions (r = 0.52, p < 0.01) than energy-limited regions (r = 0.19, p < 0.01). Our results highlight the significance of region-dependent differential measures for sustainable water resources management and climate change adaptation under a changing climate.

Hydrological modeling of spatial and temporal variations in streamflow due to multiple climate change scenarios in northwestern Morocco

Climate change is one of the most important factors impacting hydrological regimes. In this paper, climate change impact on streamflow of Loukkos basin (northwestern Morocco) is evaluated using SWAT model for three future periods: near (2021–2040), mid (2041–2070), and far (2071–2100), compared to baseline 1981–2020. A set of bias-corrected climate models was used: five regional climate models (EURO-CORDEX), four global climate models (CMIP6) and their ensemble mean, under two representative concentration pathways respectively (RCP 4.5; RCP 8.5) and (SSP2-4.5; SSP5-8.5). Furthermore, SUFI-2 algorithm in SWAT-CUP was performed to calibrate (1981–1997), validate (1998–2015), and analyze uncertainty for each dataset at ten hydrological stations. In most stations, statistical performance indicated a good simulation, with a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) greater than 0.77 and percent bias (PBIAS) within ±10% on a monthly basis. Overall, 82% of models indicated that future climate could decline streamflow. The largest decrease would be for 2071–2100 and under RCP 8.5/SSP5-8.5. Our findings could help planners and policymakers in developing reasonable water management policies and climate change adaptation measures.

Heterogeneity in the WTA-WTP disparity for irrigation water reliability

This paper assesses the WTP and WTA for improvements and deteriorations, respectively, in irrigation water supply reliability. The assessment relies on a double-sided discrete choice experiment valuation using latent-class modeling accounting for preference and scale heterogeneity. This valuation approach is empirically implemented using a case study of a Spanish irrigated district significantly impacted by climate change. The results obtained show individual-specific preference heterogeneity in the WTA-WTP disparity, primarily driven by the different impacts of water reliability on farmers' utility (changes in business revenues and costs, uncertainty in business performance, and farm income effects) and interindividual differences in loss aversion (different degrees of endowment effect). Additionally, the significant scale heterogeneity and ordering effects found suggest that it may be advisable to use modeling approaches that account for them. Several policy-relevant implications can be drawn, including the non-neutrality of the initial allocation of property rights, repercussions on the cost-benefit of climate change adaptation measures, and the need to account for irrigators’ preference heterogeneity in order to design successful market-based instruments.

A multi-variable constrained ensemble of regional climate projections under multi-scenarios for Portugal – Part II: Sectoral climate indices

Climate indices are developed to determine climate impacts on different socioeconomic sectors, providing a comprehensive communication of complex information arising from climate change assessments. These may be used by decision-makers to properly and timely implement climate change adaptation measures in different sectors of human activity, such as agriculture and crop selection, forest, and coastal management, among others. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of climate indices estimated for Portugal, known to be in a climate change hotspot. A multi-variable 13-member ensemble of EURO-CORDEX Regional Climate Model simulations is used to assess future climate change projections of climate indices, exploring three future scenarios until 2100, and considering three different emission scenarios, namely the RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Aligned with warming and drying projected conditions, an increase in the number of summer days to very hot days is expected to become more frequent and intense, with more impact over interior regions. Tropical nights are projected to become more common, affecting the thermal comfort conditions and threatening future human health. Although the future projections show an overall reduction in the number of wet days, the amount of precipitation during short-time wet periods will increase leading to an intensification of moderate/heavy rainfall. These results corroborate that Portugal is in a climate change hotspot, calling for efficient policymaking by the relevant authorities. Indeed, such projections call for an urgent planning and development of adaptation measures to safeguard critical sectors of the Portuguese society, such as agriculture, forests, coastal management, among others.

Learning-by-Doing Methodology towards Urban Decarbonisation: An Application in Valletta (Malta)

Since approximately 75% of Europeans currently live in cities, and this number will rise, urban areas are the most important testbeds for energy transition, climate change adaptation measures, and decarbonisation models, on which studies and efforts for concrete change must focus. The teaching of mitigation and adaptation measures to climate change and decarbonisation models has gradually taken up space within university courses. However, the complexity of the decarbonisation issue is raising awareness on the urgency of an interdisciplinary approach that can be conveyed by spatial planning. Currently, this approach is not widespread in Higher Education Institutions in Europe but is nonetheless necessary to let new professional profiles emerge who are able to coordinate different stakeholders, data, and information sources. The Erasmus+ project CITY MINDED (2020–2022) has worked in this direction, by developing and testing a methodology for the design of a structured ordinary practice for teaching urban decarbonisation to students in Higher Education. This practice (at the same time, interdisciplinary, collaborative, experiential, and place-based) aims to offer students a combination of different approaches and working methods to investigate and improve urban neighbourhoods and districts, resulting in the definition of an operative roadmap for decarbonisation in the medium-to-long-term. The aim of this article is to highlight the learning-by-doing experience developed by the project consortium, with reference to the testing of the methodology conducted within an Intensive Course in the City of Valletta (Malta). In particular, the paper illustrates how this experience succeeded in stimulating students with different academic backgrounds to establish connections across disciplines, in raising their awareness about the complexity of city decarbonisation processes. Overcoming the strict time and budget constraints of an EU-funded project, such an approach can be further developed, replicated on theoretical grounds, and implemented within different degree programmes dealing with urban sustainability.

Ecology of Knowledge in the Context of the Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation Measures in Developing Countries

Climate change involves a series of transformations in the synoptic systems of the planet. Its effects are not equitable, so the onus falls on the most vulnerable. Countries considered to be developing tend to be more vulnerable and therefore need to implement adaptation measures. However, these measures are not always viable within the social, environmental, institutional, geophysical, and economic dimensions, especially in the latter. Developing countries often need funding from international multilateral networks to make adaptation measures viable. Yet, projects that receive financing usually reproduce colonial aspects by erasing local knowledge, as in the case of measures implemented in São Tomé and Príncipe, and Bhutan. The essence of the ecology of knowledge concept can be a way for local knowledge to be valued and to be part of adaptation measures projects in countries considered to be developing.

Green Spaces over a Roof or on the Ground, Does It Matter? The Perception of Ecosystem Services and Potential Restorative Effects

Cities are becoming more vulnerable to climate change and need appropriate adaptation measures. Previous studies demonstrated that urban green spaces provide multiple ecosystem services, improving the health and well-being of urban residents. Yet different urban green spaces provide different services—provisioning, regulating, cultural, or supporting ones. This work aims first to understand if urban green space users perceive the different supplies of provisioning and regulating services offered by different types of urban green spaces. Second, this work seeks to determine if green roof type conditions, as well as vegetation type and access, affect the users’ perceptions of the cultural ecosystem services. This work presents the results of an image-based online survey performed among 376 Portuguese undergraduate students between March and April 2021. The survey is based on nine alternative urban space designs, varying the roof access type and vegetation types. The results show a general preference for urban green spaces with more vegetation, regardless of the type of roof, and a general preference for green spaces with better accessibility. In addition, users’ preference for no-roof conditions appears to be linked to the abundance of vegetation and quality of urban design and not to awareness of an existing roof structure and its influence on the natural processes.

Climate change adaptation measures conflicted with the recreational demands on city forests during COVID-19 pandemic

Recurrent droughts in southwest Germany threaten the city and community-owned forests (CCF). At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for recreation in CCF of southwest Germany. We interviewed stakeholders from different interest groups to critically analyze their opinion on how the high recreation demand on CCF due to the pandemic can be ensured along with implementing climate change adaptation measures in CCF in Karlsruhe, Germany. We found that stakeholders particularly highlighted the importance of the recreational function of the CCF during the pandemic. However, the behavior of visitors was criticized by the stakeholders. We showed that demand for the recreational use of CCF conflicted with climate change adaptation measures such as sanitary and forest restoration actions, creating a dilemma among stakeholders. Therefore, enhancing citizens’ knowledge of forests’ recreation functions and the need for climate change adaptation through communication and education should be prioritized.

Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for Agro-pastoralists in Tanzania

Climate change is seriously impacting the well-being of rural agro-pastoralists whose main livelihoods depend on rainfed agriculture. This study examined the factors that influence farmers' decisions to climate change adaptation measures. The study sampled 411 agro-pastoralist farmers and used factor analysis to extract correlated and uncorrelated adjustment strategies. These strategies include; Crop diversification, livestock diversification, small scale irrigation, rain-water harvesting and off-farm activities were found to be the adaptation strategies extracted by factor analysis as dependent variables. Results obtained by the study show that the five coefficients of the variables identified were negative while three were positive, suggesting that the propensity (tendency) of adapting a practice is conditioned by whether or not a practice in the subset has been adapted. Moreover, it is clear that in central and northern zones of Tanzania, age and access to communication media are strongly determined the decisions to adaptation strategies to climate change among the agro-pastoralists. Therefore, the paper recommends for designing policies that reflect the differences in ecology among agro-pastoralists.

Indigenous Beliefs, Knowledge and Practices on Fishing and Climate Change Adaptation

San Sebastian, one of the four fishing villages in the Eastern part of the Municipality of Lagonoy in the Philippines stays susceptible and at threat from weather-related disasters. Altering the fishery systems in Lagonoy Gulf (Pacific) where local artisanal and subsistence fishers are totally structured for their economic enterprise, require sustainable climate change adaptation measures. In achieving this end, the present study explored the indigenous fisheries practices of fishers, in phases of production, process, marketing, and management plan; determined adaptive strategies towards perceived influence of climate change in the habits of fishing activities; and assessed the knowledge and awareness of climate change adaptation amongst fishers and local officials. The qualitative methodology supplied the main instrument for this study. For the statistics presentation on adaptive techniques, and knowledge and awareness on climate change, quantitative methodology have been considered. A whole of 25 experts participated in the focus group discussion (FGD) and key informant interview (KII). The manual coding of information frequency was carried out by indicating the wide variety of text that the respondents made for a specific statement. For the analysis, solely eight most recorded modifications have been considered. Finally, informants expressed pastime and aid to any local weather alternate initiative, and believed they are prepared to put up bayanihan efforts (a spirit of communal cooperation) to help hold the environment. On the contrary, informants expressed claims of unfair treatment of local fishers when authorities failed to take action towards transient fish poachers who overfish and fished destructively.

Literature Review on Incorporating Climate Change Adaptation Measures in the Design of New Ports and Other Maritime Projects

Due to their nature and location, ports and other maritime projects are particularly sensitive to climate change actions. Thus, when designing these types of projects, it is important to follow a methodology that incorporates climate change adaptation measures throughout the design process. This paper aims to identify the most relevant work developed in this field, along with the main knowledge gaps, through a systematic literature review process. Through a careful selection and analysis of relevant articles associated with “climate change adaptation”, “ports” and “design”, it was possible to conclude that these focused on existing infrastructures and specific case studies, on individual design aspects, on policies and economic or legal frameworks, on the perceptions around climate change or on stakeholder management. The literature review process described in this paper is part of a larger project, dedicated to the development of a practical and robust framework focused on the implementation of climate change mitigation measures in the design of new ports and other maritime projects.

Addressing unavoidable climate change loss and damage: A case study from Fiji’s sugar industry

Climate change loss and damage (L&D) presents an existential threat to the Fiji Islands. This case study examines how rural Indo-Fijian sugarcane farming communities face challenges in minimising, averting, and addressing L&D from cyclones. In-depth semi-structured interviews (n = 68) were conducted with 40 sugarcane farmers in two Indo-Fijian sugarcane communities, Barotu and Toko settlements in Western Viti Levu, Fiji, and with 28 key stakeholders from government ministries, academia, and climate change response services. Despite implementing climate change adaptation measures, Fiji’s sugar industry has faced devastating L&D from frequent and severe cyclones. Much of the climate change L&D to crops, property, and income was irreversible and unavoidable. Non-economic loss and damage (NELD) was found insurmountable in both field sites, including the loss of homes and places of worship, cascading and flow-on effects as well as the heightening of uncertainty, fear, and trauma. Evidence suggests that L&D, including NELD, is highly context specific, and UNFCCC’s broad NELD categories do not fully capture L&D at the local level. The systematic documentation of L&D within vulnerable communities would improve understanding of L&D, including NELD, and assist to facilitate the mobilisation of immediate support and action to address L&D in countries that lack the capacities to respond independently. This paper recommends crucial policy interventions such as livelihood diversification, integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, land tenure policy reforms, and the operationalisation of the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage.

Drought Vulnerability and Impacts of Climate Change on Pastoralist and Their Adaptation Measures in Southern Ethiopia: A Comprehensive Review

Drought is a complicated natural hazard has far-reaching social and Environment impacts. In Ethiopia’s diverse agro-ecological zones, drought remains severe challenge and problem. Pastoralists on the southern on the Ethiopia Kenya-Somalia border endured extreme suffering, including the loss of more than 75% of their cattle and huge migration out of drought–stricken areas. Drought has greatest immediate effects of on pastoralists, including depletion of water resources, rising deforestation, crop failure, and an increase in food price, ill health, livestock output losses and death, and a decline in livestock prices in the Borana Zone. Ethiopian pastoral system is almost all rain-fed livestock production system, which is becoming more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and variability. Current climate variability is already imposing significant challenges by preventing the struggle to reduce poverty and sustainable efforts. The review was showed in southern Ethiopia to understand the drought vulnerability and impacts of climate change and variability on pastoral community and their adaptation strategies. Moreover, based on the drought classification, seven annual droughts occurred in the reviewed area from 1986-2018. While their perception of declining annual rainfall are not supported by actual records. More over the result indicated that the significant increment of maximum and minimum temperature, high inter annual and seasonal rainfall variability have caused effects on their livestock’s wellbeing. The prominent adaptation strategies by the pastoralist are area enclosure herd mobility supplementary feeding livestock destocking. Nevertheless, the adaptation strategies are not practiced in full capacity constrained by different socio economic and institutional factors. Therefore, it is important to provide training and improved livestock’s which drought tolerant. Drought and impacts of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures depending on geography and livestock system may improve the study’s trajectory in the future if further review is done. Also, intervention is needed to address water shortage and up scaling water harvesting technology to conserve water during drought season in the study area.

Water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus and sustainable development in the Horn of Africa

Water, energy and food (WEF) security are key indicators of sustainable development. Realization of sustainable development goals (SDGs) by countries is achieved through a water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus framework. Climate change is a threat to food, energy and water security in the Horn of Africa. The main aim of this review is to assess the status and prospects of WEF nexus as it relates to SDGs in the horn of Africa. The countries considered were Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti. The review indicated that the four countries have a challenge in achieving SDGs 2, 6 and 7. Djibouti had the highest (50.9) WEF index in the region followed by Ethiopia and Somalia at 47.5 and 36.8, respectively while Eritrea had the lowest WEF index of 35.8. The energy sub-index was the best performer in the region with an average index of 56 while water and food sub-indices were the worst at 36. Political instability, insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, weak institutional and legal framework are some of the challenges facing WEF and sustainable development in the region. Climate change adaptation measures should be incorporated into the water, energy, food and ecosystem (WEFE) nexus using an integrated approach. Modelling WEFE requires integration of models and should also focus on interactions among the sub-systems.

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Measures Initiated by Farmers in Aravalli Hill Zone of Rajasthan, India

Aims: To study about the adaptation and mitigation measures initiated by the farmers against climate change in local conditions.&#x0D; Study Design: Ex-post-facto research design was followed.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, Bhagwant University, Ajmer during 2019-2022.&#x0D; Methodology: The study was conducted in Aravalli Hill Zone of Rajasthan to understand adaptation &amp; mitigation measures employed by farmers to the adverse effects of climate change. In the investigation region, 240 farmers were randomly selected.&#x0D; Results: In the region 95.83 per cent of the farmers pursued that soil and water conservation was the most widely practiced strategy. Whereas, almost three fourths of the respondents were practicing adoption of drought tolerant and early maturing crop varieties were (75%), use of small-scale irrigation (73.75%), enhancing participatory forest management (73.33%) and afforestation/ reforestation (72.91%), while (70. 83%) practiced diversification of small ruminant animals and changing cropping calendar of agricultural activities. In the constants of the maize crop adaptation measures against excess rainfall was 70.83 per cent of delayed sowing dates; this change in sowing date was adopted by the farmers and adaptation measures in maize crop against deficit rainfall observed by the investigator that 69.58 per cent of the farmers found that delayed sowing dates had affected them.&#x0D; Conclusion: The local people employed different strategies to adapt the adverse effects of climate change, there were constraints that limit the farmer’s adaptation strategies i. e. lack of financial support, lack of climate information and lack of technical skills. Therefore, the local decision makers such as agricultural sector, microfinance sector, and meteorological agency should provide farmers credit access and climate information to reduce shortage of finance and lack of climate information. There is also need of providing training to the farmers on improved agricultural technology and market access to enhance their climate resilience conditions.

The Effectiveness of Local Governments' Policies in Response to Climate Change: An Evaluation of Structure Planning in Arden, Melbourne.

It is widely acknowledged that climate change has caused serious environmental issues, including drought, bushfires, floods, and heatwaves, and urban sustainability is currently seriously threatened as a result. Arden is one of the key urban regeneration areas set to experience dramatic residential changes under Melbourne's development blueprint within the next 20 years. The Arden Structure Plan (2022) outlines specific implementation steps but does not go into detail about the strategies and tactics used to address climate change and urban sustainability. Therefore, there are still problems with the plan, including a lack of information and time-bound development targets, ambiguous public engagement, little focus on urban crime, and insufficient climate change adaptation measures. The plan also considers affordable housing, a mixed-use development pattern that will significantly decrease environmental harm, and active transportation options, primarily walking and bicycling. Considering climate change, this plan will make Arden a suitable location for population growth. This paper aims to evaluate the Arden Structure Plan and make recommendations on how to improve the plan's urban sustainability and climate change considerations. Furthermore, it provides guidance on whether Arden is a suitable location for Melbourne's population growth in light of the climate change impacts anticipated to occur by 2100.

Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction (DRR)-Climate change adaptation (CCA) and governance: Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India

There are over 750 districts in India which constitute an important administrative layer in the country. Yet there is a lack of attention to district level mainstreaming processes for integrated DRR and CCA measures. This study intends to bridge this gap and bring to the fore scope and limitations for operating at this level. It draws from field work at Srikakulam, a coastal district in Andhra Pradesh, India and proposes a framework blending DRR and CCA with environmental conservation measures. It views mainstreaming to be shaped by two dimensions: administrative scale and tradeoffs. The paper argues that the current strategy which hinges on centralized decision making for DRR and CCA mainstreaming, offers limited avenues for engagement with local level functionaries and communities. As a result, potential solutions concerning procedure, policy and practice fail to get due support and remain outside the mainstreaming process.

Heat stress: adaptation measures in South African informal settlements

Globally extreme weather events are experienced most acutely in cities. While formal settlements can respond to such events, informal settlements are often vulnerable and ill-prepared. Sub-Saharan Africa is rapidly urbanising with informal settlements that require effective climate change adaptation measures. Two climate adaptation strategies for informal dwellings are considered for their success under 2100 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) climate scenarios. Using existing data collected from informal dwellings in South Africa, the findings from a digital simulation study reveal that cool roof paints can currently lower excessive heat stress conditions by 42–63% when applied to high thermal mass dwellings with poorly insulated lightweight corrugated sheeting roofing. However, for the future 2100 climate scenarios this strategy only lowers excessive heat stress conditions by 12–17%. This calls for the development of integrated multifaceted heat stress adaptation strategies for informal settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa. <em><strong>Practice relevance</strong></em> This study assessed heat stress conditions and the application of two financially and practically feasible heat stress adaptation strategies in informal dwellings in South Africa. This involved assessing the efficacy of using cool roof paints and improved thermal insulation under current and future climate change-affected conditions. The findings reveal that Southern African informal dwellings experience extreme heat stress 32% of the time. Predicted climate change-affected conditions will increase heat stress exposure up to 40% over a full year. The study reveals that cool roof paints can improve the performance of uninsulated, low thermal mass homes in temperate climates by lowering heat stress conditions by 42–63%, yet this climate change adaptation strategy is only an interim solution with limited success (12–17% improvement) under future 2100 climate change-affected conditions. As a result multilayered integrated heat amelioration strategies are needed in informal communities.

Rainfall Projections from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 in the Volta River Basin: Implications on Achieving Sustainable Development

Climate change has become a global issue, not only because it affects the intensity and frequency of rainfall but also because it impacts the economic development of regions whose economies heavily rely on rainfall, such as the West African region. Hence, the need for this study, which is aimed at understanding how rainfall may change in the future over the Sahel, Savannah, and coastal zones of the Volta River Basin (VRB). The trends and changes in rainfall between 2021–2050 and 1985–2014 under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) scenarios were analyzed after evaluating the performance of three climate models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) using Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) as observation. The results show, in general, a relatively high correlation and low spatial biases for rainfall (r &gt; 0.91, −20% &lt; Pbias &lt; 20%) over the entire Volta Basin for the models’ ensemble mean. An increasing trend and projected increase in annual rainfall under the SSP2-4.5 scenario is 6.0% (Sahel), 7.3% (Savannah), and 2.6% (VRB), but a decrease of 1.1% in the coastal zone. Similarly, under SSP5-8.5, the annual rainfall is projected to increase by 32.5% (Sahel), +22.8% (Savannah), 23.0% (coastal), and 24.9% (VRB), with the increase being more pronounced under SSP5-8.5 compared to the SSP2-4.5 scenario. The findings of the study would be useful for planning and designing climate change adaptation measures to achieve sustainable development at the VRB.

Health impact studies of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures – A scoping review

Climate change affects both mental and physical health. Besides limiting the extent and consequences of climate change, mitigation and adaptation measures can have additional and potentially unintended health impacts. This scoping review outlines how health effects of climate mitigation and adaptation measures have been studied in the scientific literature. We conducted a systematic literature search in the databases PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science without time restriction. All peer-reviewed articles reporting quantified health impacts linked to specific climate change adaptation and mitigation measures were included. Overall, the 89 included articles considered only a narrow range of health determinants and health outcomes. Adaptation- and mitigation-related articles most frequently investigated the environmental health determinants air temperature and air pollution, respectively. Non-communicable diseases were predominantly studied while other relevant health outcome categories, such as mental health, food- and nutrition-related issues, and communicable diseases were rarely reported. The scarcity of studies focusing on the social health determinants and providing stratified health impacts among vulnerable population groups in assessments points to an inadequate consideration of health equity aspects. Increased efforts to quantify health impacts more comprehensively and to identify underlying vulnerability factors among specific population groups seem needed. This information could provide policymakers with more accurate evidence to address health equity aspects, limit adverse health impacts and promote health co-benefits of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.