Change Vulnerability Assessment Research Articles

Mitigating the effects of the climate crisis through health policy

In Canada, the climate crisis has had profound impacts on health, including increased health problems as well as decreased access to healthcare services. Without mitigation, the climate crisis is expected to exacerbate an abundance of negative health outcomes and health system disruptions in Canada, including: food, water, and shelter insecurity; increased health problems caused by severe weather; and forced displacement from geographically vulnerable areas. Governmental action could be taken to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis and improve healthcare in the country. This report synthesizes current literature on how the climate crisis is affecting health in Canada. It also recommends 3 actions that can be taken to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis and improve the country’s health. Actions include: conducting climate change and health vulnerability assessments (CCHVAs), enhancing support for climate action research, and reducing CO2 emissions in the healthcare sector.

New approach of water quantity vulnerability assessment using satellite images and GIS-based model: An application to a case study in Vietnam

Water deficiency due to climate change and the world's population growth increases the demand for the water industry to carry out vulnerability assessments. Although many studies have been done on climate change vulnerability assessment, a specific framework with sufficient indicators for water vulnerability assessment is still lacking. This highlights the urgent need to devise an effective model framework in order to provide water managers and authorities with the level of water exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity and water vulnerability to formulate their responses in implementing water management strategies. The present study proposes a new approach for water quantity vulnerability assessment based on remote sensing satellite data and GIS ModelBuilder. The developed approach has three layers: (1) data acquisition mainly from remote sensing datasets and statistical sources; (2) calculation layer based on the integration of GIS-based model and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's vulnerability assessment framework; and (3) output layer including the indices of exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity and water vulnerability and spatial distribution of remote sensing indicators and these indices in provincial and regional scale. In total 27 indicators were incorporated for the case study in Vietnam based on their availability and reliability. Results show that the most water vulnerable is the South Central Coast of the country, followed by the Northwest area. The novel approach is based on reliable and updated spatial-temporal datasets (soil water stress, aridity index, water use efficiency, rain use efficiency and leaf area index), and the incorporation of the GIS-based model. This framework can then be applied effectively for water vulnerability assessment of other regions and countries.

A climate change vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA) model for Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

A climate change vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA) model for Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerability Assessment of Selected Municipalities and Agroecosystems to Support Development of Resilient Communities and Livelihoods in Nueva Ecija, Philippines

In the last decade, the Philippines had been hit severely by natural disasters brought about by climate change which caused great damages to agriculture. The objectives of the study were to assess climate change impacts and vulnerability of Bongabon, Gabaldon and Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; to assess the vulnerability and suitability of growing various crops, goats and chicken; to generate vulnerability and suitability maps; and to validate the maps produced. A comprehensive scoping, profiling, vulnerability assessment and crop, chicken and goat suitability assessment of the municipalities and agroecosystems of the study sites was done. Generation and validation of the vulnerability and suitability maps were also conducted. Results revealed that Bongabon obtained moderate vulnerability to floods and typhoon while low vulnerability to drought and soil erosion. Gabaldon had moderate vulnerability to floods, soil erosion and drought while low vulnerability to typhoon. Cabanatuan City attained moderate vulnerability to floods and drought while low vulnerability to typhoon. There were four crops suitable to grow in the current condition with flood and landslide hazards and in the two projected future scenarios (RCP 4.5 with good conditions and RCP 8.5 with the worst conditions). Only three crops are highly suitable to grow in Gabaldon for the future conditions while in Cabanatuan City four crops are very suitable for the three situations. Native chicken and goats are highly suitable to raise in the three study sites for the three conditions. There were 16 vulnerability maps developed and generated in Bongabon, 16 in Gabaldon and only 12 in Cabanatuan City. Furthermore, 21 crop, chicken and goat suitability maps were produced in Bongabon, 27 maps in Gabaldon and 21 maps in Cabanatuan City. Overall, validation of the maps in the study sites had high accuracy.

Climate change vulnerability, impact and adaptation assessment

Purpose– This paper aims to present a new framework for climate change vulnerability, impact and adaptation (VIA) assessment. Greater attention has been given in recent years to the importance of conducting climate change VIA assessment prior to, or as part of, climate change adaptation strategies and projects. A VIA assessment provides decision-makers and project developers with information on the location and causes of vulnerability based on local knowledge and scientific data, so that effective adaptation responses that are targeted and site-specific can be designed. A challenge facing practitioners in this field is the lack of clear methodologies or agreed frameworks on how to conduct a VIA assessment.Design/methodology/approach– This paper presents a VIA methodological framework that has been developed through three sub-regional pilot assessments on vulnerability and impacts of climate change, as part of the Regional Gateway for Technology Transfer and Action on Climate Change in Latin America and The Caribbean.Findings– While it is recognized that methodologies and tools may differ depending on the unique local context of the study area and sector under analysis, there are key components that every assessment needs to consider.Originality/value– The framework proposed can assist practitioners to deliver outputs from VIAs that are holistic, and provide the most appropriate type of information required for effective, context-specific adaptation responses.

Spatial and Multi-Temporal Change Analysis of the Niger Delta Coastline Using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS)

The Niger Delta is one of the most dynamic deltas in the world. It is experiencing relatively strong environmental changes resulting from the complex interaction of natural and human-induced processes that operate upon it. The research focuses on the Niger Delta coastline change detection and vulnerability assessment to coastline changes using remote sensing and geographical information system. The change detection involves, processing of multi-temporal images (1972-2008), followed by image differencing, post classification image overlaying, image fusion, image visual interpretation and on-screen digitising. The result shows that the image differencing and post-classification image overlaying change detection techniques are useful to monitor coastline change. The image visual interpretation and on-screen digitising is the main quantitative method to detect the Niger Delta coastline change. The coast line was analyzed in sections starting and terminating a major river mouths. Quantitative measurement and analysis showed that for most of the coast line sections there have been period of erosion and accretion over the 36 year study period. Only very few sections show consistent erosion or accretion over the years. The natural fluvial and marine factors and also human activities played an important role on this development..

Sustainable Water Systems

Sustainable water systems often comprise complex combinations of traditional and new system components that mimic natural processes. These green systems aim to protect public health and safety, and restore natural and human landscapes. Green infrastructure elements such as most sustainable drainage systems trap storm water but may contaminate groundwater. There is a need to summarize recent trends in sustainable water systems management in a focused document. The aim of this special issue is therefore to disseminate and share scientific findings on novel sustainable water systems addressing recent problems and opportunities. This special issue focuses on the following key topics: climate change adaptation and vulnerability assessment of water resources systems; holistic water management; carbon credits; potable water savings; sustainable water technologies; nutrient management; holistic storm water reuse; water and wastewater infrastructure planning; ecological status of watercourses defined by the Water Framework Directive. The combined knowledge output advances the understanding of sustainable water, wastewater and storm water systems in the developed and developing world. The research highlights the need for integrated decision-support frameworks addressing the impact of climate change on local and national water resources management strategies involving all relevant stakeholders at all levels.

Exploring the use of Risk Assessment Approach for Climate Change Adaptation in Indonesia: Case Study of Flood Risk and Adaptation Assessment in the South Sumatra Province

Abstract According to the Assessment Report 4 of Working Group II of Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (2007), there are five approaches in Climate Change Impact, Adaptation and Vulnerability (CCIAV) assessment. Notably, there has been shifting from research-driven approaches to assessments integrated toward policy-making, where decision-makers and stakeholder either participate in or drive the assessment (UNDP, 2005). Unlike the other four approaches which are more research oriented, the risk assessment approach has started to be applied in mainstreaming adaptation option into policy-making globally. Since 2008, the Government of Indonesia has explored the use of risk assessment approach for climate change adaptation planning. Several case studies have been done including the preparation of a national document namely Indonesia Climate Change Sectoral Roadmap, Climate Change Risk and Adaptation Assessment in the Province of South Sumatra, the Province of Nusa Tenggara Barat, Greater Malang, and the City of Tarakan. South Sumatra Province is one of the areas in Indonesia which tipped to be prone to the impact of climate change. In the face of climate change impact such as increased temperature, precipitation rate, and sea level, South Sumatra is very vulnerable due to its low-land areas that it may threat coastal, water, agriculture, and health sectors of the province. In terms of temperature, the analysis suggested that there was an increased trend for the last 25 years around 0.31 °C in Palembang City and 0.67 °C for the whole South Sumatra. In terms of precipitation rate in South Sumatra, the analysis showed that the climate hazard until 2030 will be dominated by climate uncertainty due to the inter-annual variability which could cause extreme precipitation. Based on projection, in the period of 2020–2030, the risk of extreme precipitation will actually increase compared to the period 1991–2000. Similarly, estimation of future sea level rise based on altimeter satellite, model, and tide gauge will be around 0.5–0.7 cm annually. As a result, the projection of sea level rise in 2030 will be 13.5 + 6.15 cm above the sea level in 2000. The science basis data above then is to be used for flood hazards assessment, which then overlaid with vulnerability map to produce risk map. Based on the risk map, several adaptation options to Flood are identified as follows: Canalization, polder, retention pond, and infiltration measurement for Lowland areas; Detention basin and dam construction for Midland areas; Reforestation for Highland areas. The identified adaptation option above then is mainstreamed into development plans of South Sumatra Province.

The Vandaclim Simulation Model: A Training Tool for Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment

This paper describes a training course on climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment. The course, developed in partnership with the CC:TRAIN Programme of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), aims to enhance the capacity of developing countries to make their national communications to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The paper focuses on a simulation model called VANDACLIM, which was developed as a pedagogical tool to facilitate the training. Four sectors are modelled within VANDACLIM (agriculture, public health, water resources, and coastal zone) and are used as a basis for helping to conduct an integrated, multi-sectoral assessment for the imaginary, sub-tropical country of Vanda. The ‘learning-by-doing’ approach, encapsulated in the application of VANDACLIM to complete a mini-assessment for Vanda, proved to be very successful when trialled at a training workshop in Zimbabwe. Both the training course and VANDACLIM have been adapted subsequently for application in small island states and plans are underway for extension to other environments and regions of the world.