Climate Change Adaptation Programs Research Articles

Community-based Participatory Process – Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program for Northern First Nations and Inuit in Canada

Objectives: Health Canada's Program for Climate Change and Health Adaptation in Northern First Nation and Inuit Communities is unique among Canadian federal programs in that it enables community-based participatory research by northern communities.Study design: The program was designed to build capacity by funding communities to conduct their own research in cooperation with Aboriginal associations, academics, and governments; that way, communities could develop health-related adaptation plans and communication materials that would help in adaptation decision-making at the community, regional, national and circumpolar levels with respect to human health and a changing environment.Methods: Community visits and workshops were held to familiarize northerners with the impacts of climate change on their health, as well as methods to develop research proposals and budgets to meet program requirements.Results: Since the launch of the Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program in 2008, Health Canada has funded 36 community projects across Canada's North that focus on relevant health issues caused by climate change. In addition, the program supported capacity-building workshops for northerners, as well as a Pan-Arctic Results Workshop to bring communities together to showcase the results of their research. Results include: numerous films and photo-voice products that engage youth and elders and are available on the web; community-based ice monitoring, surveillance and communication networks; and information products on land, water and ice safety, drinking water, food security and safety, and traditional medicine.Conclusions: Through these efforts, communities have increased their knowledge and understanding of the health effects related to climate change and have begun to develop local adaptation strategies.

The impact of climate change on California timberlands

California timber production has been declining in an era of warming, increased wildfires, land conversion, and growing emphasis on recreation. Climate change has the potential to further affect California timber production through changes in individual tree growth rates, forest dieback, and shifts in species ranges and ecosystem composition. Coupled with changes in global timber prices, themselves the result of productivity effects, these production impacts hold important consequences for California’s private timberlands. This study uses models that project tree species productivity and movement across the landscape under climate change, coupled with economic models of landowner adaptation and returns from multiple harvest strategies. Our results show that under likely price scenarios, climate change will result in an overall decline in harvested timber value relative to no climate change, with decreases of 4.9 to 8.5% by the end of the century. The magnitude of decrease depends on climate change scenario, price scenario and management option – with dollar losses totaling up to $8.1 billion in total land value (−$2.7 billion given a 4% discount rate). There is substantial spatial variation in these changes; most areas show significant declines in timber value while some show modest increases relative to a no climate change baseline. If prices are not affected by climate change, more areas experience gains in value. We find that forestry management strategies can mitigate lost value, indicating that climate change adaptation programs can yield important economic benefits. Declining timber value corresponds disproportionately to areas already experiencing timberland conversion to housing or agriculture. Policy measures to stem conversion of devalued timberlands may warrant consideration.

Climate change and human health—what influences the adoption of adaptation programming in the United States public health system?

With growing evidence on how climate change impacts human health, public health agencies should develop adaptation programs focused on the impacts predicted to affect their jurisdictions. However, recent research indicates that public health agencies in the United States have done little to prepare the public for predicted climate change impacts, largely due in response to a lack of resources and priority. This study surveyed Environmental Health (EH) Directors across the United States to determine the extent to which individual level attitudes and beliefs influence the adoption of climate change adaptation programming in a department. The results indicate that an EH Director’s perception of the health risk posed by climate change explained 27% of the variance in the number of climate change impacts being addressed. Furthermore, the study found that environmental attitude and political views made strong, unique contributions in explaining the variance in risk perception. The results provide evidence that individual-level attitudes and beliefs, as well as organizational-level barriers influence the adoption of climate change adaptation programs in public health agencies. As a result, increasing EH Directors’ perception of risk by highlighting the likelihood and severity of localized impacts may increase the adoption of adaptation programming despite existing organizational barriers (e.g., lack of resources). Given the fact that risk perception has been shown to influence behavior across cultures, these findings are also useful for understanding the influence of individual decision makers on public health programming around the world.

Health Impact Assessments A Tool for Designing Climate Change Resilience Into Green Building and Planning Projects

Historical records have documented considerable changes to the global climate, with significant health, economic, and environmental consequences. Climate projections predict more intense hurricanes; increased sea level rise; and more frequent and more intense natural disasters such as heat waves, heavy rainfall, and drought in the future (1; 2). The coast along the Gulf of Mexico is particularly vulnerable to many of these environmental hazards and at particular risk when several strike simultaneously—such as a hurricane disrupting electricity transmission during a heat wave. Due to its significant contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the building sector already plays an important role in climate change mitigation efforts (e.g., reducing emissions). For example, voluntary programs such as the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System (3), the Architecture 2030 Challenge (4), the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (5), and the Clinton Climate Initiative (6) focus almost exclusively on reducing energy consumption and increasing renewable energy generation. Mandatory regulations such as the International Energy Conservation Code (7), the International Green Building Code (8), and CalGreen (9) also emphasize GHG emission reduction targets. This leadership role is necessary. After all, the United States EPA estimates that the building sector accounts for 62.7% of total annual GHG emissions in the U.S., when the construction sector, facility operations, and transportation are factored in. In fact, the construction sector alone is the third largest industrial emitter of GHGs after the oil and gas and chemical industries, contributing 1.7% of total annual emissions (10; 11). As significant as these contributions appear, the built environment's true contribution to climate change is much larger than the GHG emissions attributed to building construction and operations. It is also a major determinant of which populations are vulnerable to climate change-related hazards, such as heat waves and flooding (12; 13). Architecture and land use planning can therefore be used as tools for building community resilience to the climate-related environmental changes underway (13). Climate change regulations and voluntary programs have begun to incorporate requirements targeting the built environment's ability to work in tandem with the natural environment to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect its occupants from the health consequences of a changing climate. For example, 11 states have incorporated climate change adaptation goals into their climate action plans (14). In 2010, the not-for-profit organization ICLEI: Local Governments for Sustainability launched a climate change adaptation program (15) to complement their existing mitigation program, which supports municipalities who have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement (16). New tools have been introduced to measure community vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. One of these tools, Health Impact Assessments (or HIAs), has emerged over the past decade as a powerful methodology to provide evidence-based recommendations to decision makers and community planning officials about the likely health co-benefits and co-harms associated with proposed policies and land use development proposals (17). While HIAs are becoming a more common feature of community planning efforts, this paper introduces them as an approach to designing climate change resilience into specific building projects. HIAs have been used in Europe and other parts of the world for decades to provide a science-based, balanced assessment of the risks and benefits to health associated with a proposed policy or program (18). In the U.S., they have been used over the past decade to evaluate transit-oriented developments, urban infill projects, and California's capand-trade legislation, among other topics (17; 19). To date, HIAs have been used mainly to inform large-scale community planning, land use, industrial, and policy decisions. However, the recommendations generated through the HIA process often bring to light previously unforeseen vulnerabilities, whether due to existing infrastructure, building technology, or socio-economic conditions. Designers can make use of the HIA process and its resulting recommendations to prioritize design/retrofit interventions that will result in the largest co-benefits to building owners, the surrounding community, and the environment. An HIA focused on the health impacts of climate change will likely generate recommendations that could enhance the longevity of a building project's useful life; protect its property value by contributing to the resilience of the surrounding community; and result in design decisions that prioritize strategies that maximize both short-term efficiencies and long-term environmental, economic, and social value.

Barriers to climate change adaptation in the Netherlands

Review of recent literature on adaptation to climate change and general literature on policy processes shows that there are a large number of barriers that hamper the development and implementation of climate change adaptation strategies. To reduce and manage the number of barriers and combine both streams of literature, we propose seven clusters of barriers to adaptation. Little is known, however, about the relative importance of these barriers to climate change adaptation policies and practices. An online survey was conducted between March 2010 and July 2010 among 264 scientists, policymakers, and private actors from different sectors and levels who are involved in climate change adaptation projects and programmes in the Netherlands. The survey aimed to gather their experiences with, and perceptions of, the barriers identified in the literature and encountered in their daily work. Both climate-related and non-climate-related barriers were included in the survey. Data were subjected to both qualitative and quantitative analysis. A survey feedback workshop was organized to discuss the results with several of the survey respondents. Results of this study revealed that respondents considered conflicting timescales as the most important cluster of barriers to adaptation. Other highly ranked barriers include conflicting interests; lack of financial resources; unclear division of tasks and responsibilities; uncertain societal costs and future benefits; and fragmentation within and between scales of governance. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrated that scales matter in understanding the barriers to adaptation: actors from lowlevels of governance seem to consider the barriers as more severe than actors from high levels of governance.

Assisted Colonization: Protect Managed Forests

In his News Focus story “Home, home outside the range?” (24 September, p. [1592][1]), R. Stone presents a lucid view of the strengths and weaknesses of assisted colonization of endangered species. Unfortunately, the focus on assisted colonization is overshadowing far-reaching climate change adaptation programs targeting forests managed for producing timber, producing nontimber products, or stocking biomass to capture CO2. In an effort to help managed forests respond to the effects of changes in climate, some propose the intentional translocation of tree species outside of their ranges. Forest managers seek to increase forest resilience by introducing new genotypes and new species ([ 1 ][2]). Social pressure to adjust managed forests in response to climate change should not be underestimated; managers are pushed to make decisions immediately, and risks of introducing maladapted genes and invasive populations are inherent to this type of strategy. Some have even proposed introducing subtropical species from the southern hemisphere in northern temperate countries because of the species' suitability to future warmer climates ([ 2 ][3]). As a result, exotic trees could be introduced legally into rural landscapes, thereby modifying terrestrial ecosystems for centuries in the name of responding to climate change. We agree with Stone's conclusion that scientists should closely advise programs considering assisted colonization, and we add a similar plea for managed forests programs. The attention paid to the ecological, ethical, and legal issues of assisted colonization of endangered species should not eclipse the risk assessment of natural and managed forest adaptation strategies. 1. [↵][4]1. E. Marris , Nature 459, 906 (2009). [OpenUrl][5][CrossRef][6][PubMed][7][Web of Science][8] 2. [↵][9]1. D. J. Read 2. et al ., Eds., Combating Climate Change—A Role for UK Forests: An Assessment of the Potential of the UK's Trees and Woodlands to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change (The Stationery Office, Edinburgh, 2009). [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.329.5999.1592 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [5]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DNature%26rft.stitle%253DNature%26rft.aulast%253DMarris%26rft.auinit1%253DE.%26rft.volume%253D459%26rft.issue%253D7249%26rft.spage%253D906%26rft.epage%253D908%26rft.atitle%253DForestry%253A%2BPlanting%2Bthe%2Bforest%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bfuture.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1038%252F459906a%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F19536238%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [6]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1038/459906a&link_type=DOI [7]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=19536238&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F330%2F6009%2F1319.1.atom [8]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000267063500015&link_type=ISI [9]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text

ADVOCACY COALLITIONS AS AGENTS OF CHANGE IN CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY MAKING – A CASE STUDY OF BOSNIA- HERZEGOVINA

UDK 502.3:551.583(497.6)
 Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2000 and Kyoto protocol in 2008. Although a Non-Annex I Party (developing country) to UNFCCC, but with its goals to EU accession, efforts have been made to set up appropriate guidelines, institutional and legal framework to meet the Convention commitments. Nevertheless, the political arena of BiH within the climate change context is still affected by the complexity of its administrative setup, lack of state level legislation, absence of coordination and inter- sectoral cooperation as well as inadequate enforcement mechanisms. Based on the social movement theory and the concept of advocacy coalition framework, the research results collected through a detailed analysis of media reports and questionnaire-based survey findings (based on the guidance of the COMPON project) explain the setbacks and describe the possibilities of social mobilization, formation of coalitions in the framing of climate change aspects as well as their influence within the wider milieu of the national policy discourse. The lack of information sharing and limited awareness among stakeholders has resulted in low social mobilization exercised around the issue, hence creating a perfect setting for a delay on progress in terms of clear climate change policies, adaptation and mitigation programs along with strategies for capacity building in the domain. Evermore, it keeps the domestic political institutions clinging to status quo, while current extent of activation of the society and networks to tackle the problem and have an effect on national policy processes remains fragile.

Chapter 5: Law and regulation

Chapter 5: Law and regulation

5. Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)

The IOC focused particularly on climate change adaptation in 2010. It completed the final year of the Climate Change Adaptation Programme, continued with the Regional Programme for the Sustainable Management of Coastal Zones of Indian Ocean Countries (ReCoMaP), and initiated a new project centred on biodiversity and agroecology. The IOC also co-organized a second regional ministerial meeting on maritime piracy to formulate a sustainable regional strategy. Seychelles signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and Their Habitats throughout Their Range, and, finally, the pitons, cirques, and remparts of Réunion Island were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under Criteria (vii)(x) as a natural site. The three-year regional project entitled Climate Change Adaptation in Indian Ocean Commission States continued into its third year. The purpose of the project is to establish effective co-operation on regional climate...

Climate change and family planning: least developed countries define the agenda

The links between rapid population growth and concerns regarding climate change have received little attention. Some commentators have argued that slowing population growth is necessary to reduce further rises in carbon emissions. Others have objected that this would give rise to dehumanizing 'population control' programmes in developing countries. Yet the perspective of the developing countries that will be worst affected by climate change has been almost completely ignored by the scientific literature. This deficit is addressed by this paper, which analyses the first 40 National Adaptation Programmes of Action reports submitted by governments of least-developed countries to the Global Environment Facility for funding. Of these documents, 93% identified at least one of three ways in which demographic trends interact with the effects of climate change: (i) faster degradation of the sources of natural resources; (ii) increased demand for scarce resources; and (iii) heightened human vulnerability to extreme weather events. These findings suggest that voluntary access to family planning services should be made more available to poor communities in least-developed countries. We stress the distinction between this approach, which prioritizes the welfare of poor communities affected by climate change, and the argument that population growth should be slowed to limit increases in global carbon emissions. The paper concludes by calling for increased support for rights-based family planning services, including those integrated with HIV/AIDS services, as an important complementary measure to climate change adaptation programmes in developing countries.

Integrated river basin management in the Conchos River basin, Mexico: A case study of freshwater climate change adaptation

In Mexico, due to reduced and unevenly distributed hydrological resources and incipient water management capabilities, climate change adaptation in the water sector is recognized as an urgent issue. To derive lessons for climate change adaptation, this paper evaluates the results gained after five years of an integrated river basin management (IRBM) programme in the Conchos River in northern Mexico. Autonomous adaptation measures assessed include: modernization of irrigation practices; pilot sustainable watershed management projects in the upper basin; development of an environmental flow assessment and a proposal to improve water allocation; and the creation of the Inter-institutional Working Group as a basin organization. These measures have improved river basin management, yet adverse outcomes were also observed, such as impacts of surface water efficiency measures that were not managed in conjunction with groundwater. Key adaptation lessons derived include: the importance of multi-stakeholder participation in designing and implementing adaptive management measures; the need for significant investment in transfer of expertise and capacity building; and the positive effect of linking local, national and international institutions. These results highlight the need for more investment in ‘soft’ adaptive management in place of infrastructure. In the Rio Conchos, if these ‘no regrets’ adaptation measures are consolidated in the following years, they will serve as a foundation to develop planned and more effective climate change adaptation programmes, and enhance institutional, environmental and societal resilience.

Pilot study of fossil evidence of onshore-directed storm events in estuarine sediments: Chezzetcook Inlet, Nova ScotiaNatural Resources Canada Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Program SST 20090027.

Sediment cores collected from the landward side of a baymouth barrier in a lower estuarine environment of Chezzetcook Inlet contain proxy “signals” of onshore-directed storms that are manifested by the sudden appearance of benthic and planktic Foraminifera species. These taxa have been eroded and transported from adjacent inner shelf open-marine environments. One relatively strong onshore-directed storm (hurricane?) event appears to have caused a reduction in seawater exchange in the southeastern part of the inlet that persisted for at least several decades. In this particular barrier-protected lower estuarine depositional environment, foraminiferal storm-indicator species distributions in older sediments seem to be spatially patchy. Consequently, in this Chezzetcook depositional setting, the successful reconstruction of a complete proxy storm record will require replicate coring and high-frequency core subsampling strategies.

Impact of control for air pollution and respiratory epidemics on the estimated associations of temperature and daily mortality

We assessed the influence of control for air pollution and respiratory epidemics on associations between apparent temperature (AT) and daily mortality in Mexico City and Monterrey. Poisson regressions were fit to mortality among all ages, children (ages 0-14 years) and the elderly (ages >or=65 years). Predictors included mean daily AT, season, day of week and public holidays for the base model. Respiratory epidemics and air pollution (particulate matter <10 microm in aerodynamic diameter and O3) were added singly and then jointly for a fully adjusted model. Percent changes in mortality were calculated for days of relatively extreme temperatures [cold (10-11 degrees C) for both cities and heat (35-36 degrees C) for Monterrey], compared to days at the overall mean temperature in each city (15 degrees C in Mexico City, 25 degrees C in Monterrey). In Mexico City, total mortality increased 12.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.5%, 14.5%] on cold days (fully adjusted). Among children, the adjusted association was similar [10.9% (95% CI: 5.4%, 16.7%)], but without control for pollution and epidemics, was nearly twice as large [19.7% (95% CI: 13.9%, 25.9)]. In Monterrey, the fully adjusted heat effect for all deaths was 18.7% (95% CI: 11.7%, 26.1%), a third lower than the unadjusted estimate; the heat effect was lower among children [5.5% (95% CI: -10.1%, 23.8%)]. Cold had a similar effect on all-age mortality as in Mexico City [11.7% (95% CI: 3.7%, 20.3%)]. Responses of the elderly differed little from all-ages responses in both cities. Associations between weather and health persisted even with control for air pollution and respiratory epidemics in two Mexican cities, but risk assessments and climate change adaptation programs are best informed by analyses that account for these potential confounders.