Enhance Climate Resilience Research Articles

Sustainable lending strategies: a framework for enhancing climate resilience in industrial loan portfolios

Sustainable lending strategies: a framework for enhancing climate resilience in industrial loan portfolios

Functional groups of leaf phenology are key to build climate-resilience in cocoa agroforestry systems

Agroforestry has the potential to enhance climate change adaptation. While benefits from agroforestry systems consisting of cash crops and shade trees are usually attributed to the (shade) trees, the trees can also have negative impacts due to resource competition with crops. Our hypothesis is that leaf phenology and height of shade trees determine their seasonal effect on crops. We test this hypothesis by categorizing shade tree species into functional groups based on leaf phenology, shade tree canopy height and shade tree light (wet and dry season) interception as well as the effects. To this end, leaf phenology and the effects on microclimate (temperature, air humidity, intercepted photoactive radiation (PAR)), soil water, stomatal conductance and cocoa yield were monitored monthly during wet and dry seasons over a two-year period on smallholder cocoa plantations in the northern cocoa belt of Ghana. Seven leaf phenological groups were identified. In the wet season, highest buffering effect of microclimate was recorded under the trees brevi-deciduous before dry season. During dry season, high PAR and lowest reduction in soil moisture were observed under the trees in the group of completely deciduous during dry season. The evergreen groups also showed less reduction in soil water than the brevi-deciduous groups. In the wet season, shade tree effects on cocoa tree yields in their sub canopy compared to the respective control of outer canopy with full sun ranged from positive (+10 %) to negative (-15 %) for the deciduous groups, while yield reductions for the evergreen groups ranged from −20 % to −33 %. While there were negative yield impacts for all phenological groups in the dry season, the trees in completely deciduous during dry season group recorded least penalties (-12 %) and the trees with evergreen upper canopy the highest (-35 %). The function of shade trees in enhancing climate resilience is therefore strongly dependent on their leaf phenological characteristics. Our study demonstrates how the key trait leaf phenology can be applied to successful design of climate-resilient agroforestry systems.

Climate Resilience in Nigerian Construction: A Systematic Review of Strategies and Outcomes

Climate resilience in the construction sector is critical for ensuring the durability and sustainability of infrastructure amidst the increasing impacts of climate change. This study systematically reviews climate resilience strategies in the Nigerian construction sector, evaluating their effectiveness and outcomes. A comprehensive literature search yielded 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, and official reports, focusing on design innovations, material selection, policy frameworks, and case studies across Nigeria's diverse climatic zones. Key findings indicate that strategies such as flood barriers, green roofs, and sustainable materials are effective in mitigating climate risks, although challenges such as financial constraints, regulatory gaps, and lack of awareness persist. The study highlights the importance of community involvement, government support, and technological innovation in successfully implementing resilience measures. Comparative analysis with global best practices underscores the need for integrated approaches tailored to Nigeria's unique context. The study concludes with recommendations for future research, emphasizing the need for longitudinal studies, cross-regional comparisons, and the integration of traditional knowledge. Policy implications include the development of comprehensive regulatory frameworks and public-private partnerships to enhance the sector's adaptive capacity. This research provides valuable insights and practical recommendations for enhancing climate resilience in Nigeria's construction industry, contributing to broader goals of sustainable development and climate adaptation.

Integrating SDGS in legal frameworks to enhance climate resilience in food systems for sustainable development

Integrating SDGS in legal frameworks to enhance climate resilience in food systems for sustainable development

(Re) framing the politics of climate change: resilience, reparative critique and affective life in situations of extreme heat

ABSTRACT One of the ways we know climate change is through the emergencies that make it present. But how does the connection between singular events (emergencies) and a meta-stable condition (climate change) become perceivable to us? Through what knowledges? And with what political implications? In this paper I apply these questions to deepen critical understanding of government-orchestrated efforts to enhance climate resilience. Pursuing an alternative pathway to critiques that reduce resilience to neoliberalism, I bring resilience into dialogue with Lauren Berlant’s concept of situations. The importance of situations rests in its ability to diversify our understanding of the emergencies to which resilience responds. Initially, situations prompt us to explore emergencies fundamentally as ruptures in people’s ongoing affective encounter with the world. They also capture how our experience of emergencies is colored by the broader historical significance they hold as critical events that change collective life. And, as with all events read through affect, situations are also an object of mediation. Thinking with situations, I demonstrate how, through resilience, government actors mediate our sense of the relationship between emergencies, on one hand, and climate change as an epochal condition, on the other. By distributing responsibility, resilience allows a wide catalogue of voices to influence common perceptions of this relationship and, consequently, evidences potential to integrate what Eve Kosofsky-Sedgwick calls reparative critique into climate consciousness by highlighting the ramifications climate-related emergencies have on specific communities because of environmental harms visited upon them over time and orienting future action towards attending to these harms. I make this argument through research into the US’ Environmental Protection Agency’s attempts to raise situational awareness of extreme heat risk. While seeking to mobilize people’s embodied knowledges in sensing imminent danger, these practices push concurrently for understanding, and acting upon, climate change vulnerability by its entanglement with violent processes that underpinned the modernization projects fundamental to American life now.

A 1940-2020 spatiotemporal analysis of thermal discomfort days in Southeast Asian countries

Abstract The high temperature and humidity make Southeast Asia (SEA) one of the regions most susceptible to the occurrence of thermal discomfort days (TDDs) in the world. In the context of global warming, SEA’s rapid population growth and urban expansion further exacerbated the region’s exposure to TDD, posing greater risks in public health. However, there exists a significant knowledge gap in the understanding of the long-term spatiotemporal evolution of TDD, as well as its projection in the future. By utilizing the newly released ERA5 datasets of Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT), this study presented the 81-year analysis of TDDs in SEA countries, spanning from 1940 to 2020, with projections extending to 2100. While the mean increase in UTCI was relatively modest, the corresponding rise in TDD likelihood was disproportionately larger, indicating a heightened risk of exposure. A distinct contrast was observed between continental and maritime regions, with maritime countries showing smaller absolute rises in both indices but larger trends in TDD frequency due to oceanic moderating effects. Seasonal analyses highlighted the dominant influence of the East Asia monsoon over SEA, and spatial analyses revealed a negative correlation between TDD occurrence and elevation, with low-lying areas being hotspots. Projections for 2050 suggest continued warming. These findings underscore the urgency of proactive measures to address climate change impacts, particularly in vulnerable maritime and low-lying areas, providing valuable insights for enhancing climate resilience and adaptation in SEA. Our findings reveal critical insights into the trends and future scenarios of thermal discomfort in the region, underscoring the urgent need for effective climate adaptation strategies.

Integrating Blue-Green Infrastructure strategies to enhance climate resilience in Colombia.

Colombia is a tropical developing country that faces frequent and unpredictable flood events. Previous efforts to mitigate the impacts of flood have revolved around traditional approaches like the construction of levees. However, as seen in other parts of the world, levees often make flooding worse. Considering the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather associated with a changing climate, it is clear there is a pressing need for more effective strategies to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events. However, poor data availability makes understanding flood risk and developing new approaches a difficult task. This research examines the feasibility of Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) as a nature-based methodological approach to deal with flooding focuses, focusing on the Guarapas River and Pitalito town, in regional Colombia. Utilizing PCSWMM as a modelling tool, the study demonstrates the applicability of BGI in reducing peak flow. Validating the model proved difficult given the substantial gaps in official data sources. So, it was necessary to use proxies such as social media posts of flood events, to determine the date and severity of flood events in the town. The analysis revealed that deploying a limited number of BGI elements can mitigate the adverse effects of floods in a cost-effective manner, and that the underpinning modelling could be carried out using data proxies such as local news reports and social media posts. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on BGI as a valuable solution for flood management in a changing climate but does so in a developing country context. By showcasing the feasibility of BGI in reducing peak flow and enhancing resilience in a region with limited data resources, this study shows that it is possible for developing countries to move away from traditional and sometimes increasingly ineffective solution. Barriers to adoption are still significant. But nature-based solutions to flooding represent a new, proactive measure in addressing the challenges posed by climate change, with implications for policymakers and stakeholders involved in sustainable planning. Keywords: Blue-Green Infrastructure, Climate change, Sustainable development, Developing countries, Water management.

Exploring women's empowerment and adaptive capacity in Chepang communities of Chitwan, Nepal

Women in poorer countries are disproportionately impacted by climate change due to existing gender inequality. Empowering women is critical for building adaptive capacity to climate change and improving the resilience of families and communities. However, insufficient studies exist on the link between women, climate change, and their adaptability, leading to policies that overlook the significance of empowering women. This study examines the link between women's empowerment and adaptive capacity to climate change in a Chepang community in Nepal. Surveys of 190 households in the Chitwan district were conducted, measuring women's empowerment across six attributes and adaptive capacity across five attributes. Statistical analyses including PCA and FAMD were used to create indices for these factors. The study used OLS regression to assess the effect of women's empowerment on adaptive capacity. Results show that women's empowerment significantly impacts household adaptive capacity. This highlights the need for prioritizing women's empowerment, to enhance climate resilience in vulnerable communities. The findings have implications for policymakers and practitioners, advocating for gender-inclusive strategies to bolster community-level climate resilience.

Enhancing climate resilience of vulnerable women in the Global South through power sharing in DC microgrids

Many women of remote communities in the Global South (GS) are highly vulnerable to natural disasters caused by climate change, due to their low adaptive capability. Inclusion of gender considerations has been emphasized in national adaptation plans and initiatives aimed at reducing vulnerability. However, the potential of low-cost electricity-based solutions in promoting climate change adaptation is largely unexplored. In countries of the GS, remote communities have adopted stand-alone solar home systems, which are often inefficient and require significant investments for upgrading. In this work, a model of an off-grid DC microgrid with distributed generation and storage is proposed, allowing individual households to obtain extra energy through neighborhood-level prosumer power sharing. The benefits of power sharing are evaluated through the development of a mixed-integer linear program using load requirements based on the World Bank's Multi-Tier Framework for household energy access. The results show that households with prosumer power sharing can access more than 60 % extra energy compared to their stand-alone status with up to 34 % reduction in Levelized Cost of Energy. Access to additional energy can allow vulnerable households to access energy services in the household to potentially improve climate change adaptation opportunities in agriculture, livelihood and educational sectors, among others.

Landscape Fire Air Pollution as a Mediator in Drought and Childhood Stunting Pathway in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Drought induces dry hazards, including wildfire, and increased air pollution from wildfire may be a mechanism by which drought increases health risks. We examined whether the drought-wildfire pathway increases the risk of childhood stunting. We analyzed all geocoded children under five across 44 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We first conducted mixed-effect regressions to examine the three pairwise associations between standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), fire-sourced PM2.5, and childhood stunting. We then employed a causal mediation analysis to determine whether compounding drought-wildfire (cascading or co-occurring) events significantly impact the drought-stunting pathway. We found that each 1-unit decrease in SPEI exposure was associated with a 2.16% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.79, 3.49%] increase in stunting risk and 0.57 (95% CI 0.55, 0.59%) μg/m3 increase in fire-sourced PM2.5. Additionally, each 1 μg/m3 increase in 24 month average fire-sourced PM2.5 was associated with an increased risk of 2.46% (95% CI: 2.16, 2.76%) in stunting. Drought-mediated fires accounted for 26.7% (95% CI: 14.5, 36.6%) of the linkage between SPEI and stunting. Our study revealed fire-sourced PM2.5 is a mediator in the drought-stunting pathway in LMICs. To protect child health under increasing drought conditions, personal interventions against wildfire should be considered to enhance climate resilience.

Soil and root microbiome analysis and isolation of plant growth-promoting bacteria from hybrid buffaloberry (Shepherdia utahensis 'Torrey') across three locations.

The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly hazardous for our ecosystem. Climate resilient landscaping, which promotes the use of native plants, has the potential to simultaneously decrease the rate of climate change, enhance climate resilience, and combat biodiversity losses. Native plants and their associated microbiome form a holo-organism; interaction between plants and microbes is responsible for plants' growth and proper functioning. In this study, we were interested in exploring the soil and root microbiome composition associated with Shepherdia utahensis, a drought hardy plant proposed for low water use landscaping, which is the hybrid between two native hardy shrubs of Utah, S. rotudifolia and S. argentea. The bulk soil, rhizosphere, root, and nodule samples of the hybrid Shepherdia plants were collected from three locations in Utah: the Logan Campus, the Greenville farm, and the Kaysville farm. The microbial diversity analysis was conducted, and plant growth-promoting bacteria were isolated and characterized from the rhizosphere. The results suggest no difference in alpha diversity between the locations; however, the beta diversity analysis suggests the bacterial community composition of bulk soil and nodule samples are different between the locations. The taxonomic classification suggests Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota are the dominant species in bulk soil and rhizosphere, and Actinobacteriota is solely found in root and nodule samples. However, the composition of the bacterial community was different among the locations. There was a great diversity in the genus composition in bulk soil and rhizosphere samples among the locations; however, Frankia was the dominant genus in root and nodule samples. Fifty-nine different bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere and tested for seven plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, such as the ability to fix nitrogen, phosphates solubilization, protease activity, siderophore, Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) and catalase production, and ability to use ACC as nitrogen source. All the isolates produced some amount of IAA. Thirty-one showed at least four PGP traits and belonged to Stenotrophomonas, Chryseobacterium, Massilia, Variovorax, and Pseudomonas. We shortlisted 10 isolates that showed all seven PGP traits and will be tested for plant growth promotion.

Application of Article 6-Linked Debt-for-Climate Swap for the Clean Energy Transition in Africa

This study presents an innovative financial model that integrates the debt-for-climate swap mechanism with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, specifically designed to support Africa’s transition to clean energy. The model connects debt-for-climate swaps with the creation of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs), offering mutual benefits for both debtor and creditor nations. This approach aims to improve the debt sustainability of African countries while strengthening their climate resilience by combining Article 6 of the Paris Agreement with Official Development Assistance (ODA). Additionally, this model aligns with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Furthermore, the study proposes a restructuring of existing environmental safeguards by incorporating the “Do No Significant Harm” (DNSH) criteria and environmental contribution indicators to ensure alignment with the minimum safeguards mandated by Article 6 and international development standards. Through quantitative analysis, our findings indicate that the proposed debt-for-climate swap model could significantly contribute to Africa’s clean energy transition, address the region’s external debt challenges, and enhance climate resilience.

A Comprehensive Review of Potential Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies in Agriculture in the Current Climate Change Scenarios

Climate change has a major impact on agriculture worldwide, but in certain regions, like India, this impact is more pronounced than in others. India's large population, heavy reliance on natural resources, and lack of coping mechanisms make it difficult for the country to adapt to the changing climate. India has experienced a notable warming trend over the past century, with an approximate 0.60 °C increase in temperature. This trend is anticipated to continue, possibly having catastrophic consequences for agricultural productivity and food security. Climate change is predicted to result in increasingly variable growing conditions for many crops, making it more challenging for farmers to schedule the planting and harvesting of their crops. Rapid reaction times and coordination are required to mitigate the consequences of climate change on Indian agriculture. This means implementing adaptation tactics, such as cultivating crop varieties that can tolerate high temperatures, promoting water-efficient irrigation techniques, preserving soil health, and enhancing climate resilience through integrated farming systems. India can lessen the negative effects of climate change on its agriculture sector and guarantee food security for its growing population by taking proactive steps and implementing sustainable farming practices.

Evaluation of the Effects of Climate Variability on Water Resources and Agriculture: Insights from Regional Climate Models

Climate variability and change present significant challenges to global food and water security, particularly in vulnerable regions like East and Southern Africa. This review synthesizes current research on the impact of climate drivers such as temperature and precipitation variability—on water resources and agricultural productivity in this region. Analyzing over four decades of data and recent findings, this paper discusses the complex interactions between climate phenomena, including El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and their effects on regional agriculture and water systems. The review highlights the limitations of Regional Climate Models (RCMs) in accurately predicting climate patterns and emphasizes the need for improved modeling techniques. Recommendations for future research and policy interventions are provided to enhance climate resilience in these critical sectors.

Numerical Study on the Summer High-Temperature Climate Adaptation of Traditional Dwellings in the Western Plains of Sichuan, China

Ongoing global climate change, marked by sustained warming and extreme weather events, poses a severe threat to both the Earth’s ecosystems and human communities. Traditional settlements that underwent natural selection and evolution developed a unique set of features to adapt to and regulate the local climate. A comprehensive exploration of the spatial patterns and mechanisms of the adaptation of these traditional settlements is crucial for investigating low-energy climate adaptation theories and methods as well as enhancing the comfort of future human habitats. This study used numerical simulations and field measurements to investigate the air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and thermal comfort of traditional settlements in Western Sichuan Plain, China, and uncovered their climate suitability characteristics to determine the impact mechanisms of landscape element configurations (building height, building density, tree coverage, and tree position) and spatial patterns on microclimates within these settlements. The results revealed the structural and layout strategies adopted by traditional settlements to adapt to different climatic conditions, providing valuable insights for future rural protection and planning and enhancing climate resilience through natural means. These findings not only contribute to understanding the climate adaptability of Earth’s ecosystems and traditional settlements but also offer new theories and methods to address the challenges posed by climate change.

Enhancing Climate Resilience: A Systematic Review of Community-Based and Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Approaches to Adaptation Strategies

Enhancing Climate Resilience: A Systematic Review of Community-Based and Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Approaches to Adaptation Strategies

Assessing teleconnection influences on the spatial and temporal patterns of meteorological drought in Northwest China

ABSTRACT This study delves into the complex relationship between teleconnection patterns and meteorological drought in Northwest China, highlighting the crucial influence of global circulation indices on regional drought dynamics. By analyzing precipitation and temperature data from 1962 to 2022 using the CN05.1 datasets and incorporating various global circulation indices, the study employs the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) to delineate drought conditions. Utilizing the Modified Mann-Kendall test and segmented models for trend and change point detection, along with cross wavelet transforms (XWT) and wavelet coherence (WTC) analysis to examine the impact of 15 global circulation indices, the study uncovers significant spatial and temporal climatic variations. Findings indicate a significant increase in temperature and precipitation, with March-April-May (MAM) season showing pronounced drought severity mainly due to a significant temperature rise with a value of 0.0420 °C/year. Change point analysis reveals pivotal shifts in climate, highlighting the region’s susceptibility to climate change. The study identified strong correlations between drought occurrences and global circulation indices like the Artic Oscillation (AO), Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), especially within a 4–8 year timeframe, pointing to the significant role of teleconnections in affecting local drought conditions. These insights are vital for formulating effective drought management and climate adaptation strategies in arid and semi-arid regions, offering valuable guidance for policymakers and researchers focused on improving water resource management and enhancing climate resilience in such vulnerable environments.

Modeling wave dynamics with coastal vegetation using a smoothed particle hydrodynamics porous flow model

Coastal vegetation serves as an effective nature-based solution for protecting shorelines from erosion and storm surges. A detailed understanding of the dynamic interactions between waves and vegetation is crucial for quantifying the mitigation potential of coastal vegetation during extreme climatic events. This study investigates wave dynamic interactions with coastal vegetation by developing a numerical model using the weakly compressible Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (WCSPH) method. The model simulates the effects of vegetation by incorporating vegetation porosity, drag, and inertia forces into the momentum equations. By integrating porosity information at specific background points, the SPH interpolation method effectively treats the interfaces between fluid and vegetation regions, allowing versatility in modeling various vegetation layouts without explicitly simulating their solid structures, which is computationally prohibitive. The numerical model is validated using laboratory-based measurements and analytical models for both submerged and emergent scenarios involving cylindrical and strip-type vegetation. The model is then utilized to investigate the effects of vegetation as both a natural line of defense and a retrofitting solution in front of a sea dike, to quantify the performance of nature-based solutions for enhancing climate resilience in natural and hybrid coastal protection infrastructures. The results reveal that canopy density significantly impacts solitary wave run-up and energy dissipation. For the configurations tested in this study, high-density vegetation reduces normalized wave run-up by 52% compared to simulations without vegetation, while low-density vegetation achieves a 17% reduction. These findings demonstrate the potential of vegetation, particularly at higher densities, to mitigate solitary wave energy and reduce run-up hazards. Furthermore, simulation results indicate that using vegetation as a retrofitting solution effectively mitigates overtopping rates, achieving a 37% reduction with minimal forest density (∅ = 0.023). These results underscore the effectiveness of nature-based interventions in enhancing coastal protection and resilience.

Dynamics of land use and land cover changes in Amibara and Awash-fentale districts, Ethiopia

The analysis of land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes is crucial for rural development planning, food security monitoring, and natural resource conservation. This study focuses on detecting LULC changes in Amibara and Awash-Fentale districts from 1985 to 2021. We utilized five sets of Landsat data (Landsat 5 TM for 1985, 1995, 2002, and Landsat 8 OLI for 2015 & 2020) and applied supervised maximum likelihood classification. Accuracy assessments revealed overall accuracies ranging from 88.9% to 95.3% for Amibara and 89.5%–93.2% for Awash-Fentale. Both districts exhibited six main LULC classes: agriculture, bareland, built-up, mixed forest, shrubland, and water bodies. In Amibara LULC changes from 1985 to 2021 revealed significant shifts, maintaining its primary bareland characteristic, concentrated agriculture, and expanding Prosopis-dominated shrubland due to livestock-mediated seed dispersal. Conversely, in Awash-Fentale bareland dominance decreased from 92.28% to 67.02%, while agriculture, built-up areas, and shrubland expanded. Water bodies emerged between 2015 and 2021 which is associated with the construction of Kesem Kebena dam for sugar cane farm production. The net gains were observed in shrubland (12.9%), agriculture (5.8%), mixed forest (4.1%), water bodies (1.5%), and built-up areas (0.9%), with bareland experiencing a loss of 25.3%. In conclusion, Amibara and Awash-Fentale underwent both comparable and distinct LULC shifts, featuring prevalent bareland and central agriculture, alongside Prosopis-driven shrubland expansion due to livestock dispersal. While mixed forest exhibited fluctuations, built-up areas and water bodies remained limited. Notably, Awash-Fentale showed higher LULC variability. Understanding these land cover changes helps assess vulnerability to climate impacts like droughts and floods, enhancing climate resilience. Insights from this study can inform sustainable land-use planning, conservation strategies, and policy interventions in the Afar region and similar areas. These observations highlight the need for integrated land management approaches that balance socioeconomic development with environmental sustainability.

Enhancing climate resilience in northern Ghana: A stochastic dominance analysis of risk-efficient climate-smart technologies for smallholder farmers

Northern Ghana is a semi-arid region characterised by a unimodal rainfall pattern, and hot and dry weather conditions. Heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture and the lack of resources for irrigation, makes smallholder farmers in the region increasingly vulnerable to climate-related crop failures. In recent years, climate-smart technologies (CSTs) such as changing planting dates (PD), compartmental bunding (CB), mulching (M), and transplanting (TP) have been recommended to minimise yield losses. However, there is limited information on the most risk-efficient CSTs for crops cultivated in the region. This study used a stochastic dominance approach to identify the most risk-efficient CSTs for maize, rice, and sorghum. The stochastic modelling process employed the Aqua-crop model to simulate climate-related yield variability using Ghana climate data, and gross margin variability with crop budgets from literature sources. From the study's findings, changing planting date from April to May was the most risk-efficient choice for maize and sorghum under farmers' and recommended practices. In contrast, transplanting was the most risk-efficient technology for rice farming in the study area. The study also highlights the importance of considering the risk-averse nature of smallholder farmers when selecting CSTs. By identifying the most risk-efficient CSTs, the study can help improve the resilience of smallholder farmers. These findings have important implications for the development and adoption of CSTs in northern Ghana.