Adaptation Policies Research Articles

Climate change (Mal)adaptation in the Bangladesh’ Sundarbans – a Systematic Review

Bangladesh is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. This vulnerability stems not only from its exposure to climate change and intensified extreme weather events but also from the way adaptation policies and projects have been designed using a technocratic, top-down approach. As a result, much of the adaptation has led to negative consequences for certain groups—often the most vulnerable—who depend directly on nature for their livelihoods. This outcome, known as maladaptation, has been particularly pronounced. This paper conducts a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature since 2014, the year when maladaptation first gained significant attention in the IPCC’s fifth report. The goal is to assess the current state of research on climate change adaptation in Southwestern coastal Bangladesh, particularly around the Sundarbans, the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world. The review aims to identify research gaps and discuss key lessons learned. Keywords used in the review include 'maladaptation', 'barriers to adaptation', 'ecosystem-based adaptation', and 'gender', as these concepts are all interrelated to some degree. The review highlights significant research gaps across all topics, as well as a geographical imbalance in the distribution of studies within the region. Given the prevalence of maladaptation in Bangladesh, it is crucial that more research focuses on this issue to gather insights and reduce the risk of maladaptation in future climate change adaptation projects in the country.

Evaluating the Economic Viability of Agro-Ecotourism as a Nature-Based Solution for a Climate Adaptation Strategy: A Case Study of Yuanshan Township, Taiwan

This study applied the contingent valuation method to evaluate the economic viability of climate adaptation policies in the climate-fragile Yuanshan Township (YST), Taiwan, focusing on the balance between forest conservation and local livelihoods. Traditional agriculture in YST is transitioning to agro-ecotourism, supported by leisure-oriented and hillside forest protection policies that attract visitors and cause the local economy to thrive. This research used non-market valuation methods to quantify the value of local recreational resources perceived by visitors at NTD 1002.00 per visitor. The findings indicate that visitors’ willingness to pay for these resources is significantly influenced by their intention to revisit YST, their trust in local conservation efforts, their gender, and their income. The value that visitors place on recreational resources and the aforementioned significant determinants of their willingness to pay highlight the economic potential of agro-ecotourism in supporting both environmental sustainability and community income. This study emphasizes that successful nature-based climate adaptation must consider the economic interests of resource users and local residents. Agro-ecotourism in YST is shown to be a viable policy for balancing forest conservation with societal benefits, providing a model for the sustainable management of local resources. The economic benefits from this transition underscore the feasibility of agricultural transformation for community income generation and climate resilience, demonstrating that environmental and economic goals can be mutually supportive in addressing climate change.

Spatiotemporal climate variability and food security implications in the Central Ethiopia Region

Studies focusing on the spatiotemporal distribution of climatic parameters and meteorological drought are of paramount significance for countries like Ethiopia, where climate change and variability cause major losses to rain-dependent agriculture. In this study, the National Meteorology Institute of Ethiopia provided an Enhanced National Climate Services (ENACTS) dataset at a spatial resolution of approximately 4 km by 4 km over 38 years (1981–2018) was used to study climate trends, spatiotemporal variability, and meteorological drought in the Central Ethiopia Region. Coefficient of variation (CV), Standardized Rainfall Anomaly (SRA), Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Mann-Kendall trend test, and Sen's slope were used for the analysis. The findings suggest that Belg rainfall (also known as "small-rain") varied greatly in space and time over the study area, with area-averaged CV of 29 % and pixel-level CVs ranging from 63 to 93 %. The average precipitation during Belg experienced a 15 % decrease from 2000 to 2019 compared to the preceding two decades, from 1981 to 1999. The maximum temperature has increased significantly during the Annual, Belg, and Bega seasons. The SPI and SRA showed that there have been multiple drought episodes with rising negative rainfall anomalies, with a drought occurring every 2.9 years during the Kiremt (also called "big rain", spanning from June to September) and Belg seasons. The growing negative rainfall anomaly, high CV, and highly significant increase in mean maximum temperature during the Belg season is concerning for food security and poverty eradication. The notable rise in rainfall during the June (sowing period) and November (harvesting period) also hurts crop production during the main cropping season. Thus, developing appropriate adaptation strategies and policies oriented toward climate-resilient agriculture is crucial to meet the global sustainable development goals (SDGs) and Africa Union's Agenda 2063.

An Exploration of the Relative Influence of the Determinants of the Mexican Peso - U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate

This article examines the impact over time of the government’s primary balance, remittances, foreign direct investment expectations, and real interest rates on the Mexican peso to US dollar exchange rate between 2003 and 2023, using monthly and quarterly data. An autoregressive distributed lag model with bounds testing and a Granger non-causality test are employed. The results indicate that, although the significance of all variables changes over time, foreign direct investment expectations and the government’s primary balance influence the exchange rate throughout the entire period. Foreign direct investment expectations and remittances exert the most persistent long- and short-run influence, respectively. The evolving significance across time of these determinants implies the need of a dynamic and adaptable policy framework to currency stability in Mexico.

Paradigm Shift in Finance: Insights from COVID 19

Purpose: This paper analyzes the literature and findings on the COVID-19 impact on the economy and provides insights and policy formulations for future pandemic-like crises. Methodology: Our paper follows secondary research analyzing existing literature on COVID-19 and its impact on the global economy. Our paper adopts a methodical literature survey approach to analyze peer-reviewed finance research articles. This approach has helped to evaluate the policy responses to the pandemic by analyzing studies on fiscal stimulus, monetary interventions, and public health measures. Further, it helps identify common trends, patterns, and gaps in knowledge. Findings: The COVID-19 pandemic has driven a paradigm shift in finance, reshaping how financial institutions operate, how consumers interact with financial services, and how markets function. These changes will likely have lasting effects, driving continued innovation and transformation in the financial sector. A forward-looking fiscal and monetary policy is vital for long-term economic care. The policies include investing in healthcare infrastructure, the digital economy, and education to prepare for future crises. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: The COVID-19 pandemic undeniably created upheavals in the financial world. It forced a reevaluation of many long-held assumptions and accelerated trends already underway. Our paper demonstrates that future pandemic policies need to be more flexible and adaptable based on the economic structure and intensity of the crisis, along with international cooperation. The COVID-19 highlighted the economic vulnerabilities, transformed consumer behavior, and altered market structures. The paper’s insights provide a mechanism and illustration of how to mitigate and minimize such a crisis. Traditional economic and monetary policies are ill-suited. Countries should be ready for responsive policies and adjustments to manage pandemic-like crises; hence, this paper provides the groundwork for more adaptable policies.

Daily Temperatures and Child Hospital Admissions in Aotearoa New Zealand: Case Time Series Analysis.

The influence of global climate change on temperature-related health outcomes among vulnerable populations, particularly young children, is underexplored. Using a case time series design, we analysed 647,000 hospital admissions of children aged under five years old in New Zealand, born between 2000 and 2019. We explored the relationship between daily maximum temperatures and hospital admissions across 2139 statistical areas. We used quasi-Poisson distributed lag non-linear models to account for the delayed effects of temperature over a 0-21-day window. We identified broad ICD code categories associated with heat before combining these for the main analyses. We conducted stratified analyses by ethnicity, sex, and residency, and tested for interactions with long-term temperature, socioeconomic position, and housing tenure. We found J-shaped temperature-response curves with increased risks of hospital admission above 24.1 °C, with greater sensitivity among Māori, Pacific, and Asian compared to European children. Spatial-temporal analysis from 2013-2019 showed rising attributable fractions (AFs) of admissions associated with increasing temperatures, especially in eastern coastal and densely populated areas. Interactive maps were created to allow policymakers to prioritise interventions. Findings emphasize the need for child-specific and location-specific climate change adaptation policies, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.

Taking Stock of Youth Participation in Climate Adaptation: A Case Study of Action 24, Zimbabwe

Globally, youth voices have emerged as critical in the climate adaptation discourse. Underpinned by Hart’s participation typology and Lundy’s Voice Model, this study explored the nature and level of youth participation being promoted by a civil society-led climate adaptation programme in Zimbabwe. A qualitative research methodology was adopted for the study. The results indicate meaningful youth participation in the mid to high level range on Hart’s ladder of participation in action focused at protecting and adapting their communities to climate change, influencing the climate adaptation agenda, and transforming the climate adaptation policy for sustainable development. However, poverty, adultism, and lack of government support emerged as barriers to higher level youth participation in climate adaptation. Integration of poverty reduction and climate adaptation, challenging adultism, and lobbying the government can enhance youth participation in climate adaptation in Zimbabwe and abroad.

Exploring the geospatial variations in the public health workforce: implications for diversifying the supply of potential workers in governmental settings.

The US public health workforce has markedly declined, falling from 500 000 individuals in 1980 to 239 000 by 2022, a trend exacerbated by economic instability and an aging demographic. There was a temporary surge in staffing through emergency hires during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the permanence of these positions remains uncertain. Concurrently, public health degree conferrals have sharply increased, creating a mismatch between the growing number of graduates and the actual needs of health departments. This study analyzes the distribution of the potential public health labor supply within a 50- and 150-mile radius of health departments, revealing a significant regional imbalance. Most regions experience substantial differences in the concentration of public health graduates when accounting for population size, reflecting geographic disparities in workforce distribution. These findings underscore the necessity for structured partnerships between health departments and educational institutions and advocacy for adaptive policy changes to align educational outputs with labor market demands, essential for a resilient public health workforce.

Multistage stochastic programming for integrated network optimization in hurricane relief logistics and evacuation planning

AbstractIn this article, we study the integrated hurricane relief logistics and evacuation planning (IHRLEP) problem, integrating hurricane evacuation and relief item pre‐positioning operations that are typically treated separately. We propose a fully adaptive multistage stochastic programming (MSSP) model and solution approaches based on two‐stage stochastic programming (2SSP). Utilizing historical forecast errors modeled using the auto‐regressive model of order one, we generate hurricane scenarios and approximate the hurricane process as a Markov chain, and each Markovian state is characterized by the hurricane's location and intensity attributes. We conduct a comprehensive numerical experiment based on case studies motivated by Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Ian. Through the computational results, we demonstrate the value of fully adaptive policies given by the MSSP model over static ones given by the 2SSP model in terms of the out‐of‐sample performance. By conducting an extensive sensitivity analysis, we offer insights into how the value of fully adaptive policies varies in comparison to static ones with key problem parameters.

Bolstering community resilience through health-focused climate change adaptation: moving from talk to action in Western Canadian communities

ABSTRACT The impacts of climate change have been recognized as a global health emergency. Worsening climate stressors are resulting in injury, illness and death. As this threat to health grows, so does the need to adapt. Climate change adaptation has been noted to reduce the risk of disease transmission, chronic illness exacerbation, physical trauma, and the mental health impacts associated with climate change. Cities across Western Canada have initiated the process of implementing health-focused climate change adaptation; however, progress has been slow, leaving communities vulnerable to health threats. Exploring five case study communities in Western Canada, this research sheds light on factors that enable and constrain progress on health-focused climate change adaptation. Research objectives are addressed through analysis of 16 key actor interviews (with experts in public health, planning, local governance, and other related fields), and a scan of relevant strategic planning documents. Results indicate that political will, expertise, and awareness has resulted in the development of health-focused climate change adaptation policy/ plans. However, implementation of these plans lags in practice. This lag stems from a lack of implementation detail in climate change adaptation plans, limited understanding of the impact of climate change on health, and jurisdictional confusion.

The impact of monetary policy interventions on economic stability during global pandemics; a case study of the United States’ monetary policy initiatives in the fight against the Covid 19 pandemic

The study assesses the importance of monetary policy in the fight against global pandemics. Specifically, the study delves into United State’s monetary policy responses to the unprecedented COVID 19 pandemic; a global pandemic that pushed governments across the globe to institute strict measures as well as impose restrictions in their quest to contain the virus and ultimately minimize its economic ramifications. As such, the study compares the impact of monetary policy on economic growth (Real GDP) during the pandemic as against the pre-pandemic periods with the goal of assessing its relative impact on ensuring economic stability. The research shows that the impact of traditional monetary policy tools on economic stability and growth diminished during the Covid 19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. The pandemic, therefore, introduced a novel economic dynamic, one that various world economies were evidently not ready for. The result of the study calls for a holistic and adaptive monetary policy in periods that engender major economic uncertainties, such as global pandemics. The study shall add to the discourse regarding the limitation of monetary policy during pandemics. It shall provide suggestions that seek to enhance economic resilience and provide pertinent information that could potentially be incorporated into designing strategies that minimize the economic impact of pandemics in the future. Keywords: Pandemic, GDP, Economic Stability, Monetary Policy, COVID 19, Intervention, Economic Growth.

Timely Quality Problem Resolution in Peer-Production Systems: The Impact of Bots, Policy Citations, and Contributor Experience

Online peer-production systems create value by enabling people to participate in the production of a common good such as an open encyclopedia by building freely on each other’s work. Fixing quality problems in peer production in a timely manner is critical because millions of people rely on peer-produced content for learning and decision making. The longer low-quality content remains in place, the more it can harm the reputation of a peer-production system and diminish the capability of the system to maintain its contributor base. We study different mechanism affecting the timeliness of quality problem resolution in Wikipedia and find that the speedy resolution of quality problems depends on the successful integration of software robots (bots) and the careful calibration of policy citations to the different levels of experience among contributors. Most control mechanisms found in firm-based production do not apply to peer production, and instead, quality control in peer production must leverage the strengths of different contributors and harness the benefits of technological support and adaptive policy frameworks to improve productivity and achieve high-quality outcomes.

Comparative Analysis of Learning Models and Assessment Strategies in Social Sciences: A Study of Higher Education Institutions in Indonesia and Malaysia

Indonesia and Malaysia have different pedagogical approaches in the implementation of curriculum and teaching methods, influenced by educational policies and diverse cultural contexts. This study aims to analyze the learning models and assessment strategies applied in social sciences education at higher education institutions in Indonesia and Malaysia. The research employs a qualitative descriptive approach by conducting observations, interviews, and documentation with lecturers and students involved in social science courses at Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Mataram and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). The results indicate that in both institutions, student-centered learning models such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Project-Based Learning (PjBL) are well implemented, although UIN Mataram focuses more on a holistic approach, while UPSI extensively utilizes technology through the MYGURU platform to support learning and assessment processes. The study concludes that the adoption of technology in learning is essential to enhance the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process, and both institutions emphasize the importance of continuous assessment and real-world relevant learning. The implications of this research suggest the need for more adaptive educational policies that respond to technological and pedagogical developments to improve the quality of higher education.

Impact of External Debt and Energy Consumption on Environmental Quality in Somalia

This study investigates the interconnections between external debt, energy consumption, industrialization, and environmental quality in Somalia over the period 1990 to 2019, utilizing the ARDL bounds testing approach. Notably, a positive correlation is found between energy consumption and CO2 emissions, emphasizing the imperative for sustainable practices. In the long run, external debt is observed to have an insignificant impact on environmental quality, suggesting a strategic opportunity for policymakers to channel external funds towards environmentally sustainable projects. Short-term strategies underscore the positive link between decreased industrialization and improved environmental quality, while a cautious approach to external debt is crucial due to its short-term negative impact. The significance of the error correction term underscores the need for adaptive policies. Overall, the study advocates for comprehensive policies integrating sustainable practices and directing external financing towards eco-friendly projects, alongside a capacity building and technology transfer partnerships for environmentally conscious development in Somalia.

Evolution of policy-driven ecosystem of original innovation talents

In an era of unprecedented global challenges, the cultivation, attraction, and retention of original innovation talent have become critical determinants of national competitiveness and sustainable development. This study introduces a novel multi-agent original innovation talent ecosystem model (MOITEM) to systematically analyze the effects of different talent policies on the ecosystems of original innovation talent across various regions in China. The simulations reveal that while direct talent policies drive short-term talent growth, they often fall short of addressing the long-term needs for resource allocation and environmental optimization, thereby limiting sustained competitiveness. In contrast, indirect and combined talent policies prioritize the overall quality of the ecosystem, providing more enduring support for original innovation. Furthermore, this study explores the interactions among agents within the ecosystem and their synergistic relationships with the external environment, highlighting the necessity of targeted policy formulation and multi-agent collaboration. The findings not only elucidate the strengths and limitations of various talent policies but also offer tailored recommendations based on regional characteristics, emphasizing the importance of continuous evaluation and adaptive policy adjustment. These insights hold substantial theoretical and practical implications for the development and optimization of global policies aimed at fostering original innovation talent.

The critical elements of the health system that could make for resilience in the World Health Organization African Region: a scoping review.

Unpredictable events, such as the outbreak of infectious diseases and humanitarian crises, are putting a strain on health care systems. As a result, African countries will need to prepare themselves with appropriate strategies to withstand such occurrences. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review was to map available evidence about what type and what components of health systems are needed to help countries cope with health emergencies and to foster health system resilience in the WHO African Region. A systematic search was performed independently in Scopus and PubMed electronic databases as well as grey literature. Studies were selected based on set eligibility criteria based on the Joanna Brigg's Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews. The key findings were focused on health system resilience and were mapped based on the WHO's core health system components. Our data were tabulated, and a narrative synthesis was conducted. A total of 28 studies were included in this scoping review, mostly conducted in the WHO African Region and region of the Americas. Studies focused on a variety of strategies, such as the continuous delivery of essential services, the strengthening of the health workforce, including community health care workers, community engagement, the provision of protective mechanisms for the health workforce, and flexible leadership and governance measures. Our findings suggest that strategies to improve health system resilience must include all areas of the healthcare delivery process, including primary care. A resilient health system should be ready for a crisis and have adaptable policies in place to offer adequate response at all levels, as well as post-recovery planning. Such health systems should also seek for continuous improvement. More research is needed to assess the efficacy of initiatives for improving health system resilience, particularly in vulnerable African health systems.

Increasing extreme precipitation variability plays a key role in future record-shattering event probability

Climate events that break records by large margins are a threat to society and ecosystems. Climate change is expected to increase the probability of such events, but quantifying these probabilities is challenging due to natural variability and limited data availability, especially for observations and very rare extremes. Here we estimate the probability of precipitation events that shatter records by a margin of at least one pre-industrial standard deviation. Using large ensemble climate simulations and extreme value theory, we determine empirical and analytical record shattering probabilities and find they are in high agreement. We show that, particularly in high emission scenarios, models project much higher record-shattering precipitation probabilities in a changing relative to a stationary climate by the end of the century for almost all the global land, with the strongest increases in vulnerable regions in the tropics. We demonstrate that increasing variability is an essential driver of near-term increases in record-shattering precipitation probability, and present a framework that quantifies the influence of combined trends in mean and variability on record-shattering behaviour in extreme precipitation. Probability estimates of record-shattering precipitation events in a warming world are crucial to inform risk assessment and adaptation policies.

Factors Influencing Indonesian Sea Transportation Subsidy Policies for Regional Economic Growth

This research investigates the multifaceted factors influencing Indonesian sea transportation subsidy policies and their impact on regional economic growth. Through a comprehensive literature review and empirical analysis, the study identifies key drivers such as political stability, regulatory efficiency, economic conditions, infrastructure development, and policy implementation mechanisms. Political stability was found crucial for ensuring policy consistency and investor confidence, while efficient regulatory frameworks streamlined subsidy allocations. Economic fluctuations, both global and domestic, significantly influenced resource allocations, underscoring the need for adaptive economic policies. Infrastructure investments emerged as pivotal in enhancing logistics efficiency and reducing operational costs, essential for fostering regional economic competitiveness. Effective policy implementation through transparency, accountability, and monitoring mechanisms was critical in maximizing socio-economic benefits. The findings underscore the importance of integrated policy approaches to address complex challenges and leverage opportunities for sustainable economic development in Indonesia's maritime sector.

Adaptive Strategies for Mitigating Climate-Related Health Risks in Urban Environments

The potential for selecting and implementing climate response solutions across several sectors to realize synergies and prevent conflicts with other elements of sustainable development is becoming more clear. Mental and physical wellbeing are both impacted by climate change. Health may be affected in other ways by climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, some of which may not be intended. The health impacts of climate mitigation and adaptation policies are outlined in this scoping review. We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for relevant articles without time constraints. All studies that reported measurable health consequences associated with certain adaptation and mitigation approaches for climate change were included. Only a select few factors and outcomes related to health were taken into account among the 89 studies examined. Air temperature and air pollution were the primary foci of publications exploring adaptation and mitigation strategies, respectively. Mental health, diet and nutrition difficulties, and communicable illnesses were not investigated nearly as often as non-communicable diseases despite their importance. Inadequate attention of health equity components is shown by the paucity of research examining social health factors and offering stratified health effects among disadvantaged population groups in evaluations. There seems to be a need for greater work to be done to both measure health consequences and uncover underlying susceptibility characteristics among various demographic groups. Better evidence for addressing health inequities, reducing negative health consequences, and maximizing health co-benefits of climate change adaptation and mitigation might be provided by this data.

Key Factors for Financial Market Stability and Policy Response

This paper examines the stability of financial markets, emphasizing their importance in economic systems by enabling efficient capital allocation, risk transfer, and information dissemination. It explores the impact of market volatility on the economy, highlighting wealth effects and financing conditions. The study identifies key factors influencing market stability, including robust regulatory frameworks, transparency, and risk management systems. It also evaluates the effectiveness of monetary and fiscal policies in mitigating market fluctuations. The paper underscores the need for adaptive policies, analyzing historical and international experiences to provide insights for future stability measures. Finally, it stresses the importance of international cooperation in enhancing global financial market resilience, advocating for shared information, unified regulatory standards, and collaborative efforts among international financial institutions.