Solutions For Climate Change Adaptation Research Articles

A framework for the successful application of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation on rail infrastructure developed through the examination of two case studies

The management of railway infrastructure to withstand more frequent and more extreme weather conditions caused by climate change presents a significant global challenge for the rail industry. Nature-based solutions (NbS) have been proposed as potential options to protect and adapt rail infrastructure to accommodate the impacts of climate change, and an initial framework to aid the implementation of NbS in the industry has been developed. Few examples of the application of NbS in the rail environment have been documented however, with a lack of awareness on the concept being cited as the most significant barrier to its dissemination. By examining the application of NbS on two rail case studies in Adelaide, Australia, and Yorkshire, UK, including focus groups and interviews with rail professionals involved in each, this research explores the barriers encountered and the aids to NbS implementation used in these live railway examples, enabling the testing and refinement of the NbS operationalisation framework to produce an improved tool for use by the rail industry. The rail-specific case study outputs contribute to industry knowledge and awareness on NbS, which is critical for its successful uptake on rail infrastructure for climate change adaptation, and will support the continued provision of safe, sustainable rail services.

The feed balances sheet: a tool for planning the use of resources and enhancing resilience in tropical grazing livestock

Similarly to other tropical, arid and semi-arid regions of the World, livestock production in the Sahel is based on extensive grazing in rangelands where managing herd mobility (transhumance and nomadism) is key to productivity and sustainability. However, in this region, government planning, impact assessments and climate change adaptation solutions face several methodological limitations and lack of data availability particularly about the feed and forage resources and how there are used by livestock. Existing feed balances at national or regional level in Sub-Saharan Africa are still largely perfectible. To address these limitations, FAO and CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development) have developed a tool called Feed Balance Sheet (FBS) adapted to the Sahelian livestock systems to help countries carry out improved feed balances. This new FBS tool provides the following improvements to existing feed balances in countries: (i) it considers the seasonality of feed availability and quality as well as the seasonality of animal requirements; (ii) it includes protein and energy in addition to dry matter; (iii) it takes into account a wide range of resources, including browsing of woody biomass. This article describes the methodological development and the assumptions underlying this tool, which has already been piloted in 6 countries in Western and Central Africa. It also presents the results from 2 countries (Mali and Chad) and draws conclusions on the tool’s relevance and guidance for its application. It can be used to improve the resilience of pastoral communities in the Sahel and better plan responses to droughts and other types of crises. Its use requires dedicated training and partnerships between governments and science organizations for accessing the appropriate input data. Based on the tool’s experience in six countries (including 2 for which results are presented in this paper), we have confirmed the key role that CIRAD, FAO and their partners must play during the first few years in coaching the different teams at the country level.

Home garden mixed cropping practice by communities living on peatland in household’s income resilience and climate adaptation

Land use with mixed crop cultivation practices, or agroforestry, is currently important for small farmers because it provides economic resilience and ecosystem-based solutions for climate change adaptation. This research is to examine the role of agroforestry in the homegarden of communities living on peatlands in supporting household economic resilience and the impact of climate change on their livelihoods. In-depth interviews using questionnaires and field observations were carried out for data collection. The research results show that agroforestry based on fruit plants such as Durio kutejensis, Artocarpus champeden, Lansium domesticum, and Parkia speciosa is found in Pulang Pisau Regency, while the mixed crop pattern of Pinang catechu, Coffea liberica, and Cocos nucifera is found in West Tanjung Jabung Regency. This type of land use provides economic stability for farming households on peatlands. Farmer experience and knowledge, species preferences, markets, land ownership, and labor availability are considered in implementing mixed cropping systems. Access to credit and capital and increasing farmers’ abilities during harvest and post-harvest are really needed by farmers. Therefore, support from various stakeholders and pro-farmer policies is needed so that mixed cropping systems can improve the livelihoods of small farmers and reduce their vulnerability to climate change.

Harvesting resilience: Tribal home-gardens as socio-ecological solutions for climate change adaptation and sustainable development in a protected area

This study delves into the socio-ecological system (SES) of tribal home-gardens within India's Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR), unveiling their vital role in fostering biodiversity, resilience, and sustainability. Grounded in an SES framework, our research elucidates the deep interconnectivity between tribal communities and their home-gardens, woven into the tapestry of broader environmental and social dynamics. These gardens, rich in crops, forest species, and livestock, serve as dynamic reservoirs of indigenous and local knowledge (ILK), crucial for bolstering local economies and enhancing climate resilience. We analysed 36 focus group discussions across 36 villages and identified 15 indigenous nature-based practices that significantly contribute to 9 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 22 Sustainable Development Targets (SDTs). Indigenous home-gardening practices underpin climate change adaptation strategies and highlight the importance of integrating biodiversity and socio-economic objectives. Our findings underscore the criticality of diversification in enhancing resilience within indigenous SES, showcasing the balance between human adaptability and ecological symbiosis. The tribal home-gardens, driven by indigenous stewardship, provide essential ecosystem services and are instrumental in ecosystem protection, conservation, and restoration. Additionally, they play a pivotal role in enabling climate change adaptation, fostering gender empowerment, and upholding cultural significance, all sustained by dynamic feedback loops with their natural environment. This paper advocates for the greater recognition and integration of such indigenous-led NbS and ILK in global climate initiatives, emphasising their indispensability in enhancing climate resilience and promoting sustainable development within similar SES.

Centring localised indigenous concepts of wellbeing in urban nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation: case-studies from Aotearoa New Zealand and the Cook Islands

Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer significant potential for climate change adaptation and resilience. NbS strengthen biodiversity and ecosystems, and premise approaches that centre human wellbeing. But understandings and models of wellbeing differ and continue to evolve. This paper reviews wellbeing models and thinking from Aotearoa New Zealand, with focus on Te Ao Māori (the Māori world and worldview) as well as other Indigenous models of wellbeing from wider Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Oceania. We highlight how holistic understandings of human-ecology-climate connections are fundamental for the wellbeing of Indigenous peoples of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Oceania and that they should underpin NbS approaches in the region. We profile case study experience from Aotearoa New Zealand and the Cook Islands emerging out of the Nature-based Urban design for Wellbeing and Adaptation in Oceania (NUWAO) research project, that aims to develop nature-based urban design solutions, rooted in Indigenous knowledges that support climate change adaptation and wellbeing. We show that there is great potential for nature-based urban adaptation agendas to be more effective if linked closely to Indigenous ecological knowledge and understandings of wellbeing.

Policy coherence for resilience in Sri Lanka coherence of climate change adaptation (CCA) disaster risk reduction (DRR) and sustainable development goals (SDGs)

PurposePolicy coherence is a complex and tough task for many developing nations because their capacity to examine and deliver evidence-based inputs to policymaking is limited, and policy dialogue platforms need to be effectively used. Resolving these difficulties is a critical requirement for policy consistency. As a result, the study focuses on the level of policy coherence for climate change adaptation (CCA), disaster risk reduction (DRR) and sustainable development goals (SDG) in Sri Lanka and suggests routes for policy coherence for Resilience. This study aims to investigate the coherent approach of CCA, DRR and SDG; to identify concerns in policy documents addressing the coherence of CCA, DRR and SDG in local context; and to propose policy coherence suggestions for resilience in Sri Lanka.Design/methodology/approachMethodology comprises a review and content analysis of 17 policy and legal documents in Sri Lanka and a qualitative study. The qualitative approach consists of semistructured interviews that obtained deep and broad expertise knowledge with ten government representatives and stakeholders. Both content analysis and interview data were analyzed by using NVivo.FindingsIt was discovered that there are several issues with the coherence of policies in Sri Lanka, including the fragmented approach, lack of integration, inadequate coordination, limited resources and lack of monitoring and evaluation. The policies are inspired by international frameworks, and local implementations are not focused, leading to inadequate implementation of policies. The lack of development cooperation for the use of innovative approaches, such as climate-resilient infrastructure and environmentally friendly solutions for CCA and DRR, further aggravates the situation. Another concern is the lack of land use management and responsibility for the development of physical infrastructure for DRR integration with CCA. It is found that there is a limited community involvement which is vital for the implementation of policies. Local implementations are encouraged to fill the gaps in existing policies/acts. The analytical framework of the study is based on a preliminary examination of policy documents, a review of the literature and discussions with practitioners. The framework reflects the current situation of policy integration which addresses strategic, conceptual, institutional, operational and financial coherence. The research suggests pathways for achieving policy coherence in CCA, DRR and SDG in Sri Lanka, such as enhancing the strategic coherence by improving goals to increase the coherence within CCA, DRR and SDG; improving the credibility of the unified approach for developing DRR and CCA risk assessments; intensifying institutional cooperation and stakeholder management; improving the common monitoring and evaluation; establishing implementation strategies; and increasing the community involvement.Research limitations/implicationsThe study on policy coherence in Sri Lanka recommends increasing community and professional involvement, conducting more research, developing a national strategy, increasing capacity building, strengthening international collaboration and fostering multisectoral collaboration. These recommendations can help improve policy coherence between CCA, DRR and SDGs, align policies with national goals and priorities and improve implementation effectiveness. By implementing these recommendations, Sri Lanka can address the challenges of climate change and natural disasters and achieve SDGs.Practical implicationsThe study on policy coherence for resilience in Sri Lanka has practical implications, including improved coordination and resource allocation, increased capacity building, improved reputation and sustainability. By integrating CCA, DRR and SDGs, this study can help Sri Lanka become more resilient to climate change and natural disasters, achieve SDGs and become a responsible actor in the international community. These implications can contribute to a more sustainable future and ensure that development goals are achieved in a way that is resilient to climate change and natural disasters.Social implicationsIncreased community participation: the study emphasizes the importance of community involvement in the policy development process. This can help build trust between communities and government agencies, improve transparency and ensure that policies are developed in a way that is responsive to local needs and priorities.Originality/valueBased on the identified existing loopholes in the policies and pathways to policy coherence, the issues in policymaking could be overcome. It could be used to establish strong linkages between policies based on CCA, DRR and SDGs to achieve long-term resilience.

Assessing the Benefits of Climate-Sensitive Design with Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation in Urban Regeneration: A Case Study in Cheltenham, UK

Addressing the challenge of climate adaptation necessitates an evidence-based approach. The integration of nature into urban spaces is vital in mitigating the effects of climate change, which can be accomplished through the regeneration of grey areas. Consequently, the incorporation of nature-based solutions (NBS) becomes indispensable for the creation of climate-resilient public spaces. However, only a few studies have considered climate change simulated data to design climate-resilient spaces in the UK. Thus, in this study, we evaluated the benefits of two scenarios for regenerating an existing car park space in Cheltenham with 30% and 50% NBS. These design scenarios were the outcomes of a 3-day design workshop aiming to create a climate-resilient public space with NBS. Using ENVI-met software (version 5.0.3) and weather data for the second-highest heatwave in Cheltenham, UK, in 2017 and 2050 predictions, we analysed temperature impacts. Results show NBS could reduce the mean radiant temperature by 6 to 15 degrees. An average decrease of 1.2 in the predicted mean vote (PMV) value, indicating an improvement in thermal comfort within the 50% NBS scenario, highlights its climate adaptation benefits. Comparison between the 30% and 50% NBS scenarios reveals the importance of strategy implementation. This evidence will aid future urban projects in designing climate-resilient and healthy cities, benefiting planning authorities, architects, urban planners, landscape architects, and researchers.

Co-production opportunities seized and missed in decision-support frameworks for climate-change adaptation in agriculture – How do we practice the “best practice”?

CONTEXTTo contribute to building sustainable and effective climate change adaptation solutions avoiding usability gap, it is largely recommended to engage in the process of co-production, integrating expertise and knowledge from various academic and non-academic actors. OBJECTIVEWe want to learn if and how co-production, believed to effectively link knowledge and decision-making, and thus suggested as the best practice in building decision-support frameworks, is really applied in the frameworks that are being implemented on the ground. METHODSA literature review allowed us to identify integrated decision-support frameworks for climate-change adaptation in agriculture developed and used over the period of the last 10 years and involving non-academic stakeholders. To analyse them, we chose as an assessment tool the four co-production principles proposed by Norström and colleagues: context-based, pluralistic, goal-oriented and interactive. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe useful entry points for incorporating co-production in the design of decision-support that we found in the reviewed frameworks include among the others adequate participants selection strategy, building on existing interaction spaces, developing a theory of change with the participants, and involving participants in the design of different elements of the method. The architectures of the analyzed frameworks contained more elements that responded to pluralistic and interactive principles than to context-based and goal oriented principles, we have also identified gaps in the design, such as taking into account the personal characteristics of researchers that could strengthen a framework's implementation and its impact, or attempts at bridging different levels of decision making, to cover the triad of science, policy and practice. A detailed look at the decision-frameworks that are actually being applied allows for a critical reflection whether and how we as researchers use what we preach as an effective way of responding to sustainability challenges in agriculture. Co-production principles turn out to be a useful tool for analysis and we suggest they can be used as a check-list when designing decision-support frameworks for climate-change adaptation. SIGNIFICANCEThis papers offers useful examples of how to shift the research-led processes of decision-support towards more co-production with non-academic actors, to increase chances of bridging the gaps between science, policy and practice.

Deriving targeted intervention packages of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction: A geospatial multi-criteria approach for building resilience in the Puna region, Peru

Emergent complex climate risks challenge conventional approaches for climate adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR). This situation demands new ways of addressing climate risks with integrated solutions. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are promising CCA and DRR given their cost-effectiveness, multifunctionality and low-regret condition in addressing a wide range of risks exacerbated by climate change. However, little attention has been paid to exploring methodological approaches for combining NbS to reduce climate risks. Still, selecting the appropriate and effective combination of NbS is a challenging task. This research applies a geospatial multi-criteria approach for developing intervention packages of NbS for CCA and DRR and applies this innovative methodology to a case study area in the Puna region in Peru. The study started with an in-depth literature analysis coupled with a participatory process with local experts to identify and select locally valid NbS for CCA and DRR. Building upon that, the overall multi-criteria approach was developed, which consists of a matrix-based procedure to evaluate the applicability of relevant measures and their feasibility of being combined in intervention packages. Then, the multi-criteria analysis was integrated into a Geographic Information System using a spatial analysis model to map suitable intervention areas. Next to the methodological innovation, the multi-criteria approach was applied to a case study area to generate a place-based intervention package for addressing the risk of reduced water provision considering climate change conditions, with its respective potential intervention sites differentiated by the appropriate measures. This methodological approach is a novel and pragmatic support tool that helps practitioners design more robust and effective interventions for building resilience to climate change. Furthermore, this methodological approach involves shifting the perspective from activities focused on “one-size-fits-all-solution” to "multi-solution" strategic interventions that address climate risks more comprehensively, recognizing the dynamics and complexities of the social-ecological systems. The authors encourage researchers and practitioners to transfer the methodological approach to other contexts and, with that, accelerate the efficient and targeted implementation of NbS for building resilience to climate change.

How the concept of nature-based solutions for climate adaptation could be introduced in Master's curricula. Insights from France

While the importance of Nature-Based Solutions for climate change adaptation (NBaS) is being increasingly acknowledged, very few studies investigate the status of these solutions in higher education syllabi. In an effort to bridge this gap, this study assessed the position of the NBaS notion in French Master's programs.Based on a survey questionnaire, several interviews and a text mining analysis of the Master's contents, this paper identified, localised and analysed the French Masters that presented links with NBaS related concepts.This analysis revealed that the notion of NBaS is far from being mastered. This might be caused by a conceptual misunderstanding of definitions. While text mining revealed that the building blocks of the NBaS framework are present, much still needs to be done for connecting them together. A combined analysis of the findings derived from this study led to recommendations to better introduce NBaS in Masters programs in the future.

Global mapping of urban nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation

Global mapping of urban nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation

Nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation are not located where they are most needed across the Alps

Nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation are not located where they are most needed across the Alps

Biodiversity outcomes of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation: Characterising the evidence base

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognised for their potential to address both the climate and biodiversity crises. Both these outcomes rely on the capacity of NbS to support and enhance the health of an ecosystem: its biodiversity, the condition of its abiotic and biotic elements, and its capacity to continue to function despite environmental change. However, while understanding of ecosystem health outcomes of NbS for climate change mitigation has developed in recent years, the outcomes of those implemented for adaptation remain poorly understood. To address this, we systematically reviewed the outcomes of 109 nature-based interventions for climate change adaptation using 33 indicators of ecosystem health across eight broad categories (e.g., diversity, biomass, ecosystem composition). We showed that 88% of interventions with reported positive outcomes for climate change adaptation also reported benefits for ecosystem health. We also showed that interventions were associated with a 67% average increase in species richness. All eight studies that reported benefits for both climate change mitigation and adaptation also supported ecosystem health, leading to a “triple win.” However, there were also trade-offs, mainly for forest management and creation of novel ecosystems such as monoculture plantations of non-native species. Our review highlights two key limitations in our understanding of the outcomes of NbS for ecosystem health. First, a limited selection of metrics are used and these rarely include key aspects such as functional diversity and habitat connectivity. Second, taxonomic coverage is limited: 50% of interventions only had evidence for effects on plants, and 57% of outcomes did not distinguish between native and non-native species. We make suggestions of how to improve assessments of the ecosystem health outcomes of NbS, as well as policy recommendations to enable the upscaling of NbS that support flourishing and resilient ecosystems, and are effective in addressing both climate and biodiversity goals.

Climate Change Adaptation Strategies: Implication for Behavioural Change

Climate change is a significant environmental issue impacting people, plants, and food security in the present day. Rapid changes in the global climate have resulted in significant effects on human society and ecological systems. Climate change has far-reaching consequences for the behaviour and attitudes of an individual or group. Over time, its negative effects manifest themselves in many ways. Adaptation to climate change is vital in this respect. Adaptation may mitigate the effects of climate change, but it cannot fix the issue on its own. Changes at the level of people, homes, and communities are of immeasurably larger significance than those at the government and industrial levels, where the majority of this change is often focused. The significance of human behaviour in influencing and modifying the effects of climate change is substantial. Controlling the difficulties associated with climate change demands fundamental adjustments in behaviour, which include adjusting to the changes that have happened and will continue to occur. The shift in behaviour has to do with mitigating the consequences of climate change that cannot be prevented while also preventing future impacts from becoming more severe. The majority of climate change adaptation solutions demand that people adjust their current health, agricultural, natural resource management, infrastructure, and settlement patterns or adopt new ones. So, improving and building up human capital through education, outreach, and extension services makes it easier for people at all levels to make decisions and helps the whole group be more flexible.

Suitability pre-assessment for decoupling in-sewer captured streams to support urban blue-green climate adaptation measures

AbstractThe application of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation in cities has increased in recent years. To improve microclimatic conditions and to preserve the natural components of related assets, water supply is necessary. As an alternative to drinking water, stream water might serve as a natural source for irrigation. However, due to continuous urbanisation, water courses have often been banned underground in pipes or integrated in the combined sewer network, both making them not directly available for further usage. This article focuses on the perspectives of decoupling captured streams from underground infrastructure to support nature-based urban climate adaptation measures. It introduces a method to identify suitable locations for practical implementation considering the hydrological potential of the stream and the urban microclimatic sensitivity of the concerned area. The approach was applied in a case study in the north-western part of Vienna, including 16 streams with a total length of about 39 km covering an area of approximately 95 km2 with about half a million inhabitants. This work proved the general practicality of the suggested method. It also revealed that about one-third of the investigated stream lengths appears high or medium suitable to support climate adaption measures, leading to notable cost savings for irrigation (for the substitution of drinking water) and wastewater treatment. Concluding, the decoupling of captured streams could contribute to a more sustainable and nature-based urban water management. The introduced method for suitability pre-assessment is applicable with rather easily available input data, which makes it transferable to other cities.

Novel Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation: Understanding and Expanding the Role of Community Perception and Everyday Landscape Experiences

Novel Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation: Understanding and Expanding the Role of Community Perception and Everyday Landscape Experiences

Mapping the effectiveness of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) to climate change currently have considerable political traction. However, national intentions to deploy NbS have yet to be fully translated into evidence-based targets and action on the ground. To enable NbS policy and practice to be better informed by science, we produced the first global systematic map of evidence on the effectiveness of nature-based interventions for addressing the impacts of climate change and hydrometeorological hazards on people. Most of the interventions in natural or semi-natural ecosystems were reported to have ameliorated adverse climate impacts. Conversely, interventions involving created ecosystems (e.g., afforestation) were associated with trade-offs; such studies primarily reported reduced soil erosion or increased vegetation cover but lower water availability, although this evidence was geographically restricted. Overall, studies reported more synergies than trade-offs between reduced climate impacts and broader ecological, social, and climate change mitigation outcomes. In addition, nature-based interventions were most often shown to be as effective or more so than alternative interventions for addressing climate impacts. However, there were substantial gaps in the evidence base. Notably, there were few studies of the cost-effectiveness of interventions compared to alternatives and few integrated assessments considering broader social and ecological outcomes. There was also a bias in evidence toward the Global North, despite communities in the Global South being generally more vulnerable to climate impacts. To build resilience to climate change worldwide, it is imperative that we protect and harness the benefits that nature can provide, which can only be done effectively if informed by a strengthened evidence base.

Moisture Safety of Green Facades

In Nordic climate, climbers covering facades are conventionally removed, although there is no evidence of the actual impact of the climbers on the moisture performance of facades. Such information is needed to support building design and nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation. This study aimed to find evidence on the performance of green facades from the physical and life-cycle engineering perspectives of buildings by testing double-skin green facades in laboratory and field conditions. First a mature thicket creeper was grown on a steel mesh over 100 days, and it was exposed to rain and dry periods by accelerated weathering equipment in a laboratory. Then the leafless creeper was exposed to rain cycles on a rooftop in natural conditions. The results indicated the high protective capacities of the climber during the leaf season, but even during the winter season (without leaves) protective performance was measured in laboratory and natural conditions. In conclusion, double-skin green facades provide effective protection from wind-driven rain while the distance between the green structure and the load-bearing wall impacts the relative humidity levels, and the drying process of the load-bearing wall. Thus, moisture safety can be improved with a double-skin structure with ventilation and access for maintenance.

Adapting to climate change in the fishery industry case study: Phuoc Hai and Phuoc Tinh fishing villages of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, Vietnam

Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province is part of the South Eastern key economic zone. This province is the gate to the Southeast Asia Sea of the South Eastern region. Ba Ria – Vung Tau has a coastal line of 350 kilometers and the estimated area of the continental shelf of 100,000 square kilometers. These geographical conditions have helped developed fishery and seafood processing industry. In the late ten years, many changes in climate and weather condition has had strong impact on the local life of those who live in the coastal area and mostly live on fishery. In order to adapt with those changes, people have actively seeked and opted for different measures which are applicable for their socioeconomic condition. Using descriptive statistics to analyze both primary and secondary data of two study areas, this paper discuss some solutions the communities have used to adapt to climate change. Then the authors propose some recommendations to assist the people in selecting solutions for climate change adaptation.

How can data mining help us to predict the influence of climate change on Mediterranean agriculture

The proposed works are part of the Moroccan national project 'Green Morocco', which aims to develop the agricultural sector to prevent famine and support the economic development of the country. The objective is to propose a new method for yield estimation, crop forecasts and pre-harvest yields. This new methodology developed for introducing unsupervised learning and data mining algorithms. The method used, predicting yields using agro-climatic data analysis and climate change predictions. Our approach based on three models: first, we propose to use climate change-based climate predictions for climate classification in a given region and analysed the changes that have affected this climate. Second, using climate rules, we will look for climatic rules for each crop. Thirdly, to put in place a predictive model that will later enable climate change adaptation solutions for the future. Finally, we are also introducing a new dimensional reduction of features.