Investigating the Livelihoods of the Population Dependent on Natural Resources and Their Concerns Regarding Climate Change (original) (raw)

Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. Various types of adaptation can be distinguished, including anticipatory, autonomous and planned adaptation: Anticipatory Adaptation-Adaptation that takes place before impacts of climate change are observed. Also referred to as proactive adaptation. Autonomous Adaptation-Adaptation that does not constitute a conscious response to climatic stimuli, but is triggered by ecological changes in natural systems and by market or welfare changes in human systems. Also referred to as spontaneous adaptation. Planned Adaptation-Adaptation that is the result of a deliberate policy decision, based on an awareness that conditions have changed or are about to change, and that action is required to return to, maintain, or achieve a desired state. Adaptation Assessment The practice of identifying options for adapting to climate change and evaluating them in terms of criteria such as availability, benefits, costs, effectiveness, efficiency and feasibility. Adaptation Benefits The avoided damage costs or the accrued benefits following the adoption and implementation of adaptation measures. Adaptive Capacity (in relation to climate change impacts) The ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes) to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences. Climate Sensitivity The equilibrium temperature rise that would occur as a result of a doubling of CO2 concentration above pre-industrial levels. Resilience The ability of a social or ecological system to absorb disturbances while retaining the same basic structure, ways of functioning, capacity for self-organisation, and capacity to adapt to stress and change. Sensitivity The degree to which a system is affected, either adversely or beneficially, by climate variability or change. The effect may be direct (e.g. a change in crop yield in response to a change in the mean, range or variability of temperature) or indirect (e.g. damages caused by an increase in the frequency of coastal flooding due to sea-level rise). Vulnerability The degree to which a system is susceptible to, and unable to cope with adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate change and variation to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity.