A Critical Approach to Climate Change Adaptation (original) (raw)
Related papers
2018
Meeting the global challenge of adaptation by addressing transboundary climate risk A joint collaboration between SEI, IDDRI, and ODI When negotiating the Paris Agreement, many countries called for a stronger focus on adaptation. This call became more powerful after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) outlined the high likelihood of unavoidable climate change impacts in its Fifth Assessment Report. The result was Article 7.1. of the Paris Agreement, which established a new-and unprecedentedglobal goal on adaptation. 1 At the time, the 21 st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed to treat adaptation "in balance" with mitigation. However, mitigation remains the main focus in international debates and analysis on climate change governance. We argue that the critical importance of adaptation is still under-valued in international negotiations. Specifically, the view that adaptation is a local problem is holding back ambition to pursue a global adaptation agenda that seeks solutions beyond the local-to-national level. It is important to recognise that, although Parties have agreed to limit warming to "well below" 2°C, the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) that have been submitted would result in warming closer to 3°C. 2,3 Even this may be optimistic, as the 3°C estimate presumes that countries achieve their targets, which few are on track to do. With this reality as a backdrop, it is imperative to increase adaptation action worldwide and, in so doing, to scale up efforts from the local to the global. This is increasingly articulated by both developing and developed countries around the globe; of the 165 NDCs submitted to date, at least 137 include information about adaptation. 4 In this brief, we argue that adopting a transboundary view of climate risk, which explicitly recognises the interconnections between people, ecosystems and economies in a globalised world, changes the scope and nature of the adaptation challenge, and creates opportunities to reinvigorate international cooperation on adaptation. Specifically, the UNFCCC remains a critical space for coordinating global action on climate change, including building resilience and adapting to the adverse effects of a warmer world. In this respect, the outcomes of UNFCCC negotiations are important for understanding the progress made to date on adaptation, as well as for highlighting gaps, or framing and steering the conversation in new directions. Global negotiations on climate change therefore have a key role to play in adopting and implementing a transboundary framing of climate risk, though other non-climate conventions and processes can play important roles as well. We therefore review recent progress in the international climate negotiations in order to set up a discussion in the second half of the brief about how progress in meeting the global challenge of adaptation might be achieved.
Put equity first in climate adaptation
Nature
ENERGY Better than big new dams is a mix of small ones with solar and wind p.330 BIOETHICS When we cheat death and redo birth, our story shifts p.333 ZOOLOGY Empire-building bird board game is beautiful and useful p.334 CONSERVATION EU must outlaw ivory trading, before its laxity undermines other bans p.336 A family shelters from the rain in Mozambique after Cyclone Idai.
Climate and Development, 2014
Since the Adaptation Fund (AF) became operational in 2007, there has been a vivid discussion about equity and efficiency in how resources (predicted to be scarce) are governed and allocated. One complicating factor is that allocation is often discussed between countries rather than between sub-national causes and groups, and while this approach follows from the UNFCCC context, it is problematic because it ignores the fact that vulnerability is a locally contextualized phenomenon. This paper empirically analyses the portrayal of vulnerability and adaptation benefits in project proposals approved by the AF, and thereby comments on the normative principles of equity and efficiency when allocating funds to developing countries and their vulnerable communities. It does this by evaluating actual decisions made by the AF, which has been operating for some time. We qualitatively analyse all proposals approved as of December 2012 by the Fund's Board. First, we compare the ways that 'particular vulnerability' is justified or not, especially in light of the minimal guidance available. Second, we compare project proponent's statements (or lack thereof) on economic, social, and environmental benefits arising from the suggested projects, and who they would accrue to. Lessons learned with regard to allocation will also be important for the development of the Green Climate Fund, considering that resources are likely to be scarce for some time in comparison with predicted funding needs.
A Can of Worms-Challenges to Climate Change Adaptation in Developing Countries
2017
By 2020, up to 250 million people will be exposed to water stress due to Climate Change (CC), and rain-fed agriculture will be reduced by half (IPCC, 2014). By the end of 21 st century, sea-level rise will largely affect populations living on coastal areas and adaptions measures will cost 5-10% of GDP (ibid). And while consequences of CC are global, developing countries are more vulnerable to them (Cambwera and Stage, 2010). For example, Africa's low GPD and having most of its big cities on coastal areas, make it more challenging for them to adapt to CC (OECD, 2003). Moreover, until The Paris Agreement in 2015, developed countries took the lead responsibility in mitigating CC while adaption was more urgent to developing countries (Nunan, 217; IPCC, 2014). This has heightened intensity of the challenges that developing countries face. In this assignment, we will Identify and critically review the challenges developing countries face in adapting to CC by first defining climate change and adaption to frame the discussion, then briefly mention overarching challenges. Then we critically explore two compounded challenges, namely: Weak adaptive capacities and complex hierarchy of adaptation (Prioritization). However, we will conclude that, while developed countries face similar challenges, adaption is harder to attain by developing countries as their challenges intersection with other developmental aspects. And some challenges have resulted from adaptation methodologies themselves. Climate Change, Adaptation and Overarching Challenges To put adaptation measures to CC in context, we have to look at the definitions it has been given to it. In the independent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), CC was defined as changes happening in climate due to human activity or natural variability (IPCC, 2014). Nevertheless, in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) definition, it reflected the role of natural variability as a secondary factor in changes to climate (UNFCCC, 2006a). This suggests that UNFCC wants to prioritize human-led changes in their adaption efforts. When reflecting about CC in the context of developing countries, human-led activities from developed countries are the hegemonic factor (UNFCC, 2006b). Thus leaving CC agenda, which developing countries have little say in, under question. The definition for adaption is still contested too. It has been defined as ""Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities" (IPCC, 2001), while the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) defined it as a "Process" , UKCIP as an "outcome" and UNFCCC as "Steps". These definitions lead to different expectations from different stakeholders thus adding to the overarching challenges of adaption on developing countries where stakeholders in development and CC discourse are far more diverse (OECD, 2006). Furthermore, after The Paris Agreement, developing countries
Investment and adaptation as commitment devices in climate policy deteriorate mitigation
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 2013
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