Decision Making in a Changing Climate - World Resources Institute

In addition, while disaster preparedness is often the first step to address climate change, adaptationplanning and policymaking focused on pressing short-term needs and emergency responsesrun the risk of failing to prepare for longer-term impacts, such as gradual changes in glacial coverageor sea level rise, that are likely to be even more devastating in their effect on agriculture, watersupply and human habitation.Although adaptation to climate change is the focus of this report, it is important to note thatclimate mitigation is also a crucial element of successful adaptation. As Box 1.1 describes, theworld is quickly moving toward a much hotter tomorrow, necessitating substantial mitigationefforts. Governments must act together to swiftly and decisively reduce atmospheric greenhousegas concentrations. Without such efforts to cut back on these emissions, some adaptation goalswill be out of reach as the impacts will increase with every additional degree of temperatureincrease. Keeping adaptation efforts within an achievable range through mitigation is thus a baselinerequirement for nations to succeed at adaptation decision making.Decision Making for AdaptationIn the developing world, which is expected to bear the brunt of climate change impacts, addressingthe climate change challenge is somewhat eased by the fact that, in many instances, thepriorities of adaptation and development are well aligned. One way of viewing the relationshipbetween adaptation and development is to imagine them existing on the same continuum. 12 At oneextreme, traditional development activities that bear no direct relation to climate can still reduceTable 1.1 Summary of Case StudiesCountry Sector Description of Case StudyVietnam(page 43)Nepal(page 46)Namibia(page 61)Mali(page 64)Indonesia(page 67)Brazil(page 81)Rwanda(page 84)China(page 87)Bangladesh(page 100)China(page 103)South Africa(page 116)Mongolia(page 119)Coastal zonesWaterAgricultureAgricultureForest management /land useForest management /land useElectricityAgriculture/waterCoastal zonesWaterForest management /land useAgricultureMangroves have been planted along coastal areas to help provide storm protectionfor communities.Nepal acted to prevent glacial lake outburst floods by installing an early warning systemand lowering the lake level.Namibia has created community-based institutions and local-level monitoring tools to bettersupport farmers living in communal areas prone to land degradation.Mali’s National Meteorological Service initiated a project designed to provide farmers withseasonal climate information.A 2008 regulation in Central Kalimantan integrated the use of El Niño–Southern Oscillationinformation to assess future fire risk in deciding whether or not to allow farmers to use firesto clear land.A situation room was set up in the Brazilian state of Acre to process satellite data and coordinatethe response to forest fires and floods.Rwanda implemented decisive actions in order to restore the ecological services provided bythe Rugezi wetlands and prevent disruption of its electricity supply.The Comprehensive Agricultural Development program has helped farmers in China’s 3H Basinincorporate adaptation measures such as water-saving irrigation techniques and climate-resilientwheat varieties.The Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme was set up to increase the nation’scapacity to respond proactively to disasters.Efforts were adopted to combat flood risk by restoring floodplains and resettling farmers.Biodiversity information has been incorporated into spatial and development planning in SouthAfrica, and a national strategy for expanding protected areas developed.The Index-Based Livestock Insurance Project is intended to help herders cope with significantherd losses due to extreme events.15the adaptation Chapter title imperativedecision making in a changing climate