Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Tourism Sector

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Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Tourism Sector Frameworks, Tools and Practices
34 Adaptation
The Assessments of Impacts of and Adaptation to Climate Change in Multiple
Regions and Sectors (AIACC) project was developed to enhance the scientifi c
and technical capacities in developing countries to assess the impacts of climate
change and design effective adaptation responses (AIACC 2007). The lessons
learned from the 24 projects undertaken by AIACC in Africa (11), Asia (5), Latin
America (5), and small island states (3), are summarized below and were key
considerations that informed the ‘Framework for Climate Change Adaptation in
the Tourism Sector’ set out in section 4.3:
1) Adapt now: The injunction to commence the process of adaptation was
one of the main fi ndings. In all case studies, an ‘adaptation defi cit’ to
climate variability was found, one which climate change threatens to
worsen. Therefore, further adaptation to current risks can yield immediate
benefi ts.
2) Create conditions to enable adaptation: Numerous barriers were found to
impede adaptation, including: competing priorities for scarce resources,
lack of knowledge, weak institutions, degraded natural resources,
inadequate infrastructure, insuffi cient fi nancial resources, and poor
governance. Enabling the process of adaptation was one of the most
important adaptations that governments can make.
3) Integrate adaptation with development: The objectives of climate change
adaptation and development are strongly complementary and so to be
effective adaptation processes must engage policy-makers from ministries
responsible for development, fi nance, land and water management, and
public health.
4) Increase awareness and knowledge: Nearly all case studies highlighted
knowledge as a critical constraint on adaptation and emphasized the
generation and communication of new information for managing climate
risks as high priorities.
5) Strengthen institutions: In many case studies, key functions for managing
climate risks and undertaking adaptation were inadequate or absent due
to weak institutions. Thus, strengthening institutions or in some cases
revitalizing traditional institutions and ways of making decisions are
essential for facilitating adaptation.
6) Protect natural resources: Natural resources that are in a degraded state
are more vulnerable to climate change and therefore rehabilitating and
protecting natural resources such as wetlands, fi sheries, biodiversity, and
forests are critical adaptation strategies in many developing nations.
7) Provide fi nancial assistance: Limited fi nancial resources is commonly
cited as a major adaptation barrier and innovative solutions will need to
be sought to obtain fi nancing from multiple sources, both internal and
external to developing nations.
8) Involve those at risk: Involving stakeholders at potential risk (the intended
benefi ciaries of adaptation) was found to increase effectiveness of
adaptation processes, demonstrating the importance of participatory
approaches to adaptation.
9) Use place-specifi c strategies: Adaptation is place-based and the local
context will determine what specifi c approaches and initiatives will be
most effective.