Climate Change and Resilience Adaptation

Data on Climate Change

• Global temperatures have risen by approximately 1°C since pre-industrial times.
• Europe experienced record-breaking heatwaves in 2019, exceeding 40°C in various countries.
• Hurricane Maria in 2017 devastated Puerto Rico, causing significant infrastructure damage and a humanitarian crisis.
• Polar bear populations are declining due to Arctic ice melt, impacting hunting grounds and food access.
• Bird migration patterns are shifting earlier, potentially leading to mismatches with food availability.

Resilience

• A society's ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from climate change impacts.
• Key factors include economic stability, social equity, and adaptive capacity.

Adaptation to Climate Change

• Strategies such as constructing levees and coastal defenses are employed.
• Public health measures for climate-related impacts, including vaccination programs, are used.
• Agricultural adaptations involve planting suitable crops in new areas and using desalination plants for freshwater.

Climate Agreements

• The Kyoto Protocol (1997) was the first significant treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• The Paris Agreement (2015) sets a global framework to limit global warming.
• The Three Amigos Summit (2016) focused on regional cooperation among North American leaders.

Bangladesh

• High population density in floodplains makes the nation vulnerable to flooding and sea-level rise.
• 75% of the country lies within 10 meters of sea level.
• The 1998 floods in Bangladesh displaced 30 million people, causing over 1,000 deaths and the destruction of 700,000 hectares of crops.
• Despite vulnerability, the Netherlands demonstrates higher adaptive capacity due to advanced flood defenses.

Ghana

• Vulnerability to drought and reduced rainfall harms food and energy security.
• 45% of the workforce is employed in agriculture.
• Projected rainfall decrease of 4% by 2040.
• Average annual temperatures have increased by 1°C since 1960, with further increases projected.

The Greenhouse Effect

• A natural process where greenhouse gases trap heat, maintaining a habitable temperature on Earth.
• Incoming solar radiation warms the Earth's surface, which then emits longwave radiation.
• Greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit this longwave radiation, causing further warming.
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most significant anthropogenic greenhouse gas, arising from fossil fuel use and industrial processes.

Human Influence on Greenhouse effect

• Global dimming demonstrates a gradual reduction in solar radiation reaching Earth due to increased atmospheric particles from human activities.
• Industrial revolution significantly increased anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, accelerating global warming.
• Technological advancements in transportation and increased population growth contribute to enhanced emissions.

Hydrosphere

• Rising sea levels as glaciers and ice sheets melt, leading to thermal expansion of seawater.
• Coastal areas are at greater risk due to increased flooding, erosion, and intrusion of salt water.
• Changes in precipitation patterns (increased evaporation) cause more intense rainfall and more frequent droughts.

People and Places

• Tourism in areas like the Alps is impacted by shorter seasons and decreased snowfall.
• Impacts to agriculture include changes in crop viability, potentially leading to reduced yields or loss of agricultural livelihoods.
• Flooding and displacement are risks for low-lying coastal areas, especially with sea-level rise and stronger storm surges.
• Coastal regions may experience significant economic losses due to damages and outward migration to find better conditions.

National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)

• National Adaptation Plans aim to address climate change impacts in a coordinated and sustainable manner.
• Adaptations may include infrastructure development such as dams, levees, and seawalls.

Vulnerable Groups

• Infants, toddlers, school-age children, the elderly, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable.
• Vulnerable groups, like low-income communities, marginalized groups, refugees, Indigenous peoples, and single-parent households, are more likely to be affected by the impacts of climate change.

Specific Risks

• Low-lying islands and coastal areas face unique risks like damaged coral reefs, increased coastal erosion, outward migration, and saltwater infiltration.
• Indigenous populations are often highly vulnerable due to precarious living conditions.

Strategies to Manage Climatic Risks in Urban Areas

• Urban area strategies include integrating planning and building design to mitigate risks, installing rainwater harvesting systems, and investing in greenspaces and permeable surfaces.
• Rotterdam, for example, has focused on designs to cope with flooding.

Adapting Agricultural Practices

• Promoting drought-resistant crops and resilient varieties is crucial.
• Implementing soil management techniques can help conserve water and nutrients.

Land Zoning and Building Code Changes

• Zoning regulations and building codes need to adapt to climate change risks, including sea-level rise and extreme weather events.

Conclusion

• Understanding the nuances of vulnerability and resilience is essential to develop effective strategies to combat the impacts of global climate changes.

Resilience of Societies

• Resilience is the ability of a society to withstand, adapt to, and recover from climate change impacts.
• Economic stability, social equity, and adaptive capacity contribute to enhancing resilience.

Example

• Bangladesh's vulnerability to flooding, sea-level rise, and the impact of seasonal floods are given as examples.
• Ghana's vulnerability to drought and reduced rainfall are highlighted as examples.