Publication Date:
2021-05-19
Description:
The world’s climate is changing and will continue to change into the coming century
at rates projected to be unprecedented in recent human history. The risks associated with these
changes are real but highly uncertain. Societal vulnerability to the risks associated with climate
change may exacerbate ongoing social and economic challenges, particularly for those parts of
societies dependent on resources that are sensitive to changes in climate. Risks are apparent in
agriculture, fisheries and many other components that constitute the livelihood of rural
populations in developing countries. In this paper we explore the nature of risk and vulnerability
in the context of climate change and review the evidence on present-day adaptation in
developing countries and on coordinated international action on future adaptation. We argue
that all societies are fundamentally adaptive and there are many situations in the past where
societies have adapted to changes in climate and to similar risks. But some sectors are more
sensitive and some groups in society more vulnerable to the risks posed by climate change than
others. Yet all societies need to enhance their adaptive capacity to face both present and future
climate change outside their experienced coping range. The challenges of climate change for
development are in the present – observed climate change, present-day climate variability and
future expectations of change are changing the course of development strategies – development
agencies and governments are now planning for this adaptation challenge. The primary
challenge, therefore, posed at both the scale of local natural resource management and at the
scale of international agreements and actions, is to promote adaptive capacity in the context of competing sustainable development objectives.
Description:
Published
Keywords:
Adaptations
;
Vulnerability
;
Climate change
;
Environmental policy
;
Climate change
;
Developing countries
Repository Name:
AquaDocs
Type:
Journal Contribution
,
Refereed
,
Article
Format:
235210 bytes
Format:
application/pdf
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