World Resources 2010-2011
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Material Information

Title:
World Resources 2010-2011
Creator:
World Resources Institute
Philip S. Angell
Place of Publication:
10 G Street, NE Suite 800 Washington, DC 20002
Publisher:
World Resources Institute
Publication Date:
Language:
English

Notes

Summary:
Adaptation to accommodate climate change will frame the future for countries and communities across the globe. Responding to climate impacts as diverse as altered rainfall patterns, more frequent or intense extreme weather events, and rising sea levels will challenge decision makers at every level of government and in every sector of the economy. What steps should be taken to protect vital infrastructure, such as roads, dams, and factories, or to ensure the safety of housing stocks, both existing and yet to be built? What policies should be adopted or investments made to help agriculture adapt to new rainfall and temperature regimes and to secure local food supplies? How should valuable ecosystems like forests or coral reefs be managed to maintain the vital services they render and livelihoods they support? How can we ensure that the unique challenges faced by the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people are not overlooked or ignored? Complicating these challenges is the uncertainty that surrounds how such changes will unfold. Future rainfall projections for Ghana in 2050, for example, vary from much wetter to much drier, with estimates ranging from a 49 percent increase to a 65 percent decrease from 2010 levels1 in annual precipitation. Such a range makes it difficult for governments to prepare for the impacts on key sectors such as agriculture and electricity generation. Another challenge that decision makers will need to face is that climate change will not play out on a level playing field. The vulnerability of affected populations and ecosystems will influence the outcomes of climate change on the ground. When a disaster strikes or a long-term change unfolds, the impact will vary between and often within regions, countries, and localities, based on the vulnerability of affected people. For example, a cyclone in Australia will not have the same impact on communities as one of equal magnitude in Bangladesh. While there are early examples of adaptation efforts now taking place, many national governments have yet to integrate climate change risks into current and long-term planning and policymaking. Developing countries face particularly difficult challenges in doing so. Many will bear a heavier burden of climate change impacts because of factors beyond their control, such as geography. At the same time, their ability to undertake adaptation initiatives to accommodate long-term impacts, such as glacial melt or sea level rise, is severely constrained by the press of meeting current development needs, among other factors. Yet integrating climate risks into governmental decision making will be essential if development and other goals are to be met. ( English )

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Source Institution:
Florida International University
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FULL TEXT- World Resources 2010-2011