Adapting to Coastal Climate Change
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Material Information

Title:
Adapting to Coastal Climate Change A Guidebook for Development Planners
Creator:
United States Agency for International Development
Coastal Resources Center- University of Rhode Island
International Resources Group
Publisher:
United States Agency for International Development
Publication Date:

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Climatic changes
Coastal zone management

Notes

Abstract:
The challenges we all must face in adapting to climate variability and change present themselves with increasing urgency. Nowhere will these challenges be greater than in the developing world where often weak institutions and governance systems struggle to deal with mounting pressures from population growth, inadequate infrastructure, and diminishing or already depleted natural resources.In this context, the unique ecosystem processes and extraordinary development pressures within the coastal zone require that development planners – and the donors who assist with development – give special urgency to the task of helping to build resiliency against the impacts of climate change. The changes are many and already underway. They include rising sea level, increasingly intense cyclones, altered precipitation and runoff, elevated sea surface temperature, and ocean acidification.The decades ahead will witness increased numbers of people, infrastructure, and ecosystems at risk in the coastal zone. National and local leaders across all sectors must begin now to engage stakeholders in assessing vulnerability and designing adaptation strategies that are technically, financially, and politically achievable. Meanwhile, donors too must work to protect their investments by incorporating analyses of climate variability and change into the design and implementation of virtually every kind of development assistance program to be implemented within the coastal zone.This Guidebook is both a tool in itself and a link to other resources to help with those efforts. The processes, tools, and resources that it contains are based on the inputs of numerous coastal planners, climate change experts, and other development professionals. It was prepared under the guidance of the Water Team and Global Climate Change Team of the U.S. Agency for International Development.The effective application of these tools, development of new techniques and sharing of lessons will be critical to meet all of the myriad challenges of a fast evolving landscape/seascape of coastal climate change adaptation around the world. We consider this a first edition and welcome and encourage your comments, suggestions, and inputs for inclusion in subsequent editions. ( English )

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
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