enhancing adaptive practices in the semi arids_nambi, water research institue_undp 16october2014
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Enhancing Adaptive Capacity in the Semi-Arids: Lessons from PracticeTRANSCRIPT
Enhancing Adaptive Capacity in the Semi-Arids: Lessons from Practice
Enhancing Adaptive Capacity in the Semi-Arids: Lessons from Practice
Arivudai Nambi Appadurai PhDStrategy Head (V&A Program)
World Resources Institute – India
UNDP16th October 2014Hotel Park, Delhi
National Workshop on Climate Change Adaptation in India
[email protected]. A. Nambi
Conceptual issues
Insights from practice
Opportunities and challenges
Outline
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Impacts of Climate Change
For biological systems, it can be change in productivity, quality, population, or range
For societal systems, an impact can be a change in income, morbidity, mortality, or other measures of well-being
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Rural Vulnerability to Climate
High population growth though
at a declining rate
High population growth though
at a declining rate
86% of all freshwater
withdrawal is for agricultural use
86% of all freshwater
withdrawal is for agricultural use
Current incentivesmay support
unsuitable crops
Current incentivesmay support
unsuitable crops
Prevalence of rainfed agriculture
over irrigated agriculture
Prevalence of rainfed agriculture
over irrigated agriculture
Geographic location makes it subject to high temperatures and marked seasonal rainfall; uncertainty of
Monsoon a factor
Geographic location makes it subject to high temperatures and marked seasonal rainfall; uncertainty of
Monsoon a factor
1/5th of GDP in Indiais derived from
agriculture
1/5th of GDP in Indiais derived from
agriculture
61% of land area isagriculture land
61% of land area isagriculture land
1/3rd of geographicalarea is either
Drought / floodprone
1/3rd of geographicalarea is either
Drought / floodprone
60% of the population live in rural areas and derive their
livelihoods from agriculture andnatural resource-based activities
60% of the population live in rural areas and derive their
livelihoods from agriculture andnatural resource-based activities
Elements of Vulnerability to Climate in Rural Areas of India
World Bank, 2009
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Vulnerability
Vulnerability in Climate
Change context could
be construed as “the
extent to which climate
change may damage or
harm a system”
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Key Drivers
Wider Resource Base & Exogenous Changes
World Markets / TradeGlobalizationUrbanizationTechnology
Climate Change
Vulnerability Context
Dynamics & changes in the resource base
(Shocks, Fluctuations, Trends)
Human well-being Quality and Standard of Life
Local Resource Base
(Social, Natural, Institutional, HumanFinancial, Physical
Resources)
Assets
Livelihood Activities
Income
RESILIENCE
F H
S
N
P
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A Conceptual Framework
Exposure to climate change related events create uncertainties
Uncertainty issues are addressed by converting them into risks
The inability to manage risk effectively due to a variety of factors results in vulnerability
Adaptation essentially reduces vulnerability and more effectively manages risks through appropriate strategies which enhance adaptive capacity
URVA FRAMEWORK
Vulnerability Adaptation
RiskExposure – Uncertainty
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Iterative steps in Climate Change Adaptation
The starting point for adaptation decisions is to have the information on the possible range of impacts to which one would need to adapt to.
Climate Variability
Climate Change
Impacts
Other Stresses
Existing Management
PracticesPolicy
CriteriaDevelopment
Objectives
Information Awareness
Planning Design
Implementa-tion
Monitoring Evaluation
Adaptation
Mitigation
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Adaptation
An adjustment process through which people reduce
the adverse effects of climate change
Spontaneous Planned
(in response to) (in anticipation of)
Scope of Adaptation
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Adaptive capacity
The improved ability of individuals, organizations
and institutions ability to respond to changes
Increased problem solving capacity: Understanding
the risks you are facing and being able to identify
and implement possible solutions
The ability to access and use information
People being able to empower themselves and being
in charge of their lives, the adaptation strategies . . .
AC is a ƒ (wealth, technology, education, information,
infrastructure, social capital, etc.,)
Having adaptive capacity does not mean it is used effectively
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Characteristics of adaptation
Focused on reducing vulnerability to climate change
Decreasing exposure
Managing sensitivity
Increasing adaptive capacity
Builds on local knowledge and capacity, linking it to scientific data
Context-specific, taking into consideration local circumstances (community-based adaptation)
Addresses current climate vulnerability and prepares for future changes
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Community knowledge is fundamental for developing adaptation strategies
Disaster risk reduction
Developinglocal
capacity
Building resilient
livelihoods
Tackling underlyingcauses of
vulnerability
CBA
Supportive policyenvironment
Political will
Capacity
Resources
Inclusive andtransparent
decision-making
Enabling Environment
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Ecosystem Based Adaptation• Uses ecosystem services to support an overall adaptation
strategy
• Aims to maintain and increase the resilience and services of ecosystems
• EBA is cross-cutting and likely to involve different levels of governance
Examples:• Maintaining or restoring mangroves, coral reefs and watershed vegetation
reduces vulnerability to storm surge, rising sea levels and changing precipitation patterns
• Enhancing availability of natural resources as a source of food important to livelihoods
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Accounting for ecological and social complexities Many CBA vulnerability assessments look at
the natural resource, e.g. the forest products, without considering the ecosystem services.
Many EBA vulnerability assessments fail to address socio-economic complexities, especially with regards to the unique needs of vulnerable groups.
The community based approach to adaptation is better at understanding social complexities and designing socially sustainable responses
The ecosystems based approach to adaptation is better at understanding ecological complexities and designing ecologically sustainable responses
The risk is adverse effects on larger ecosystems.
The risk is that power imbalances grow, and that benefits of adaptation are captured by local elites
When CCA practitioners can distinguish such added value, they will overcome initial barriers to collaboration, to achieve better adaptation results for people and for ecosystems
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Sustain Ecosystem Services
Lessons from Practice
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Objectives: Enhance the adaptive capacity of the local
communities Improve delivery systems Promote multi-level policy dialogues and general
awareness to climate related impacts
Vulnerability Assessment & Enhancing Adaptive
Capacity to Climate Change in Semi-Arid Areas of India (MSSRF)
Focus Areas: Agriculture, Water, Rural Energy & Livestock
Goal: The core objective of this project is to secure the livelihoods of the rural poor and vulnerable communities affected by climate related stresses
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International Climate Change Policy Framework
Success and impact stories
2
Water resource
management
Sustainable agriculture,
food securityBiomass,
rural energy
Service delivery systems
Action learning on vulnerabilities & coping
mechanisms
Community, village level
Local empowerment, capacity building
Best practices, knowledge & technologies
National Policy
Local Governments
3
Op
tim
ize
Del
iver
y
Sys
tem
1
En
ha
nce
Ad
apti
ve
Cap
aci
ty Im
pro
ve P
oli
cyD
ialo
gu
e &
Ad
voca
cy
Project Focus
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Project Villages
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Understanding Adaptation
Energy as an entry point in Kothur village, Andhra
Pradesh (abundance of Prosopis juliflora > 400
acres)
Land use change as an entry point at Srirangapur
village, AP (Progressive farmers, commercial
agriculture)
Livestock management & migration as an entry
point at both the villages in Rajasthan
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Control of erosion losses – sloppy land treatment
Weather based farming
Development of cropping systems based on weather codes
Testing of option sets (SRI, mixed cropping, varietal trials)
Treatement of alkaline soils
Kitchen gardens for nutritional security
Land use based interventions
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Lining of irrigation channels Reduction of irrigation intensity Groundwater monitoring Strengthening water harvesting structures /
revival and restoration of traditional / community based water conservation measures
Revitalization of water user groups
Water based interventions
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Improved breed varieties Livestock Management - Animal productivity
and stocks Partcipatory Pasture land development Development of fodder banks
Livestock based interventions
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Knowledge Management
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Innovative use of technology (mix of communication tools)
Providing locale-specific demand driven dynamic
information in the vernacular language (audio, video and
text)
Linking science with society (linkage between experts and
rural communities)
Addressing livelihood security issues in a participatory
science communication method (lab-to-lab; lab-to-land;
land-to-lab; land-to-land)
Capacity building of rural communities through various
partners for effective use of scientific inputs
Knowledge Connectivity
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Community Participation
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Examples from Brazil
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Social mobilization
Skill development
Appropriate technology
Awareness
Four elements for successful adaptation
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Right types – and right combination of assessments are needed to move
into adaptation actions Community participation is key to adaptation practices and this is
achieved by a variety of facilitations and interactions Strategic investments in infrastructure is key for adaptation Defining of indicators and benchmarks of change are important to
understand adaptation processes and measure success (M&E) Knowledge of the past experiences are vital Expanding information, awareness and capacity building is critical Successful technology demonstration Resource sharing (including labor) is fundamental to community based
adaptation measures. This is most likely to occur where community
relations are good and traditional social institutions are strong People look for long term solutions
Notable Insights
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Adaptation/Development Dilemma
Uncertainty in characterization of current / future
climate variability / change (Information)
Sectoral bifurcations
Up-scaling
Major Challenges
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Agricultural support strategies
Different Strategies for different categories of farmers
• Large scale/commercial farmers• Emerging small holders (market oriented)• Traditional farmers mainly subsistence• Landless/ farm labourers
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Comprehensive vulnerability assessment leads to good adaptation.
Choice of tools and methods is determined by the context and purpose
Involvement of the vulnerable communities is crucial for constructing sound adaptation strategies.
Adaptation options must be consistent with national development plans and priorities. This enables them to be easily incorporated into the national development activities.
Technical and institutional capacity to respond to climate change must be an ongoing process
Appropriate technology and awareness are central components of the design of adaptation strategies.
Conclusions
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Thank YouThank You
A. A. Nambi
“Every Calamity has an opportunity““The essence of sustainability lies in the capacity to adapt”
- Prof. M.S.Swaminathan
16/10/2014