AdaptNet for 22 February 2011

Recommended Citation

"AdaptNet for 22 February 2011", ADAPTNet English Edition, February 22, 2011, https://nautilus.org/adaptnet/22-february-2011/

AdaptNet for 22 February 2011

Sharing Risk: Financing Australia’s Disaster Resilience                

The paper advocates thinking strategically about how to reduce future losses from natural disasters and aid victims in their recovery efforts. It urges that fundamental questions are asked about how private insurance and government assistance can be better leveraged to help communities recover. The paper asserts that a new approach is needed to financing the costs of natural disasters and encouraging those living in high-risk areas to be better prepared. It includes nine recommendations to strengthen the role of insurance for Australian disaster resilience. 

Sharing Risk: Financing Australia’s Disaster Resilience, Edward Mortimer, Anthony Bergin and Rachel Carter, ASPI Special Report, Issue 37, The Australian Strategic Policy Institute, February 2011 [381 KB, PDF]

Mapping Vulnerability to Climate Change – Tajikistan

This paper adopts a theory-driven approach to constructing a vulnerability index based on the notion that vulnerability is a function of; exposure to climate change and variability, sensitivity to the impacts of that exposure, and the ability to adapt to ongoing and future changes. It develops a methodology for regional disaggregated estimation and mapping of the areas that are ex-ante the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and applies it to Tajikistan, which is a highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Mapping Vulnerability to Climate Change, Rasmus Heltberg and Misha Bonch-Osmolovskiy, Policy Research Working Paper 5554, Sustainable Development Network Social Development Unit, The World Bank, January 2011 [1.29 MB, PDF]

U.S. EPA Climate Ready Estuaries – Progress Report        

The report describes the accomplishments of the US EPA’s Climate Ready Estuaries Program related to vulnerability assessments, stakeholder engagement, climate change indicators and monitoring, and adaptation planning. Some of the key accomplishments included in this report are: distributing start-up and technical assistance grants; developing climate change indicators for two national estuary programs (NEPs); and bringing four new NEPs into the program.

Climate Ready Estuaries – 2010 Progress Report, Climate Ready Estuaries (CRE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), December 2010 [3.64 MB, PDF]

Risk Reduction to Residential Structures in Developing Countries      

The paper applies probabilistic cost-benefit analyses (CBA) to evaluate selected disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures that reduce losses to structures in hazard-prone areas in low and middle-income developing countries. It examines structures exposed to three different hazards in four countries, including: hurricane risk in St. Lucia, Caribbean Island State; flood risk in Jakarta, Indonesia; earthquake risk in Istanbul, Turkey; and flood risk within the Rohini River basin in Uttar Pradesh, India.

The Costs and Benefits of Reducing Risk from Natural Hazards to Residential Structures in Developing Countries, Stefan Hochrainer-Stigler et al., Working Paper # 2011-01, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA, January 2011 [500 KB, PDF]     

Handbook of Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction    

This Handbook situates hazards and disasters in their broad political, cultural, economic, and environmental context. It critically reviews progress in responding to disasters including warning, relief and recovery. The Handbook addresses mitigation of potential loss and prevention of disasters under two sub-headings: governance, advocacy and self-help; and communication and participation.

Handbook of Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction, Wisner, Ben; Gaillard, J. C.; Kelman, Ilan (eds.), Routledge Publishers, 776 p., 2011 [subscription required]

Nominations Required for Australian Adaptation Champions

NCCARF intends to highlight the actions of Australians who are leading the way in climate adaptation. Australian Adaptation Champions could be: excellent communicators actively involved in communicating the knowledge needed for adaptation; people, groups and governments actively involved in making decisions regarding adaptation actions; leaders in the field, assisting others to adapt to a changing climate; and inventors and designers leading the way with innovative ways to adapt. Nominations close by 28th February 2011. Contact Ann Penny: a.penny@griffith.edu.au      

NCCARF Climate Adaptation Champions, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF), Griffith University Gold Coast Campus, Queensland, Australia, February 2011

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