AdaptNet for 1 May 2007

1. How to Make Adaptation Research Effective and Easy
2. Climate Change and Energy Challenges of 21st Century
3. Impacts of Climate Change on Australian Farmers
4. Lyme Borreliosis in Europe – Climate Change and Adaptation
5. Vulnerability of Grain Farmers to Climate Change
6. HDR 2007: Climate Change, Adaptation and MDGs

1.    How to Make Adaptation Research Effective and Easy

The article reflects on some tools / techniques effective in the integration of natural and social science approaches in policy making. It reviews methods adopted and adapted in the course of climate change impacts and adaptation research. The paper presents four barriers to effective adaptation to climate change. It highlights concepts of context, perspective, and boundary object to achieve goal realization.

Working at the Boundary: Facilitating Interdisciplinarity in Climate Change Adaptation Research, Amanda H. Lynch, Lee Tryhorn and Rebecca Abramson, School of Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University, The Australian Research Council, 2007 [PDF]

2.    Climate Change and Energy Challenges of 21st Century

The paper addresses the energy challenges facing the 21st century. It stresses the shifting of focus from oil dependency to reusable energy sources. Accelerated improvement of energy-supply and energy-end-use technologies available is essential if the suite of energy challenges of oil dependence and climate change are to be successfully addressed.

The Energy Innovation Imperative Addressing Oil Dependence, Climate Change, and Other 21st Century Energy Challenges, John P. Holdren, Innovations, Spring 2006 [PDF]

3.    Impacts of Climate Change on Australian Farmers

The paper summarises impacts of various projections of climate change on Australian agriculture. It highlights the key characteristics of projected climate change underpinning the creation of economic impacts. It examines the nature of broadacre agriculture in Australia, arguing that its character helps agricultural industries lessen adverse impacts or helps capitalize on favorable changes in climate.

Climate Change in Australia: Agricultural Impacts and Adaptation, Ross Kingwell,  Department of Agriculture, Western Australia and University of Western Australia, Australasian Agribusiness Review, Paper 1, Vol.14, 2006 [PDF]

4.    Lyme Borreliosis in Europe – Climate Change and Adaptation

The paper reviews impacts of climate change on Lyme borreliosis (LB) in Europe. LB is the most common vector-borne disease in Europe. The paper finds that future climate change in Europe will facilitate a spread of LB into higher latitudes and altitudes. There is a need to strengthen preventive measures (provision of information for the general public and surveillance activities) to deal with the possible spread of LB.

Lyme Borreliosis in Europe: Influences of Climate and Climate Change, Epidemiology, Ecology and Adaptation Measures, Elisabet Lindgren and Thomas G.T. Jaenson, Regional Office for Europe, World Health Organization, 2006 [PDF]

5.    Vulnerability of Grain Farmers to Climate Change

The paper focuses on determination and analysis of factors that differentiate farm enterprises and farm households in terms of their sensitivity to climate events and their capacity to adjust to changing climatic and market circumstances.  It presents two case studies: Laboulaye in Córdoba Province of Argentina and González in Tamaulipas State of Mexico. The paper explores two attributes of vulnerability: sensitivity and adaptive capacity.

A Comparison of the Social Vulnerability of Grain Farmers in Mexico and Argentina, Hallie Eakin et.al, Assessments of Impacts and Adaptations to Climate Change (AIACC) Working Paper No. 29, June 2006 [PDF]

6.    HDR 2007: Climate Change, Adaptation & MDGs

The 2007 Human Development Report (draft concept note) explores linkages between climate change and human development. It focuses on four broad clusters: climate change impacts and adaptation; the carbon budget; Kyoto Protocol and beyond; and statistical measurement. UNDP is currently hosting e-discussion to receive comments on the concept note, which can be sent to ee-net@groups.undp.org and hdr-net@groups.undp.org.

Human Development Report 2007 Climate Change and Human Development – Rising to the Challenge, Concept Note, Human Development Report Office (HDRO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), January 2007 [PDF]

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AdaptNet is a free weekly report produced by RMIT University Global Cities Institute’s Climate Change Adaptation Working Group. It is produced in partnership with the Victorian Government’s Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society at Melbourne University, Australia.

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