AdaptNet for 15 September 2009

1. Australia’s Relationship with a Climate-changed Pacific

2. Environmental Change and Energy Infrastructure

3. Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Options – Mediterranean

4. Vulnerability Interventions in the Context of Multiple Stressors

5. Children and Young People in Disaster Risk Reduction

6. Adaptation Strategies for Economy and Society – Workshop

Australia’s Relationship with a Climate-changed Pacific            

The paper examines Australia’s attitudes to climate change in the region under the two most recent federal governments: the Howard Government and the Rudd Government. It suggests that the Rudd Government should enact deep emissions cuts, provide adequate adaptation assistance, and look to the possibility of providing refuge for those displaced by climate change.  

A Fair-weather Friend? Australia’s Relationship with a Climate-changed Pacific, Louise Collett, Institute Paper No.1, The Australia Institute, July 2009 [540 KB, PDF]  

Environmental Change and Energy Infrastructure

The paper identifies some of the most vulnerable nodes in the global energy infrastructure and shows how they might be affected by moderate environmental change. It argues that reinforcement of global energy infrastructure is unlikely to happen overnight. The paper suggests some options in order to cope with the increasing variability caused by environmental change.  

The Vulnerability of Energy Infrastructure to Environmental Change, Briefing Paper, Cleo Paskal, Chatham House and Global EESE, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, July 2009 [687 KB, PDF]  

Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Options – Mediterranean        

The report presents an overview of the expected impacts of climate change in the Mediterranean over the next century. It provides a general framework for implementation of adaptation in the region. The report puts forward some recommendations (in the form of key principles) to guide design and implementation of various adaptation strategies. 

The Future of the Mediterranean: From Impacts of Climate Change to Adaptation Issues, Alexandre Magnan et al., Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), Paris, France, 2009 [1.52 MB, PDF]  

Vulnerability Interventions in the Context of Multiple Stressors    

The paper presents lessons learned from an ongoing initiative (Southern Africa Vulnerability Initiative) to develop a framework for assessing vulnerability in the context of multiple stressors. It examines three projects that address vulnerability from different contexts: rural conditions in Zambia and South Africa; informal trade in Durban; and a parastatal conservation agency in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.  

Vulnerability Interventions in the Context of Multiple Stressors: Lessons from the Southern Africa Vulnerability Initiative (SAVI), K. O’Brien, T. Quinlan, and G. Ziervogel, Environmental Science & Policy, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 23-32, 2009 [440 KB, PDF]  

Children and Young People in Disaster Risk Reduction

The report stresses that the voices of children should be heard in future assessments of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) – the ten-year framework for building the resilience of communities to disasters. It focuses on HFA’s five key priorities: governance; risk assessment, monitoring and warning; knowledge and education; underlying risk factors; and disaster preparedness and response. 

Children on the Frontline: Children and Young People in Disaster Risk Reduction, Plan International and World Vision International, 2009 [1.40 MB, PDF]  

 Adaptation Strategies for Economy and Society – Workshop

This workshop will take place on 19-20 October 2009 in Zagreb, Croatia. It will facilitate the exchange of latest findings and innovative ideas related to climate change. The workshop will provide opportunity to participants to discuss about specific problems related to causes of, and adaptation to climate change. Abstracts may be submitted by 22 September 2009.  

Climate Change in South-Eastern European Countries IV: Adaptation Strategies for Economy and Society, The Joanneum Research Climate Change Working Group, University of Zagreb, Croatia, October 19-20, 2009