AdaptNet for 27 October 2009

1. Coastal Vulnerability Principles for Climate Change – Australia
2. Risk Assessment Framework: Buenos Aires, Delhi, Lagos, New York
3. Global Climate Change Scenarios – Google Earth
4. Geoengineering the Climate: Science, Governance and Uncertainty
5. China’s Climate- and Energy-security Dilemma
6. Environmental Research Event 2010 – CQ University, Australia

AdaptNet Special Report: The Gathering Storm: Will Asia Pacific Cities Adapt to Climate Change? – Joan Diamond, Peter Hayes, Jane Mullett, Felicity Roddick, and Tim Savage.

Coastal Vulnerability Principles for Climate Change – Australia             

The paper reviews various Australian coastal vulnerability studies. It finds that studies generally ignore multi decade climate variability phases. The paper argues that Australian coastal reserves will have to move inland (like the USA rolling easement approach) in order to retain beaches and natural functioning of coastal ecosystems.  

Coastal Vulnerability Principles for Climate Change, Peter Helman and Rodger Tomlinson, Paper Presented at the Queensland Coastal Conference – 2009, Griffith Centre for Coastal Management, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 2009 [208 KB, PDF]  

Risk Assessment Framework: Buenos Aires, Delhi, Lagos, New York

The paper develops a framework for urban risk assessment by focusing on adaptation to climate change. It tests the framework on four geographically diverse large cities including: Buenos Aires, Delhi, Lagos, and New York. The paper identifies adaptation planning pathways, as a necessary response to climate change at the city level.  

Framework for City Climate Risk Assessment: Buenos Aires, Delhi, Lagos, and New York, Shagun Mehrotra et al., Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN), Columbia University, 2009 [9.03 MB, PDF]  

Global Climate Change Scenarios – Google Earth         

As an awareness raising exercise ahead of the December’s Climate Conference (COP-15) in Copenhagen, global climate change scenarios from the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report are now available in Google Earth. Viewers can explore the potential impacts of climate change on Earth and find out various possible solutions for adaptation and mitigation.  

Climate Change in Google Earth, Google Earth, 2009  

Geoengineering the Climate: Science, Governance and Uncertainty    

The report provides information on scientific and technical aspects of geoengineering, and contributes to the debate on climate policy. It divides geoengineering methods into two basic categories: carbon dioxide removal (CDR), and solar radiation management (SRM). The report provides a view on whether geoengineering could play a role in addressing climate change.  

Geoengineering the Climate: Science, Governance and Uncertainty, RS Policy Document 10/09, the Royal Society, London, UK, September 2009 [4.55 MB, PDF]  

China’s Climate- and Energy-security Dilemma

The paper reviews the latest developments in climate and energy politics in China. It argues that while there are indicators of significant awareness and political ambition, China’s dilemma regarding energy and climate security is closely linked to its struggle to master a low-carbon development path in the midst of rapid industrialization and urbanization.  

China’s Climate- and Energy-security Dilemma: Shaping a New Path of Economic Growth, Karl Hallding, Guoyi Han, and Marie Olsson, Journal of Current Chinese Affairs, vol. 3, pp. 119-134, 2009 [237 KB, PDF]  

Environmental Research Event 2010 – CQ University, Australia

This event (Environmental Research Event 2010) will be held from 27-30 June 2010 at Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. Themes for the event include: climate change, education and policy, economic sustainability, water, waste, energy, and remediation. Abstracts may be submitted by 07 December 2009.  

ERE 2010 ‘Transitions to a Sustainable Future’, Environmental Research Event (ERE), Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 27-30 June 2010  

AdaptNet Special Report, The Gathering Storm: Will Asia Pacific Cities Adapt to Climate Change? – Joan Diamond, Peter Hayes, Jane Mullett, Felicity Roddick, and Tim Savage, Nautilus Institute and the Global Cities Research Institute, RMIT University

Joan Diamond, Peter Hayes, Jane Mullett, Felicity Roddick and Tim Savage write, “Based on the scenarios, we are optimistic that it is indeed possible for cities in this region to adapt to climate change. The challenges identified by the participants were immense, but at critical junctures they found ways to overcome many of the most daunting obstacles. In this sense, the outcome of the workshop was to immediately inspire participants to carry home the message that the time to adapt is now, and that one of the best ways forward is for cities to collaborate.”  

The Gathering Storm: Will Asia Pacific Cities Adapt to Climate Change? – Joan Diamond, Peter Hayes, Jane Mullett, Felicity Roddick and Tim Savage, Nautilus Institute and the Global Cities Research Institute, RMIT University, AdaptNet Special Report 09-07-S-Ad, 27 October 2009