Climat Change ILRI

Adaptation through Managing Climate Risk

ByAlmaz Demessie

Senior Agro meteorologist

Early Warning and Response Directorate, Disaster Risk Management and Food

Security Sector

Climate Forum, EthiopiaMarch 8, 2011

Introduction

Climate affects multiple sectors including agriculture, food security, water resources, health and land use.

Climatic variability triggers crop failures, food insecurity, malaria epidemics, and shortages in hydro-power and irrigation. 

These types of impacts affect the ability of developing countries to achieve Millennium Development Goals related to poverty, hunger and human health. 

Introduction…ContdManaging the risk associated with climate

variability is integral to a comprehensive strategy for adapting agriculture and food systems to a changing climate.

• The extent and nature of negative impacts imposed by climate change can be managed by effective adaptation.

Introduction…Contd• In the context of climate change, adaptation

refers to adjustments in human and natural systems to respond to actual or expected climate impacts(IPCC).

• Climate change adaptation is a process of socio-institutional co-learning that recognizes often-competing goals and processes and uses information at various levels and in many ways to reduce vulnerability to climate risks.

Five objectives linked to the globally agreed Hyogo framework for action (HFA)

Strengthen national disaster risk management strategies and institutions

Ensure risk and vulnerability assessments, early warning and contingency planning and financing- in both rural and urban areas

Increase and sustain awareness creation, education and capacity building

Reduce underlying risk and vulnerability (and integrate DRR into sector planning and practices for example in water, health, environment)

Improve emergency preparedness and response through capacity strengthening

National Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

DRM Framework in Ethiopia

Specific objectives: Identify and test innovations in partnership with

rural communities that enable them to better manage climate-related risk and build more resilient livelihoods;

Identify and test tools and strategies to use advance information to better manage climate risk through food delivery, trade and crisis response;

Support risk management through enhanced prediction of climate impacts on agriculture, and enhanced climate information and services.

DRM Programme FrameworkDivided along six components in three phases and one enabling environment:a) Pre-Disaster Phase

1. Prevention2. Preparedness3. Mitigation

b) Disaster Phase4. Response

c) Post-Disaster Phase5. Recovery and Rehabilitation

d) Enabling Environment6. Institutional Strengthening

DRM Mainstreaming

Roadmap for mainstreaming DRR in different sector plans and programs at federal, city, and regional levels

Integration of DRR in development plans and land use and physical plans at regional, city, and woreda levels

Integration of DRR in zoning laws and building regulations and codes

Community Disaster Risk Management

Community disaster risk mngt. networkingCommunity response and recovery planningCommunity mitigation programmingCommunity education programsCommunity-based early warning system

CCA/DRM Integration

Increased adoption of mitigation measures as CC adaptation initiatives

Integration of DRM and CCA coordination mechanisms

Climate change financing facilitiesSustainable land managementEnvironmental management

Risk Transfer

Development and marketing of risk transfer microfinance instruments

Disaster risk and weather-based insurancePiloting of local government incentives for

adoption of mitigation measures

How do we implement adaptation?Adapting to climate change will depend on

adjustments and changes at every level - from community-based to national and international. However, the capacity to adapt will vary significantly from country to country, community to community and in particular to the level of development.

The impact of adaptation process• Adaptation process has the potential impact

to reduce adverse effects of climate change and enhance beneficial developmental activities which can be the driving force for sustainable development.

• The capacity of human nature to adapt to and cope with climate change depends on such factors as wealth, technology, education, information skill, infrastructure, access to resources, and management capabilities.

Importance of Gender mainstreaming in the process of adaptation

There are gender differences in climate change impacts and in adaptive capacities. As a great portion of women in developing countries are involved in agricultural activities any adaptation measure taken towards that activity is directly linked women’s day to day life.

Such differences, in vulnerability and also in adaptive opportunities, should be recognized in the adaptation process to avoid further increases in gender inequality and to ensure the successfulness of adaptation policies and measures.

Important points to implement adaptation measures

Adaptation measures should be supported by investigation and research findings in order to design appropriate strategies.

In general, the preferred adaptation strategies are actions with multiple economic and environmental benefits, including for current and future conditions and needs to be based on sound scientific assessment.

Some Examples in Ethiopian ContextExample1 Change in LGP in Bahir Dar (Ethiopia)

Agricultural Rainfall Index (ARI) during two different periods (From 1962 – 1992 and 1975 - 2005) (Almaz Demessie 2006)

Some Examples in Ethiopian …CONTDExample 2 Change in mean maximum temperature in Bahir Dar (Ethiopia)

Trend analysis of mean maximum temperature for Bahir Dar from 1961 – 2000 during the cropping season (May – November)

(Almaz Demessie 2004)

Some Examples in Ethiopian …CONTDExample 3 Change in LGP in Negele (pastoral area of Ethiopia)

Length of Growing Period during two different time frames [(1954

– 1983 and 1976 - 2006) (Almaz Demessie 2007)

Possible Adaptation MeasuresApplying improved knowledge to develop better techniques and to resist the effect of climate change in a given locality.

In line with this attention should be given for the following possible adaptation processes in agriculture.

Possible Adaptation Measures…CONTD• Cultural practices that can precondition for the

plant need to be further explored and implemented to mitigate the effect of stress factors.

 • Change in land use by using deferent techniques

such as changing farm area, change to crops with higher thermal requirements and drought-tolerant crop, a switch to crops with lower moisture requirements and changes in crop location.

Possible Adaptation Measures…CONTD

• Change in management in terms of the use of irrigation, fertilizer, in the control of pests, in soil drainage, in farm infrastructure.

 • Create awareness among people about the

causes of climate changes so that farmers could change their wrong management practices such as deforestation, over grazing, etc. which are the main causes for desertification and climate change at large.

Conclusions In order to design and implement sound

adaptation mechanism, appropriate scientific assessment and research findings have paramount importance, since any adaptation strategies are actions with multiple economic and environmental benefits, including for current and future conditions.

Conclusions …CONTDThe range of practices that can be used to

adapt to climate change is diverse, and includes changes in behavior, structural changes, policy based responses, technological responses or managerial responses.

Thank You