Enhancing adaptive practices in the semi arids_Nambi, Water Research Institue_UNDP 16October2014

Enhancing Adaptive Capacity in the Semi-Arids: Lessons from Practice

Enhancing Adaptive Capacity in the Semi-Arids: Lessons from Practice

Arivudai Nambi Appadurai PhDStrategy Head (V&A Program)

World Resources Institute – India

UNDP16th October 2014Hotel Park, Delhi

National Workshop on Climate Change Adaptation in India

[email protected]. A. Nambi

Conceptual issues

Insights from practice

Opportunities and challenges

Outline

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Impacts of Climate Change

For biological systems, it can be change in productivity, quality, population, or range

For societal systems, an impact can be a change in income, morbidity, mortality, or other measures of well-being

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Rural Vulnerability to Climate

High population growth though

at a declining rate

High population growth though

at a declining rate

86% of all freshwater

withdrawal is for agricultural use

86% of all freshwater

withdrawal is for agricultural use

Current incentivesmay support

unsuitable crops

Current incentivesmay support

unsuitable crops

Prevalence of rainfed agriculture

over irrigated agriculture

Prevalence of rainfed agriculture

over irrigated agriculture

Geographic location makes it subject to high temperatures and marked seasonal rainfall; uncertainty of

Monsoon a factor

Geographic location makes it subject to high temperatures and marked seasonal rainfall; uncertainty of

Monsoon a factor

1/5th of GDP in Indiais derived from

agriculture

1/5th of GDP in Indiais derived from

agriculture

61% of land area isagriculture land

61% of land area isagriculture land

1/3rd of geographicalarea is either

Drought / floodprone

1/3rd of geographicalarea is either

Drought / floodprone

60% of the population live in rural areas and derive their

livelihoods from agriculture andnatural resource-based activities

60% of the population live in rural areas and derive their

livelihoods from agriculture andnatural resource-based activities

Elements of Vulnerability to Climate in Rural Areas of India

World Bank, 2009

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Vulnerability

Vulnerability in Climate

Change context could

be construed as “the

extent to which climate

change may damage or

harm a system”

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Key Drivers

Wider Resource Base & Exogenous Changes

World Markets / TradeGlobalizationUrbanizationTechnology

Climate Change

Vulnerability Context

Dynamics & changes in the resource base

(Shocks, Fluctuations, Trends)

Human well-being Quality and Standard of Life

Local Resource Base

(Social, Natural, Institutional, HumanFinancial, Physical

Resources)

Assets

Livelihood Activities

Income

RESILIENCE

F H

S

N

P

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A Conceptual Framework

Exposure to climate change related events create uncertainties

Uncertainty issues are addressed by converting them into risks

The inability to manage risk effectively due to a variety of factors results in vulnerability

Adaptation essentially reduces vulnerability and more effectively manages risks through appropriate strategies which enhance adaptive capacity

URVA FRAMEWORK

Vulnerability Adaptation

RiskExposure – Uncertainty

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Iterative steps in Climate Change Adaptation

The starting point for adaptation decisions is to have the information on the possible range of impacts to which one would need to adapt to.

Climate Variability

Climate Change

Impacts

Other Stresses

Existing Management

PracticesPolicy

CriteriaDevelopment

Objectives

Information Awareness

Planning Design

Implementa-tion

Monitoring Evaluation

Adaptation

Mitigation

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Adaptation

An adjustment process through which people reduce

the adverse effects of climate change

Spontaneous Planned

(in response to) (in anticipation of)

Scope of Adaptation

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Adaptive capacity

The improved ability of individuals, organizations

and institutions ability to respond to changes

Increased problem solving capacity: Understanding

the risks you are facing and being able to identify

and implement possible solutions

The ability to access and use information

People being able to empower themselves and being

in charge of their lives, the adaptation strategies . . .

AC is a ƒ (wealth, technology, education, information,

infrastructure, social capital, etc.,)

Having adaptive capacity does not mean it is used effectively

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Characteristics of adaptation

Focused on reducing vulnerability to climate change

Decreasing exposure

Managing sensitivity

Increasing adaptive capacity

Builds on local knowledge and capacity, linking it to scientific data

Context-specific, taking into consideration local circumstances (community-based adaptation)

Addresses current climate vulnerability and prepares for future changes

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Community knowledge is fundamental for developing adaptation strategies

Disaster risk reduction

Developinglocal

capacity

Building resilient

livelihoods

Tackling underlyingcauses of

vulnerability

CBA

Supportive policyenvironment

Political will

Capacity

Resources

Inclusive andtransparent

decision-making

Enabling Environment

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Ecosystem Based Adaptation• Uses ecosystem services to support an overall adaptation

strategy

• Aims to maintain and increase the resilience and services of ecosystems

• EBA is cross-cutting and likely to involve different levels of governance

Examples:• Maintaining or restoring mangroves, coral reefs and watershed vegetation

reduces vulnerability to storm surge, rising sea levels and changing precipitation patterns

• Enhancing availability of natural resources as a source of food important to livelihoods

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Accounting for ecological and social complexities Many CBA vulnerability assessments look at

the natural resource, e.g. the forest products, without considering the ecosystem services.

Many EBA vulnerability assessments fail to address socio-economic complexities, especially with regards to the unique needs of vulnerable groups.

The community based approach to adaptation is better at understanding social complexities and designing socially sustainable responses

The ecosystems based approach to adaptation is better at understanding ecological complexities and designing ecologically sustainable responses

The risk is adverse effects on larger ecosystems.

The risk is that power imbalances grow, and that benefits of adaptation are captured by local elites

When CCA practitioners can distinguish such added value, they will overcome initial barriers to collaboration, to achieve better adaptation results for people and for ecosystems

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CLIMATE CHANGE

Sustain Ecosystem Services

Lessons from Practice

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Objectives: Enhance the adaptive capacity of the local

communities Improve delivery systems Promote multi-level policy dialogues and general

awareness to climate related impacts

Vulnerability Assessment & Enhancing Adaptive

Capacity to Climate Change in Semi-Arid Areas of India (MSSRF)

Focus Areas: Agriculture, Water, Rural Energy & Livestock

Goal: The core objective of this project is to secure the livelihoods of the rural poor and vulnerable communities affected by climate related stresses

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International Climate Change Policy Framework

Success and impact stories

2

Water resource

management

Sustainable agriculture,

food securityBiomass,

rural energy

Service delivery systems

Action learning on vulnerabilities & coping

mechanisms

Community, village level

Local empowerment, capacity building

Best practices, knowledge & technologies

National Policy

Local Governments

3

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tim

ize

Del

iver

y

Sys

tem

1

En

ha

nce

Ad

apti

ve

Cap

aci

ty Im

pro

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oli

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ialo

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Ad

voca

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Project Focus

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Project Villages

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Understanding Adaptation

Energy as an entry point in Kothur village, Andhra

Pradesh (abundance of Prosopis juliflora > 400

acres)

Land use change as an entry point at Srirangapur

village, AP (Progressive farmers, commercial

agriculture)

Livestock management & migration as an entry

point at both the villages in Rajasthan

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Control of erosion losses – sloppy land treatment

Weather based farming

Development of cropping systems based on weather codes

Testing of option sets (SRI, mixed cropping, varietal trials)

Treatement of alkaline soils

Kitchen gardens for nutritional security

Land use based interventions

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Lining of irrigation channels Reduction of irrigation intensity Groundwater monitoring Strengthening water harvesting structures /

revival and restoration of traditional / community based water conservation measures

Revitalization of water user groups

Water based interventions

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Improved breed varieties Livestock Management - Animal productivity

and stocks Partcipatory Pasture land development Development of fodder banks

Livestock based interventions

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Knowledge Management

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Innovative use of technology (mix of communication tools)

Providing locale-specific demand driven dynamic

information in the vernacular language (audio, video and

text)

Linking science with society (linkage between experts and

rural communities)

Addressing livelihood security issues in a participatory

science communication method (lab-to-lab; lab-to-land;

land-to-lab; land-to-land)

Capacity building of rural communities through various

partners for effective use of scientific inputs

Knowledge Connectivity

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Community Participation

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Examples from Brazil

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Social mobilization

Skill development

Appropriate technology

Awareness

Four elements for successful adaptation

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Right types – and right combination of assessments are needed to move

into adaptation actions Community participation is key to adaptation practices and this is

achieved by a variety of facilitations and interactions Strategic investments in infrastructure is key for adaptation Defining of indicators and benchmarks of change are important to

understand adaptation processes and measure success (M&E) Knowledge of the past experiences are vital Expanding information, awareness and capacity building is critical Successful technology demonstration Resource sharing (including labor) is fundamental to community based

adaptation measures. This is most likely to occur where community

relations are good and traditional social institutions are strong People look for long term solutions

Notable Insights

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Adaptation/Development Dilemma

Uncertainty in characterization of current / future

climate variability / change (Information)

Sectoral bifurcations

Up-scaling

Major Challenges

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Agricultural support strategies

Different Strategies for different categories of farmers

• Large scale/commercial farmers• Emerging small holders (market oriented)• Traditional farmers mainly subsistence• Landless/ farm labourers

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Comprehensive vulnerability assessment leads to good adaptation.

Choice of tools and methods is determined by the context and purpose

Involvement of the vulnerable communities is crucial for constructing sound adaptation strategies.

Adaptation options must be consistent with national development plans and priorities. This enables them to be easily incorporated into the national development activities.

Technical and institutional capacity to respond to climate change must be an ongoing process

Appropriate technology and awareness are central components of the design of adaptation strategies.

Conclusions

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Thank YouThank You

A. A. Nambi

“Every Calamity has an opportunity““The essence of sustainability lies in the capacity to adapt”

- Prof. M.S.Swaminathan

16/10/2014