WINTER SCHOOL 2014 Climate System Analysis Group

POLICY AND DECISION MAKING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPTATION

ANNOTATED PROGRAMME

TITLE OF SESSION:

UNDERSTANDING THE CLIMATE SYSTEM

FACILITATOR Chris Lennard

SHORT OVERVIEW:

The climate system is influenced by a number of other factors like the sun, ocean, vegetation and soils, volcanoes and humans. This session will present a general overview of the climate system, how these different factors effect it, the time and space scales that processes occur in the atmosphere, climate variability and will touch briefly on global warming and climate change. It will also introduce climate modeling and regional downscaling ideas/techniques.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES Communicate the scales and variability in the climate system

KEY LEARNING POINTS Large scale process in the climate system

The role of greenhouse gasses

Regional space scales and relevant time scales

Natural variability vs global warming

LINKS/RESOURCES http://www.eo.ucar.edu/basics/index.html

http://www.cara.psu.edu/climate/climatechangeprimer.asp

TITLE OF SESSION:

LANDSCAPE OF CLIMATE INFORMATION & INTRODUCTION TO CLIMATE SERVICES AND PORTALS

FACILITATOR Ross Blamey

AIMS/OBJECTIVES To get a better understanding of what climate services are.

Understand some of the limitations of data and climate information.

How to access data and the difficulties one may encounter.

Encouraging critical thinking throughout the workshop.

Considering climate science ethics.

WEEK 1

LINKS/RESOURCES Hewitt et al. 2012. The Global Framework for Climate Services. Nature Climate Change 2, 831–832 (doi:10.1038/nclimate1745).

Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS):

http://www.gfcs-climate.org/

Climate Services partnership (CSP):

http://www.climate-services.org/

TITLE OF SESSION:

CLIMATE BASELINE – INTRODUCION TO CIP

FACILITATOR Chris Jack

SHORT OVERVIEW:

The Climate Information Platform provides easy access to a range of climate information, both historical observations as well as downscaled future climate projections. This session gives a brief overview of CIP, why it was created and the needs it is attempting to fulfil, as well as an initial introduction to how it is to be used. Participants will also be introduced to some of the CIP integrations with other information sources (weADAPT and PSMSL)

AIMS/OBJECTIVES Provide participants with an initial introduction to CIP. Once completed participants should feel comfortable using the basic functionality of CIP as well as have a good idea of the reason for its existence and when it is appropriate to use it.

KEY LEARNING POINTS Why CIP was created.

How to access data in CIP.

Appropriate and inappropriate uses of CIP

How to use the guidance material and case studies.

How to access integrated information from other platforms

LINKS/RESOURCES http://cip.csag.uct.ac.za/

TITLE OF SESSION:

SYSTEM FEEDBACKS

FACILITATOR Chris Lennard

SHORT OVERVIEW:

Change to one part of the earth-atmosphere system can have a positive or negative feedback on the initial change. For example, ice reflects incoming energy from the sun. If there is less ice, less energy is reflected so more energy enters the earth system. More energy in the system means it is warmer therefore more ice melts, resulting in more energy in the earth system resulting in more ice melt etc. This is a positive feedback loop We examine positive and negative feedback loops in the land-ocean-ice atmosphere system and the potential of these loops to exacerbate or moderate warming of eh atmosphere.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES Understand the principles of earth system feedbacks and what these may mean for local climate

TITLE OF SESSION:

THE DECISION MAKING PATHWAY

FACILITATOR Anna Steynor

SHORT OVERVIEW:

What is adaptation and what are we adapting to? Adaptation to climate change can be approached from a number of directions and how we frame adaptation decisions is a key determinant in how we assess vulnerability and select appropriate adaptation interventions. Indeed there are many guiding frameworks and tools to help different sectors and user groups consider climate risk and think about solutions to address climate risk.

In this session, we will examine what adaptation is and explore different approaches to the adaptation decision-making pathway. We will consider the different types of adaptation and how different actors may perceive the need or requirement to adapt given different perspectives on the problems. This session will provide a framework for the structure of the course and the step-wise approach to the case study exercise.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES To define adaptation

To think about different frameworks and approaches to adaptation decision making.

To make the link between the climate science components of the Winter School course with the vulnerability and adaptation decision making components as context for the case studies.

READINGS Successful adaptation climate change across scales (Adger et al, 2005)

Participatory Learning and Action 60: Community-based adaptation (2009)

OECD Policy Guidance on Integration Climate Change Adaptation into Development Cooperation (2009)

Adaptation to Global Warming: Do Climate Models Tell Us What We Need to Know? (Orskes et al, 2010)

Designing Climate Change Adaptation Initiatives: A UNDP Toolkit for Practitioners (2010)

LINKS/RESOURCES UK Climate Impacts Programme Adaptation Wizard http://www.ukcip.org.uk/wizard/

SEI weAdapt platform http://weadapt.org/

TITLE OF SESSION:

SOCIAL/CLIMATE VULNERABILITY AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS

(INCLUDING VULNERABILITY EXERCISE)

FACILITATOR Anna Steynor / Sarshen Scorgie

SHORT OVERVIEW:

Vulnerability is a complex concept, and different understandings and approaches exist, both in academic discourse and in everyday life. In this session we will explore the different understandings of vulnerability and further look at approaches for assessing vulnerability, providing theoretical and practical insights and experience.

Vulnerability has become a buzz word in the climate change debate, as understanding the vulnerabilities of people, communities and systems is generally considered as key in designing climate change adaptation measures. Understanding current vulnerabilities is a first step in developing responses to the conditions that the future is likely to bring, as understanding the present stressors and consequences helps us prepare for the future.

For example, when seeking funding for climate change adaptation, donors tend to ask whether a vulnerability assessment has been conducted for the project area or, phrased differently, whether the project will address locations, people or communities most vulnerable. Yet with the various

understandings of, and approaches to, vulnerability, providing sound information on vulnerabilities can be a challenge. Vulnerable to what, and importantly so, who decides who and what is vulnerable?

This session will therefore provide participants with an insight into the different understandings of vulnerability, and how one can practically assess vulnerability to inform decision making and implementation.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES The module aims to create an understanding of vulnerability in the context of climate change adaptation and complex multi-stressor systems, and of how vulnerability can be assessed at different levels.

LINKS/RESOURCES http://www.ukcip.org.uk/lclip

TITLE OF SESSION:

USING OBSERVATION DATA HANDS-ON

FACILITATOR Ross Blamey / Kate Sutherland / Lisa Coop / Tristan Hauser / Alex Shabala / Pierre-Louis Kloppers

SHORT OVERVIEW:

Workshop participants will be introduced and given a brief summary of the Climate Information Platform (CIP) developed by CSAG.

This includes a hands on exercise encouraging participants, through a series of questions related to observed data, to explore and analyze the historical climate.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES To introduce participants to an example of a climate data portal (CIP)

Gain experience in accessing and navigating a data portal

Understanding observational data and potential limitations

LINKS/RESOURCES http://cip.csag.uct.ac.za/webclient2/app/

TITLE OF SESSION:

MODELLING AND DOWNSCALING

FACILITATOR Chris Lennard

SHORT OVERVIEW:

Projections of future climate are based on mathematical models. There is a plethora of model types, with a number of global climate models, regional climate models and statistical models run at climate research centres throughout the world. Model ensembles, such as CMIP5 or CORDEX, may be constructed from individual climate simulations.

In order to enable a better understanding of the nature of climate projections, and information content of the different model and ensemble types, we present here basic information about how models are constructed and run, how and why ensembles are generated, and at what spatial and temporal scales are their outputs relevant.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES To provide a better understanding of the landscape of numerical climate projections

Distinction between global climate models, regional climate models and statistical downscaling

Understanding of model ensembles and why are these generated

Understanding of spatial and temporal scales at which various model types operate

TITLE OF SESSION:

DECISION TIME HORIZONS

FACILITATOR Ross Blamey

SHORT OVERVIEW:

The primary focus of climate scientists, and climate modellers in particular, has historically been in understanding the evolution of the climate system over decades and centuries to better inform our understanding of climate change from altered greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Yet adaptation decisions, unlike mitigation policy decisions, are rarely sensitive to information about the future climate in 2100 or even 2050. Understanding the time horizons of decision making is crucial in order to constrain the information requirements and to understand what type of information if relevant.

In this session, we will split into groups to think about the issue of temporal scale and how this relates to specific adaptation decision making contexts. Each group will choose a societal sector (e.g. health, water, education, agriculture) and think of some climate-related problems that face the chosen sector. Having identified a number of possible decisions that might be made to address these problems, the groups will be asked to address the following questions:

1. What are the decision time horizons? 2. How far ahead do you need or desire climate information? 3. Are there different time horizons within your individual decisions? 4. What length of climate data do you need to understand your

vulnerability/risk? 5. Do you need climate projections for a year/ten years/one hundred

years into the future?

AIMS/OBJECTIVES To appreciate the relevance of decision time horizons for constraining the information requirements.

To examine the strengths and weaknesses of climate information over different temporal scales

To work in groups and articulate the decision time horizons for a specific sector and suite of climate-related problems.

READINGS IPCC, AR4 – WG II: 3.2.3.4. Time Horizons

Hallegatte, S. (2009) Strategies to adapt to an uncertain climate change. Global Environmental Change

TITLE OF SESSION:

MULTI-LINES OF EVIDENCE (CLIMATE & SOCIAL)

FACILITATOR Chris Jack

SHORT OVERVIEW:

Data on the direction and magnitude of change in future climate originating from various models and sources such as ensembles and individual global climate models, regional climate models etc. is laden with uncertainties, and may sometimes be conflicting. However, each model or source has different attributes of signal and noise, limitations on interpretation and degrees of uncertainty. For example, GCMs are good for looking at large-scale patterns and feedbacks in the global climate system but are too coarse in their resolution to say anything useful about the specifics of what is happening or likely to be experienced on the ground in any given place.

Bringing together information from various sources, while taking into consideration their strengths and limitations, makes it possible to develop a fuller and more robust picture of the climatic changes occurring in a given region and tackle questions of what the impacts of such changes are and might be into the future and what to do accordingly – what regulations and policies to put in place, what investments to make and what actions to take in terms reducing greenhouse gases (mitigation) and preparing to accommodate the changes that do occur to minimize the impacts (adaptation).

AIMS/OBJECTIVES To understand the need to build a climate change message based on multiple information streams in the face of sources of uncertainty

● Awareness of different climate change data sources and their attributes

● Knowledge on sources of uncertainty ● Understanding limits to data ● Approaches/methods to integrating the following information

streams: ○ the past climate record, ○ the large scale atmospheric circulation, ○ the indications of change from multi-model GCM

simulations ○ the detail of local scale projected change derived through

downscaling methods

LINKS/RESOURCES http://weadapt.org/knowledge-base/using-climate-information/regional-climate-change-messages

TITLE OF SESSION:

CROSSING THE RIVER

FACILITATOR Chris Lennard

SHORT OVERVIEW:

You have been away from home for 2 weeks, you are tired and one day away from your family and friends. But the bridge to your village has been washed away….will you cross the river or take a 4 day detour?

AIMS/OBJECTIVES How do increasing layers of information affect your decision making process

TITLE OF SESSION:

CONCEPTS OF UNCERTAINTY

FACILITATOR Tristan Hauser

SHORT OVERVIEW:

To fully understand the impacts of climate change and inform adaptation decisions, we must be able to grapple with climate uncertainties. In this session, we will explore the different types of climate uncertainties and discuss their role in climate prediction and climate change decision making.

In weather prediction, where we attempt to forecast the precise temperature or amount of rainfall at a particular location, the uncertainty in our forecast increases dramatically over a few days because the atmosphere is inherently chaotic. However, when making climate predictions we want to know how the statistics of weather (e.g. the average temperature) change over time. We therefore care more about uncertainty in the factors which control the long-term behaviour of the system, such as the ocean circulation or solar activity.

In addition to physical climate uncertainties, when making climate change adaptation decisions, we must also account for uncertainties in socio-economic factors, such as changes in demographics or the regulatory environment. Effectively responding to climate change therefore requires a thorough understanding and, where possible, quantification of these diverse sources of uncertainty. More importantly, we must be able to determine when the uncertainties are relevant to our decisions.

“Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd” – Voltaire

AIMS/OBJECTIVES To recognise that there are different flavours of climatic uncertainties.

To understand the three main types of climate prediction uncertainty.

To appreciate the ways in which these uncertainties are explored in climate modelling experiments.

To relate climate uncertainties to the decision making context and be able to distinguish between uncertainty and risk.

READINGS Maslin and Austin (2012) Climate models at their limit? Nature 486 183-184

Curry and Webster (2011) Climate Science and the Uncertainty Monster. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc. 92 1667-1682

Yohe and Oppenheimer (2011) Evaluation, characterization, and communication of uncertainty by the intergovernmental panel on climate change – an introductory essay. Climatic Change 108(4) 629-639

Hawkins and Sutton (2009) The potential to narrow uncertainty in regional climate predictions. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc. 90 1095–1107

Stainforth et al. (2007) Confidence, uncertainty and decision-support relevance in climate predictions. Philos. Trans. Roy. Soc. A365 2145–2161

LINKS/RESOURCES http://www.confidenceinclimate.net/main/home.html

TITLE OF SESSION:

RISK GAME; DISSOLVING DISASTERS

FACILITATOR Chris Lennard / Ross Blamey

SHORT OVERVIEW:

Making decisions in the face of uncertainty is an inherent component of responding to the threats of climate variability and climate change. However, it is not simply uncertainty in the climate drivers that make the decision space complex but also the need to accommodate different decision objectives and competing stakeholder values. One of the most effective ways to better understand the dynamics of these situations is to engage in participatory game-play.

In this session, we will play a game called “Dissolving Disasters”. The game involves two teams (or villages), containing a number of farmers each hoping to avoid droughts and floods and get successful yields. You take on the role of a farmer and have to choose whether to plant ordinary crops or to plant drought/flood tolerant crops at an additional cost. After each turn, you find out whether the decision made was sensible or not. Some people will act as donors to subsidise certain options, adding another layer of complexity. The winning farmer and winning village gets a prize so you want to make sure you do well individually and collectively. The game is first played under “stationary” climate conditions and then under a climate change scenario.

While it can be a lot of fun to play, the game also invites discussion and should illustrate some of the complexities in making decisions in an uncertain environment.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES To engage in a group exercise and think both independently and collectively to make decisions.

To illustrate the complex reality of decision making in situations of uncertainty and confusion.

To exemplify the challenges of making adaptation decisions given competing objectives.

READINGS Suarez et al. (2011). Putting vulnerable people at the center of communication for adaptation: The case for knowledge sharing through participatory games and video tools. World Resources Report 2011: Expert perspectives

Tschakert and Dietrich (2010) Anticipatory learning for climate change adaptation and resilience. Ecology and Society 15(2): 11

Challinor et al. (2007) Assessing the vulnerability of crop systems in Africa to climate change. Climatic Change 83(3) 381-399

Tversky and Kahneman (1974). Judgment under uncertainty: heuristics and biases.

Science 211 1124-1131

LINKS/RESOURCES http://www.bu.edu/pardee/files/2012/11/Games-for-a-New-Climate-TF-Nov2012.pdf

http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Red-Cross-paper-2.pdf

TITLE OF SESSION:

ALIGNING CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND DEVELOPMENT – CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

FACILITATOR Michael Boulle

SHORT OVERVIEW:

This lecture will discuss climate change mitigation, by giving an overview of the global mitigation context, followed by an introduction to the South Africa context. The South African perspective will describe the position of South Africa in the broader global context, and will give an overview of the drivers of emissions in South Africa, as well as providing a summary of the national policy response to climate change. The lecture will then introduce a development lens to the climate change debate, and discuss the challenges of aligning development with climate objectives in South Africa.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES The lecture aims to give participants an introduction to the following:

A broad overview of climate change mitigation from a global and national perspective,

An overview of emissions sources globally, and the main drivers of emissions in South Africa

The role of the policy response to climate change

The challenges of aligning development and mitigation in developing countries like South Africa

Opportunities for aligning development and mitigation, and the co-benefits

Stimulate a class debate around the above

READINGS Winkler et al.07.Sustainable development policies and measures

Skea et al.13.Climate policies in a changing world

DevMit Forum.13.Provocateur briefings

DevMit Forum.13.Ideas Kit

Rennkamp.13.SD planning in SA

DEA.National CC response white paper

WEEK 2

TITLE OF SESSION:

ETHICS AND CONFLICTS IN CLIMATE CHANGE

FACILITATOR Bruce Hewitson

SHORT OVERVIEW:

Violent conflict over natural resources, such as freshwater and arable land, is not uncommon in the history of mankind. Many believe that climate change could have a similar impact through changes in freshwater availability, mass migrations, sea level rise, etc. This all places added pressures on society and could ultimately lead to armed conflict.

However, there is considerable uncertainty with regards to the scale and spatial extent/geographical locations of such changes. Therefore, how do we make decisions based on this information? What are some of the ethical dilemmas we are faced with? Will it increase the likelihood of conflict?

AIMS/OBJECTIVES Think about consequences of climate change in the geopolitical context of food and water security. What are the responsibilities of the main countries/regions driving climate change that are often on a different continent?

LINKS/RESOURCES http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/06/nigeria-environment-climate-change-boko-haram

TITLE OF SESSION:

EXPLORING CLIMATE SCENARIOS HANDS-ON

FACILITATOR Ross Blamey / Kate Sutherland / Lisa Coop / Tristan Hauser / Alex Shabala / Pierre-Louis Kloppers

SHORT OVERVIEW:

A hands on exercise encouraging participants to explore and analyze future climate projections available on CIP, through a series of questions related to future projections.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES Gain experience in accessing and navigating a data portal

Understanding future climate projections and potential limitations

Gain confidence in using climate projections

LINKS/RESOURCES http://cip.csag.uct.ac.za/webclient2/app/

TITLE OF SESSION:

CLIMATE VULNERABILITY RISK RANKING AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION OPTIONS

FACILITATOR Anna Steynor

SHORT OVERVIEW:

When planning adaptation responses, an important step is the identification and prioritisation of climate threats to which one would like to respond. This entails understanding the risk of a threat, and thus the likelihood of it occurring as well as the magnitude of the consequences should it occur. In order to do so one needs to have some understanding of historical and projected climate trends, and thus the likelihood of climate threats occurring in the present and the future. One should also have some idea of the general consequences of these climate threats for the organisation, community or system in question. Such an overview can form the basis from which one can make informed decisions on adaptation action.

Yet while the process might seem straight forward, it is important to keep in mind that the reality is that climate threats do not work in isolation, and that other stressors, such as socio-economic and political stress, is continuously at work in the organisation, community or system in question.

In many cases, socio-economic stress even has greater consequences than that of the climate. Furthermore, uncertainties relating to projections of both climatic and socio-economic futures make it necessary to ensure flexibility and continuous reflection on the approach and adaptation responses. Climate change adaptation, in which ever context, is a process, not an end point.

This session will provide insight into the many aspects to keep in mind when planning adaptation action, and further provides an example of one step by step approach for developing adaptation responses.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES The module aims to take the participants from the point of current vulnerability analysis to assessing future vulnerability and then prioritise risks to respond to and identify adaptation options

The complexity of adaptation planning

The need to see adaptation as a process rather than an end point

Step by step approach for developing adaptation responses

LINKS/RESOURCES ● The UKCIP Adaptation Wizard guidelines ● The Let’s respond toolkit ● Adapting South African cities and towns

TITLE OF SESSION:

CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE

FACILITATOR Sepo Hachigonta

SHORT OVERVIEW:

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) has recently been promoted as one of the alternative approach that could increase agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), while at the same time mitigating the multiple effects of climate change. At a local level, CSA approaches involve the promotion of tested and proven climate smart practices such as intercropping, conservation agriculture, crop rotation, mulching, integrated crop-livestock management systems, and agroforestry. At policy level this involves identifying and operationalizing sustainable agricultural policies and programmes within the explicit parameters of climate change.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES The CSA training will use a case study conducted by the Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) and the Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on CSA policies in 16 countries (Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe). This CSA programme is supported by development partners that include the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and the Norwegian Agency for Development (NORAD). The objectives of the training will be to:

Provide an overview of the CSA approaches;

Evaluate current CSA related policies in East and Southern Africa (including environmental, water, agricultural , land , trade and development policies);

Provide in-depth assessment of current CSA developmental and research initiatives in East and Southern Africa;

Provide overview of national CSA institutional arrangements and key stakeholders in place;

Evaluate major gaps in current CSA policies and frameworks;

Develop recommendations of what is needed to ensure that CSA policies are improved in terms of relevance and effectiveness?

READINGS IFPRI/ FANRPAN climate change book- http://www.ifpri.org/publication/southern-african-agriculture-and-climate-change

FAO E-Learning Tool, Planning for Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change (CBA)- WWW.WEBGEO.DE/FAO-WEBGEO-2-INTRO/.

FAO –Climate Smart Agriculture – Sourcebook- http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3325e/i3325e.pdf

LINKS/RESOURCES Policy Briefs –

CSA: More Than Technologies Are Needed to Move Smallholder Farmers Toward Resilient and Sustainable Livelihoods <http://www.fanrpan.org/documents/d01628/csa_toward_resilient_and_sustainable_livelihoods_june_2012.pdf>

Appropriate Climate Smart Technologies for Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa <http://www.fanrpan.org/documents/d01637/acsa_appropriate_technologies_for_smallholder_farmers_june_2013.pdf>

TITLE OF SESSION:

ADAPTATION OPTIONS APPRAISAL

FACILITATOR Anna Steynor

SHORT OVERVIEW:

In order to appraise adaptation options it is important to define criteria for the appraisal while also designing a monitoring and evaluation system to prevent maladaptation and allow for quick adjustment in implementation, should this be necessary.

This session looks at some generalised appraisal criteria by which one can evaluate adaptation options before implementation

AIMS/OBJECTIVES To explore ways of appraising adaptation options and to plan for M&E of adaptation

Demonstrate the complexity of planning and implementation of adaptation interventions

Understanding methods of appraisal and how to avoid maladaptation

Planning for effective M&E in adaptation processes to support learning and effective adaptation

LINKS/RESOURCES http://www.ukcip.org.uk/wizard/adaptation-options/

http://www.seachangecop.org/node/1480

TITLE OF SESSION:

URBAN FOOD SECURITY – CHALLENGES IN COMMUNICATION

FACILITATOR Jane Battersby-Lennard

SHORT OVERVIEW:

This session will present data on the extent and characteristics of urban food insecurity in Cape Town. The interface between food insecurity and climate change will be discussed. Finally, the session will present personal experience of communication of this poorly understood problem to the general public and local government in order to provide a starting point for further discussion on communication.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES To provide information on food security issues and their interface with climate change. To provide insights on the challenges of communication with the intention of generating policy and programme shifts.

READINGS http://www.cigionline.org/articles/2013/05/hunger-haunts-our-cities

http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/7463/5442

LINKS/RESOURCES www.afsun.org

TITLE OF SESSION: CLIMATE-RELATED COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

FACILITATOR Leonie Joubert

SHORT OVERVIEW: How to use journalistic writing style (hard news, features, narratives and opinion pieces) to communicate science effectively to different audiences.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES - understand the difference between academic scientific papers, and journalism articles

- learn to re-organise information to communicate effectively to a non-specialist audience

- identify key messages; audiences; different and appropriate media

TITLE OF SESSION:

CLIMATE SCIENCE POLITICS AND THE IPCC FRAMEWORK

FACILITATOR Bruce Hewitson

SHORT OVERVIEW:

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a body of scientists from around the world convened by the United Nations jointly under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and initiated in 1988. Its mandate is to provide policy makers with an objective assessment of the scientific and technical information available about climate change, its environmental and socio-economic impacts, and possible response options.

Over the past few decades, climate change has evolved from being just an interest to some climate scientists to now being high up on the global political agenda. In 2013/2014, the IPCC released the Fifth Assessment Report, known as AR5, detailing the latest understanding of climate change and its challenges. This session walks you through some of the latest IPCC results/statements and discusses the politics surrounding these reports.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES Understand the role of the IPCC

The challenges around climate change

How politics is tied into climate

READINGS IPCC AR5 - Summary for Policy Makers (working groups I, II and III)

Trenberth_IPCC_Process

TITLE OF SESSION:

URBAN ADAPTATION – CITY OF CAPE TOWN

FACILITATOR Darryl Colenbrander

SHORT OVERVIEW:

This session will focus on the application on spatial planning mechanisms, in particular overlay zones and coastal set-backs, as mechanisms to respond to coastal hazards such as storm surges, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and migrating dune systems. Considering that 75% of Cape Town’s coastline contains infrastructure within 100m of the high-water mark (a crude proxy for risk), a key challenge to the City is developing mechanisms to manage existing infrastructure at risk on a retrospective basis.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES - Understanding of the socio-economic and broader environmental impacts associated with climate change in a coastal context

- Insight into the complexities of responding to coastal risk at the local level

- Basic understanding of spatial planning mechanisms as a means to respond to coastal pressures

READINGS Colenbrander, D., Sutherland C., Oelofse, G. Gold, H. and Tsotsobe, S. (2012) Reducing the pathology of risk: developing an integrated Municipal Coastal Protection Zone for the City of Cape Town in Cartwright, A., Oelofse, G., Parnell, S. and Ward, S. (eds) Climate Change at the City Scale, Routledge - Earthscan.

LINKS/RESOURCES http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/EnvironmentalResourceManagement/publications/Pages/Reportsand.aspx