‘Adaptation’ will help deal with the next decade or two of global warming. But what about key energy or transport links that are expected to last a century?
People in Namibia are seeking ways to reduce vulnerability to problems like drought.
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Understanding how drought is impacting on livelihoods and local governments can help in the development of longer term climate adaptation responses.
Unchecked greenhouse gas emissions would lead to a number of economic effects, including potentially more damaging storms like Hurricane Sandy.
Eric Thayer/Reuters
Making expanded fossil fuel production the core of U.S. energy policy, as proposed by Donald Trump, and backing out of climate agreements would cost the U.S. economy billions and transform the planet.
While some councils wish to take a long-term view of what can reasonably be done in the face of sea-level rises, private property owners just want their homes protected.
AAP/Dan Peled
Many properties are at risk from rising sea levels, with owners and councils at odds over the costs of defending these. NSW law reform may lead to more forward-looking climate change adaptation.
The Solomon Islands are low-lying and vulnerable to changes in sea level.
Javier Leon
Wil Burns, American University School of International Service
Despite the fanfare of signing the Paris Agreement on climate, little progress has been made on compensating poor countries for irreparable damages from climate change.
Data about farms’ financial situation as well as the weather could help identify those most vulnerable to drought.
Bidgee/Wikimedia Commons
Building on local experience and having access to current and expected climate trends is crucial to adapting to climate change for farmers in semi-arid regions.
The Paris agreement has given us some solid targets to aim for in terms of limiting global warming. But that in turn begs a whole range of new scientific questions.
Indigenous Australians continue to manage fire in a way that reduces the risk to property and people.
AAP Image/Peter Eve
Cuts to CSIRO climate jobs will see a reduction in effort on monitoring and measuring climate change, and an increase in efforts to do something about it. That’s the most politically-sensible option.
Clearing mulga woodland in Queensland to open up land for cattle during drought.
M. Venterriven
We’re going to have to adapt to climate change, but some of the options on the table could do more harm than good if they destroy the ecosystems that protect us.
Hundreds of cities worldwide have pledged to act against climate change. New York City’s experience rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy offers useful lessons about making urban areas more resilient.
The Paris climate summit was historic as a political achievement but it’s not clear how and when the hard problems of emission cuts and climate finance get tackled.
Climate change is predicted to hit Africa hard unless the continent puts in place adaptation plans.
Reuters/Stephanie Mahe
Projects to help people adapt to climate change are essential. But no one really knows how much to spend, or even how to tell which projects are working.
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Geographical Science and African Climate and Development Initiative Research Chair, University of Cape Town