BaCCC/Module 6/Lesson 1/Part 3
Contents
Adaptation strategies in your own community
| “ | Throughout history, people and societies have adjusted to and coped with changes in climate and extremes with varying degrees of success. Climate change (drought, in particular) has been at least partly responsible for the rise and fall of civilizations. Earth’s climate has been relatively stable for the past 10,000 years, and this stability has allowed for the development of our modern civilization and agriculture. Our modern life is tailored to that stable climate and not the much warmer climate of the next thousand-plus years. As our climate changes, we will need to adapt. The faster the climate changes, the more difficult it will be. | ” |
| —Sohn, 2014 | ||
If you are interested in history, read NASA’s “Climate Change and the Rise and Fall of Civilizations”:
Climate Change and the Rise and Fall of Civilizations[1]
So, if our species is so used to adapting to changes in the climate, what is the problem now?
It is that today’s climate change is causing changes faster than vulnerable people and ecosystems can cope with and adapt to – indeed faster than most human communities can cope with and adapt to.
Not only that, but climate change impacts and extreme weather events are starting to compound, meaning they are happening simultaneously, on top of each other, or one right after the other, risking our health and safety and our economies. These compounding events do not give communities a chance to catch their breath (or deal with all the hazards or save up the funds needed to pay for the next clean-up). For example:
- If extreme rainfall leads to flooding, which then leads to mudslides that wash out roads, it can be difficult for emergency workers to reach the victims, and clean-up and repairs are hampered.
- If a heatwave occurs during a drought, the dry ground and vegetation can lead to wildfires. Imagine trying to put out a fire during scorching hot weather with reduced water availability!
That is the bad news. Here is the good news:
| “ | Adapting to climate change with more resilient infrastructure, securing water resources, improving crop production for dryland farming, protecting coastlines, and other measures can pay a triple dividend. Countries will 1) suffer less from future climate shocks, 2) enjoy greater productivity and growth, and 3) reap social and environmental benefits. | ” |
| —Behsudi, 2021 | ||
How can your community build resilience to compounding events?
| “ | [In fact,] adaptation and development really do go hand in hand. One dollar [spent] in preparedness – one dollar in forethought – will actually save four to seven dollars in response. | ” |
| —Christina Chan, Co-Chair, UNFCCC Adaptation Committee | ||
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This video gives a good sense of what sorts of adaptation measures are being taken around the world. However, because it presents a very optimistic view of adaptation to climate change (as does Adam Behsudi above), be sure to watch it through a critical (questioning) lens. As one commenter noted, there are real-world constraints and barriers to climate change adaptation, including “money, time, and culture.”
There is something more that we need to learn about and keep in mind as we decide on personal, family, community or national climate change adaptation strategies: RISK. Risk is defined as the chance or likelihood of a negative event happening multiplied by how bad that negative event could be – its possible consequence or magnitude – if it did happen.
| "It is important to first understand the threats and vulnerabilities of a particular event or phenomenon, and both the likelihood and consequence of these impacts. When people live in a coastal area or on a low-lying island, sea level rise and tidal flooding may be their biggest concern – it is important to be resilient to too much water. But in some places like the western US and very acutely in Cape Town, South Africa, it’s the opposite problem – people need to be resilient to not enough water. The planning required to bounce back from impacts of climate change – climate resilience – requires that climate risks be more fully understood." (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, 2019) |
So, if a climate change impact happens often but it does not really do too much damage, is that the wisest place to invest time, money or energy in adaptation? Or should the investment go into building resilience to an impact that might only come once every few years but could kill thousands of people and destroy infrastructure? That is for you and your family or your community to determine and decide. Timing, of course, also has to be considered, as climate change impacts are now increasing in their frequency, as well as their duration and intensity.
Now, let’s see what climate change adaptations are happening around the world today.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (2022),
"[b]ecause climate impacts are so far reaching, the range of things considered “climate adaptation” is also quite broad. Adaptation includes things like reenforcing the electric grid to better withstand extreme weather; investing in better housing and infrastructure in areas hard-hit by flooding or sea level rise; planting trees to reduce extreme heat in cities; and putting air conditioning in schools."
In the first video you watched in this module, you heard the story of a woman with a chicken farm that kept getting flooded – more and more each year. She finally decided to switch to raising ducks. That is a good example of personal adaptation to climate change.
An example of building resilience would have been relocating or redesigning her chicken coop so that the floodwaters drained away from her property safely (after filling up her pond, perhaps). In both examples, it takes recognising – and accepting – that “from now on, you’re living in a changed environment,” as Christiana Figueres said.
Climate change adaptation strategies
Here are several ways to look at (and choose between) climate change adaptation strategies.
WHO? Who are the stakeholders (the people who care about or are affected by the results) in the adaptation efforts of your country or community?
WHAT?
(You can adjust the playback speed and/or turn on subtitles/captions.)
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To what anticipated or current threats, risks and hazards do you and your community need to build resilience?
WHEN?
Is your family or your community going to be
- proactive? (adapting before you need to)
- reactive? (adapting in response to a climate change impact)
- or wait-and-see? (only adapting for the next time after seeing how big or bad the impact is this time)
WHERE?
“While climate change is a global issue, it is felt on a local scale. Local governments are therefore at the frontline of adaptation. Cities and local communities around the world have been focusing on solving their own climate problems.” (NASA, 2023)
WHY?
To be reminded of all the reasons why we must build our resilience and adapt to the changing climate as best we can, see the following:
- Module 1 (The Science of Climate Change)
- Module 2 (Impacts and Consequences of Climate Change)
- Module 3 (Climate Justice)
- Module 4 (Getting to Zero: Climate Change Mitigation to Safeguard the Future)
- Module 5 (Intersectionality: What Can We Learn From Others?)
HOW? Below is a list of strategies for adapting to the climate emergency. It is not exhaustive, as the “how” will depend on your governments at all levels, your community’s resources of time, money, energy and current level of resilience, and which climate change hazards your region is facing. We must always be sure to include lots of different kinds of people (the whole family, one person from each household in our neighbourhood or several people from each neighbourhood in our community, etc.) in our planning discussions and implementation work parties.
Effective adaptation strategies Water
- What to do before there is too much water:
- Extreme precipitation events (rain or hail)
- mulch agricultural land (cover gardens and farmland with decaying leaves, bark or compost, etc.) to keep soil from being washed away
- build ditches alongside and culverts underneath roads; ensure that existing ditches and culverts are cleared of rubbish and debris
- ensure that hillsides are safe; plant trees on hillsides; create an evacuation plan for people who live on hillsides
- Floods (if you are in a flood zone – and until it happens, you might not know if you are)
- create an early warning system for your neighbourhood or community (one of the most cost-effective adaptation measures)
- build flood defences; have sandbags already filled and ready
- install well-draining pavement to deal with floods and stormwater
- start growing food vertically
- create your family’s rodent-proof emergency or evacuation kit, and then store it on a high shelf or upstairs
- learn how to quickly turn off the power (electricity or gas) in your house, in case of flooding or evacuation
- Public health
- plan ahead to avoid cholera and other disease outbreaks
- store clean drinking water, food and medication in a safe (high) place
- keep a water purification system in your emergency kit
- teach others how to avoid disease carried by floodwaters (drink only safely stored, bottled or boiled water until advised otherwise by authorities)
- Extreme precipitation events (rain or hail)
- What to do before there is not enough water:
- Drought and drying of the soil
- set up a rainwater collection system before the rainy season arrives
- improve water storage and use
- plant trees (when you do have water available)
- mulch gardens and agricultural lands to keep moisture in the soil
- plant trees around lakes, ponds, rivers and streams
- build a desalination plant (if you are close to an ocean)
- Drought and drying of the soil
Prepare to be inspired!
- Read
Wave-powered Desalination Promises to Deliver Clean Water to Developing Countries and Island Nations[3]
- What to do before sea level rise threatens your coastline (if you live near the ocean):
- build structures on the beach with wooden stakes and branches and netting (see the video Senegalese Island Keeps Coastal Erosion at Bay With Stakes in the Sand [2:24] for ideas:
Senegalese Island Keeps Coastal Erosion at Bay With Stakes in the Sand[4]
- research sea walls, surge barriers, water pumps and overflow chambers, as used in some European cities to keep water out
- help others envision how sea level rise will impact your neighbourhood or community (build a three-dimensional replica or, if you have computer skills, learn how to develop a “digital twin” of your region); many forget that sea level rise affects the land more horizontally () than vertically ()
- research (and share) how to protect, restore and use natural resources, such as wetlands, tidal marshes, mangroves, other vegetation and open (non-paved) areas, to absorb and dissipate water (a “sponge” strategy)
- become tide-aware (if you are not already); teach tidal surge safety (high tides are becoming higher, and tidal surges are becoming more dangerous)
Air
- What to do before heatwaves occur:
- plan ahead for heat waves and higher temperatures
- set up cooling or misting stations ahead of time
- set up a heat alert communication system for your neighbourhood (create a list of all the neighbours who might need help – the elderly, the sick or disabled, and parents with young children – staying cool, getting out to appointments or to buy groceries, or getting to a cooling centre, etc., during a heatwave)
- to keep them safe, be ready to accompany elders and children who have to go out in the heat; plan a cooler (tree-lined, shadier) route to school, work or the shops
- retrofit public buildings so that people without air conditioning or shady yards will have a cool place to go during heatwaves
- install green roofs or rooftop gardens
- create rebate (money-back) programmes for building owners who install heat pumps that also serve as air conditioners (this is only for regions that do not burn fossil fuels to create electricity)
- raise awareness of the health impacts of extreme heat and dehydration (during a severe heatwave, use a cooling fan and drink a cup of water every 15 minutes)
- plant trees in urban areas (parks, yards, schoolyards and business sites)
- insulate your house, or find a way to keep the sun from coming in windows
- What to do before cold snaps or power outages occur (although winters are becoming warmer due to climate change, winter storms can knock out the power, leaving many people without a source of heat and light):
- store flashlights or torches, emergency candles, warm clothing (especially a warm hat) and blankets in a safe place that is easily accessible in the dark
- designate a neighbourhood warming centre; create a list of all the neighbours who might need help getting there (the elderly, the sick or disabled, parents with young children, etc.)
- What to do before windstorms occur:
- plan for how everyone will stay safe (and dry, if the storm also brings rain, e.g., hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons)
- clean up the yard so there are no loose objects that can fly about
- construct wooden shutters for windows that can be installed at a moment’s notice (or decide on a safe place in your home, school or place of work that is away from windows and under the strongest part of the roof)
- make sure that falling trees or branches will not land on your house; educate others to stay away from trees during a windstorm
- teach safety rules
- for driving in high winds
- for what to do if people are near a lake or the ocean (rogue – unexpected – waves on lakes or the ocean can drown people by knocking them over and dragging them out) or in a boat
Fire (if you are in a wildfire-susceptible zone)
- What to do before the next wildfire season begins:
- create a space around your home without woody fuels or flammable materials (clean up dead fallen branches, twigs and leaves – even in your rain gutters; store firewood indoors or at least ten metres away from the house)
- teach fire safety rules (never play with fire, never start a fire near a wooden structure or a tree, etc.)
- learn about the fire-return interval in your area and when the last wildland fire to impact your neighbourhood was
- “harden” the exterior of your house to burning embers
- remove (or do not plant) flammable trees and other plants in your yard or community
- figure out how to not use a fireplace or woodstove during fire season
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1. Flashlight or torch (with wind-up power or extra batteries). If you can afford it, include a small battery pack to recharge your phone. 2. Candles with a lighter or waterproofed matches. 3. Whistle (for each family member) to help you signal for help. 4. Local (paper) maps in case you need to evacuate. 5. Several days of drinking water (one gallon or 4−5 litres per person per day for 3 days minimum, or a water purification system with a container if there is a water source nearby), including for your pet if you have one. 6. Several days of non-perishable food (canned, boxed or dried, coffee or tea, bottled juice, long-lasting produce such as winter squash, potatoes and apples), including for your pet if you have one. Include paper or plastic dishes, cups and cutlery. 7. Manual can opener, especially if your kit is stocked with canned food. 8. Photograph of the family, including children and pets (in case you get separated). 9. Sanitation kit (soap, toilet paper and women’s sanitary products wrapped in plastic bags, a trowel or small shovel, garbage bags). 10. Baby supplies, if necessary. 11. Pet supplies, if necessary. 12. Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio to help you receive updates on the disaster and any known safety risks. 13. Books, cards, games, puzzles or other activities to distract children. (Encourage your local schools and day-cares to have each child bring a care kit from home, if they have not done this already. Containing non-perishable snacks, a family photograph, a favourite small toy and a letter from a loved one, these care kits help children cope with the stress of a disaster until their caregiver arrives to pick them up.) 14. Rain ponchos (and warm clothes or sun hats, depending on your location). 15. Blanket and small towels. 16. First aid kit, including over-the-counter painkillers, prescriptions and extra pills for anyone in your family taking medication, extra glasses, extra hearing aid batteries, epi-pen, extra insulin, etc. 17. Tarp or plastic sheeting, duct tape and rope to build a temporary shelter. 18. Work gloves. 19. Wrench or pliers. These tools can come in handy if you need to turn off utilities or build a shelter. 20. Face mask (for each family member) to protect against dust or contaminated air. 21. Ear plugs (for each family member) to protect against loud noises. 22. A smaller kit and a meet-up plan for each family member who works or studies outside the home. (See the care kit idea, above, for young learners or pre-schoolers in your family.) 23. Some cash in small bills. 24. Copies of important documents and a list of important phone numbers. 25. List of what should be in the kit (so it can be easily restocked). — Adapted from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency and Better by Today, How to Build a Natural Disaster Survival Kit (Fitzsimons, 2023) |
Here are some examples of adaptation strategies at local and government levels:
Here is one last thing to think about in terms of adaptation strategies. One aspect of long-term planning and adaptation involves crop diversification. No matter where you live, climate change is going to (or has already started to) impact the agriculture and food security where you live. At India’s suggestion, the United Nations declared 2023 to be the International Year of Millets, to raise awareness about the health and environmental benefits of this tiny grain. (Grain-based foods currently supply about half of the world’s calories.)
Millets are seeds of grasses that have been cultivated for thousands of years, for human consumption and as fodder for animals. There are several varieties, including sorghum and teff. Grown in more than 130 countries, millets are eaten by more than 500 million people in Asia and Africa (and increasingly in other parts of the world as well). In many rural areas and developing regions, millets are used as a staple food because it is more affordable and accessible than other types of grains. Plus, in many places, millets are tied to Indigenous peoples’ culture, traditions and food security.
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So, why is the push to plant and eat more millets so important for India and the world? It turns out that millet is quite suitable for growing in changing climatic conditions. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, millets are “an ideal solution for countries to increase self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported cereal grains” as they can grow on arid lands with minimal inputs and are resilient to changes in climate. Nancy Aburto, of the Food and Agriculture Organization, says that “millets are capable of growing under drought conditions, under non-irrigated conditions even in very low rainfall regimes, having a low water footprint.” They are also vastly more climate-friendly, using 70% less water than wetland rice, which is also a source of greenhouse gas emissions. Millets need 40% less energy for processing and can survive extreme heat and water scarcity, making them ideal for cropping as climate change effects intensify and food grains such as rice and wheat increasingly come under threat. Millets are sometimes called nutricereals or superfoods. Although all millets belong to the same family, they differ in colour, appearance and species. They include:
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- Millets Prove Tasty Solution to Climate and Food Security Challenges[5]
- The Seed of an Idea: How Millets Can Help Mitigate Climate Impacts on Food[6]
- UN Declares 2023 as the International Year of Millets; Here’s All You Need to Know about the Grains[7]
| Fine grains (wheat and rice) | Coarse grains (millets) | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature requirements | ||
| Water requirements | ||
| Nutritional value | ||
| Cost of production | ||
| Market price | ||
| Greenhouse gas emissions | ||
| Other benefits |
References
- ↑ NASA, n.d. Climate Change and the Rise and Fall of Civilizations
- ↑ NASA, 2023. Mitigation
- ↑ Forbes, 2019. Wave-powered Desalination Promises to Deliver Clean Water to Developing Countries and Island Nations
- ↑ Reuters, 2022. Senegalese Island Keeps Coastal Erosion at Bay With Stakes in the Sand
- ↑ United Nations – UN News, 2021. Millets Prove Tasty Solution to Climate and Food Security Challenges
- ↑ Times of India. n.d. The Seed of an Idea: How Millets Can Help Mitigate Climate Impacts on Food
- ↑ MoneyControl News, 2023. UN Declares 2023 as the International Year of Millets; Here’s All You Need to Know about the Grains
