Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Project: Climate Hazards: Concept and Scenarios

Abstract

Slide 1Climate hazards: concepts and scenarios Dr Tony Weir Pacific Centre for Environment and SD University of the South Pacific PACC workshop October 2009Outline • Concepts of Risk, Vulnerability, Adaptation • Climate variability and climate change • Climate scenariosKey concepts for any hazard Vulnerability: the potential to be harmed Adaptation: adjustments to reduce vulnerabilityMore on concepts Risk = vulnerability – adaptation Risk = (consequences of hazard) X (probability of hazard) Example : insuring a house against fire, flood or theftClimate already has extremes, to which Pacific people have adaptedAdaptations to predictable climate hazards: examples – Appropriate Technologies (‘climate proofing’ infrastructure – get it right the first time!) - e.g. stilt houses on floodplain – Traditional Knowledge (e.g. drought foods, rebuildable houses) Policy: – ‘mainstreaming’, capacity building, disseminating good practice Annee Pacifique de Changement Climatique, 20