Towards pragmatism in climate risk analysis and adaptation
The Asia-Pacific region is extremely vulnerable to climate variability and change. This reflects high exposure to hydroclimatic hazards such as tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Rapidly growing cities and low-lying coastal zones/estuaries also face threats from sea level rise and s...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IWA Publishing
2021-12-01
|
| Series: | Water Policy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/23/S1/10 |
| _version_ | 1818970988170182656 |
|---|---|
| author | Robert Leonard Wilby Xianfu Lu Paul Watkiss Charles Andrew Rodgers |
| author_facet | Robert Leonard Wilby Xianfu Lu Paul Watkiss Charles Andrew Rodgers |
| author_sort | Robert Leonard Wilby |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Asia-Pacific region is extremely vulnerable to climate variability and change. This reflects high exposure to hydroclimatic hazards such as tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Rapidly growing cities and low-lying coastal zones/estuaries also face threats from sea level rise and storm surges. However, climate model projections remain very uncertain about most of these risks, so water infrastructure and operations need to consider a range of plausible futures. Against this background, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been developing frameworks, tools, and capacities in climate risk and adaptation assessment and management. Project teams are often operating in data-scarce situations and under significant time constraints, so the emphasis has been on creating pragmatic guidance and training resources. This paper charts the transition of climate risk management (CRM) within the ADB from a predominantly scenario-led to decision-led approach to adaptation. Examples are given of light-touch procedures for screening climate risks, strengthening the transparency and rigour of scenario analysis, raising awareness of a broad range of adaptation options, streamlining identification of CRM options, and embedding allowances for climate change in detailed engineering designs. Such practical innovations would benefit communities of practice beyond the Asia-Pacific region. HIGHLIGHTS
Water infrastructure and operating rules must be adapted such that they continue to deliver intended benefits despite climate change.;
The Asian Development Bank has been developing frameworks, tools, and capacity for climate risk assessment and adaptation investments.;
Pragmatic procedures for screening climate risk are particularly helpful in information- and resource-constrained situations.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T14:45:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0fffff3a15bf4ae38e65de0851fe1bc5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1366-7017 1996-9759 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T14:45:13Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-0fffff3a15bf4ae38e65de0851fe1bc52022-12-21T19:37:07ZengIWA PublishingWater Policy1366-70171996-97592021-12-0123S1103010.2166/wp.2021.232232Towards pragmatism in climate risk analysis and adaptationRobert Leonard Wilby0Xianfu Lu1Paul Watkiss2Charles Andrew Rodgers3 Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK Independent Adaptation Specialist, Somerton OX25 6NB, UK Paul Watkiss Associates, Oxford OX2 7SN, UK Asian Development Bank, Metro Manila 1550, Philippines The Asia-Pacific region is extremely vulnerable to climate variability and change. This reflects high exposure to hydroclimatic hazards such as tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Rapidly growing cities and low-lying coastal zones/estuaries also face threats from sea level rise and storm surges. However, climate model projections remain very uncertain about most of these risks, so water infrastructure and operations need to consider a range of plausible futures. Against this background, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been developing frameworks, tools, and capacities in climate risk and adaptation assessment and management. Project teams are often operating in data-scarce situations and under significant time constraints, so the emphasis has been on creating pragmatic guidance and training resources. This paper charts the transition of climate risk management (CRM) within the ADB from a predominantly scenario-led to decision-led approach to adaptation. Examples are given of light-touch procedures for screening climate risks, strengthening the transparency and rigour of scenario analysis, raising awareness of a broad range of adaptation options, streamlining identification of CRM options, and embedding allowances for climate change in detailed engineering designs. Such practical innovations would benefit communities of practice beyond the Asia-Pacific region. HIGHLIGHTS Water infrastructure and operating rules must be adapted such that they continue to deliver intended benefits despite climate change.; The Asian Development Bank has been developing frameworks, tools, and capacity for climate risk assessment and adaptation investments.; Pragmatic procedures for screening climate risk are particularly helpful in information- and resource-constrained situations.;http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/23/S1/10adaptationasiaclimate allowanceclimate changerisk management |
| spellingShingle | Robert Leonard Wilby Xianfu Lu Paul Watkiss Charles Andrew Rodgers Towards pragmatism in climate risk analysis and adaptation Water Policy adaptation asia climate allowance climate change risk management |
| title | Towards pragmatism in climate risk analysis and adaptation |
| title_full | Towards pragmatism in climate risk analysis and adaptation |
| title_fullStr | Towards pragmatism in climate risk analysis and adaptation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards pragmatism in climate risk analysis and adaptation |
| title_short | Towards pragmatism in climate risk analysis and adaptation |
| title_sort | towards pragmatism in climate risk analysis and adaptation |
| topic | adaptation asia climate allowance climate change risk management |
| url | http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/23/S1/10 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertleonardwilby towardspragmatisminclimateriskanalysisandadaptation AT xianfulu towardspragmatisminclimateriskanalysisandadaptation AT paulwatkiss towardspragmatisminclimateriskanalysisandadaptation AT charlesandrewrodgers towardspragmatisminclimateriskanalysisandadaptation |