Conducting a Climate Change Risk & Vulnerability Assessment Climate Change Adaptation Training Program

What is a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment?

“A Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment is a process to determine which climate change impacts are most important for your area” Agriculture

Biodiversity

Coastal

Health

Settlements

Water

Crop Yields Fires Irrigation Demands

Loss of habitat & species Change in biomes

Sea level rise Impacts on property & livelihoods

Air Pollution Infectious Diseases

Flooding Infrastructure impacts

Decreased quality and quantity of water

Standard CC Vulnerability Assessment Methodology 1: Identify Indicators

2: Exposure

3: Sensitivity

Potential Impacts

4: Adaptive Capacity

Vulnerability

Vulnerability Assessment - Step 1 Step 1: What are the CC Indicators?

What are all the potential impacts from Climate Change in South Africa?

Indicators

Draft list of indicators has been developed from the LTAS

Example of CC Indicators - Disaster Management, Infrastructure and Human Settlements Indicator Title

Indicator Description

Loss of industrial and Direct impacts of weather on construction, electricity generation labour productivity and other industries, resulting in loss of productivity. Increased impacts on Increased disruptions to key strategic infrastructure (e.g. WWTW, strategic storm water, roads, rail, bridges) as a result of extreme weather infrastructure events. Increased impacts on Increased risk of extreme weather events to already vulnerable traditional and traditional and informal dwellings, that are often unplanned, and informal dwellings without extensive service or infrastructure.

Vulnerability Assessment - Step 2 Step 1: What are the CC Indicators? Step 2: What is my exposure to the CC indicator?

Will the impact take place in my area?

Exposure Example Sector

Indicator Title

Indicator Description

Disaster Management, Infrastructure and Human Settlements

Increased risk of extreme weather events to Increased impacts already vulnerable traditional and informal on traditional and dwellings, that are often unplanned, and informal dwellings without extensive service or infrastructure.

Do you have traditional and informal dwellings in your area? ●

Yes/No

Traditional Dwelling - Definition “A traditional dwelling is one made of clay, mud, thatch or other traditional materials. It can be round or square in shape. Traditional dwellings may be found as single units or in clusters.” -StatsSA 2011 Image source: http://www.lisabradshaw.org/

Exposure Resources Website Maps

LTAS and other research resources

Vulnerability Assessment - Step 3 Step 1: What are the CC Indicators? Step 2: What is my exposure to the CC indicator? Step 3: What is my sensitivity to the CC indicator?

If it takes place, how important is the impact?

Sensitivity Example Sector

Indicator Title

Indicator Description

Disaster Management, Infrastructure and Human Settlements

Increased risk of extreme weather events to Increased impacts already vulnerable traditional and informal on traditional and dwellings, that are often unplanned, and informal dwellings without extensive service or infrastructure.

What percentage of households live in traditional and informal dwellings? ● ● ●

>25% = high; 15%> and <25% = Medium; <15% = Low

Sensitivity Resources Website Statistics

Workshop handouts

Vulnerability Assessment - Step 4 Step 1: What are the CC Indicators? Step 2: What is my exposure to the CC indicator? Step 3: What is my sensitivity to the CC indicator? Step 4: What is my adaptive capacity?

Do I have systems in place to respond to the impact?

Adaptive Capacity example Sector

Indicator Title

Indicator Description

Disaster Management, Infrastructure and Human Settlements

Increased risk of extreme weather events to Increased impacts already vulnerable traditional and informal on traditional and dwellings, that are often unplanned, and informal dwellings without extensive service or infrastructure.

Do you have adaptive capacity to respond to Increased impacts on traditional and informal dwellings? ● High ● Medium ● Low

Adaptive Capacity Example Research

Is there local research on climate change impacts on traditional and informal dwellings risks?

Policy

Are there robust policies & programs in place to deal with traditional and informal dwelling impacts?

Institutional Support

Is there institutional systems to deal with traditional and informal dwellings impacts?

Finance

Is there financial support for traditional and informal dwellings programs?

Community Capacity

Is there capacity within the community to deal with climate change impacts?

Adaptive Capacity Resources Adaptive capacity is usually determined through stakeholder consultation and consensus

Vulnerability Assessment - Steps Step 1: What are the CC Indicators? Step 2: What is my exposure to the CC indicator? Step 3: What is my sensitivity to the CC indicator? Step 4: What is my adaptive capacity?

Priority indicators Short-list the indicators that you have the following answers for: Exposure - Yes Sensitivity - High Adaptive Capacity - Low

Priority indicator example Indicator

Exposure

Sensitivity

Adaptive Capacity

Increased impacts on traditional and informal dwellings

Yes

High

Low

Change in sugarcane production

Yes

Low

Increased fish mortality

No

Increased malnutrition and hunger as a result of food insecurity

Yes

High

Low

Vulnerability Assessment Methodology 1: Identify Indicators

2: Exposure

3: Sensitivity

Potential Impacts

4: Adaptive Capacity

Vulnerability

Conducting a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Climate Change Adaptation Training Program