R4D Climate Change

International Research Initiative on Adaptation to Climate Change

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:00:00 GMT

The IDRC has put out a call for an international research initiative to support research and networking on the adaptation to climate change in Canada and in low- and middle-income countries.

Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Challenge Programme

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:49:00 GMT

Current The Challenge Programme's main objectives are to:

Overcome critical gaps in knowledge of how to enhance and manage the tradeoffs between food security, livelihood and environmental goals in the face of a changing climate.
Develop and evaluate options for adapting to a changing climate to inform agricultural development, food security policy and donor investment strategies.
Assist farmers, policymakers, researchers and donors to continually monitor, assess and adjust their actions in response to a changing climate.

Forum encourages best use of public funding for environmental research

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT

The Environment Research Funders Forum (ERFF) aims to ensure the best possible use of public funding by improving the way environmental research is prioritised, is funded, and informs policy. The Forum brings together the UKs major public-sector sponsors of environmental science to work in partnership to assess research needs and priorities

DFID's Chris Whitty Opens Global Summit: Food Security in a Climate of Change

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT

DFID's Chief Scientist Chris Whitty and Mr Gao Hongbin, Vice Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, People's Republic of China provided the keynote addresses to the CABI Global Summit: 'food security in a climate of change' currently taking place in London (19-21 October).

This is Open Access Week

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT

This week, 19-23 October 2009, is the first International Open Access Week, which aims to broaden awareness and understanding of Open Access.

Local and Regional Impacts of Environmental Change Explored

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT

DFID has pledged its support for the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) project 'Living with Environmental Change'

DFID support for climate change adaptation in China

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Adapting to Climate Change in China (ACCC) is a new DFID funded research project. The project aims to develop and share Chinas experience of integrating climate adaptation into the development process. Many countries are highly vulnerable to the affects of climate change, making adaptation crucial

Weather and Death in India: Mechanisms and Implications for Climate Change

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:33:00 GMT

Miscellaneous R. Burgess, O. Deschenes, D. Donaldson and M. Greenstone 2009 Presentation at NYU, May 5th 2009. 83 pp. This presentation asks the questions: What is the impact of inter-annual variation in weather on health in India with district-level data from 1957-2000?; What are the mechanisms through which exposure to extreme temperatures impact human health in developing countries?; Are there interventions/infrastructure/policies that help mitigate the impact of extreme temperatures?; and What are the implications of all this for the health costs of climate change in developing countries?

Act on Copenhagen: 68 days to United Nations Conference on Climate Change

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:00:00 GMT

The UK government presents its bid for an ambitious agreement on climate change, in the run up to the climate change conference in Copenhagan.

Institutional Mapping for Climate Change Adaptation in Eastern Africa. Final Report

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:30:00 GMT

Miscellaneous Kituyi, E. 2008 Industrial Ecology Institute, Nairobi, Kenya, 68 pp. This study was commissioned by the CCAA Secretariat to map out institutions working on environmental management in general and climate change in particular, in Eastern Africa. The main activities included literature reviews and web searches, country visits to selected institutions, and focused consultations with experts. Building upon the organizational capacity assessment for African research institutions by Nyong, the following outcomes have resulted from the study:

a.) A scoping of the institutions engaged in environmental research within CCAA's mandate areas. A key result has been the identification of opportunities for potential collaborative ties with other relevant institutions, programmes and initiatives that have on board an environmental mandate within the context of CCAA mandate areas. These include local and international Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), private sector, governmental organizations etc.

b.) Elucidation of the workings and interactions among a wide range of institutions in the sub-region in the pursuit for adaptation solutions. There are five classes of research institutions active in the sub-region. There are also non-research development agencies that have been found to be a potentially important partner in linking end-users to researchers.

c.) International research institutes have been found to be superior in climate change related research and present numerous opportunities for collaboration with the much weaker local institutions for capacity building and knowledge exchange. An analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of these institutions was also done.

d.) Key gaps in the research processfrom research planning activities, implementation strategies, output communication, evaluation and feedbackhave been identified. These have also been prioritized as per the class of institution and urgency for resolution. Similarly, a range of opportunities has been identified which weaker institutions may harness for capacity strengthening in various aspects through innovative partnerships.

e.) Using planning, implementation, communication and partnership/network coordination as key indicators, a scoring system on weak and strong institutions and their research capacity for climate change adaptation has been developed and used.

f.) The report has also proposed a strategy for the identification of regional institutions for the gradual devolution of programme leadership in the sub-region. It has similarly proposed strategies - mainly promotion and strengthening of strategic partnerships among research institutions and other potential partners with a view to delivering on CCAA's four outcome areas.

Adapting to Climate Change in China (ACCC)

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:35:00 GMT

Current

DFID Research are developing a programme of adaptation research for Asia and Latin America, following the African programme which has been in operation since 2006. CRD has also contributed £2m to a separate China Adaptation Research programme which will be co-managed by DFID-China and the Chinese National Development Planning Commission. It is important that the China project is linked closely to the wider Asia project it could provide valuable lessons not only to other parts of China but in due course to other parts of Asia.

Many of the issues in Keeley's report related to adaptation are already being taken up by the China Adaptation Research programme. Some of the other issues related to the Ecosystem Services and Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) Programme will be taken up through ESPA design and are likely to have a China component though ESPA is not concerned only with climate change.

Goal: To improve international knowledge on the assessment of climate impacts and risks, and develop practical approaches to climate change adaptation
Purpose: To develop and share internationally China's experience of integrating climate adaptation into the development process, in order to reduce China's, and other countries', vulnerability to climate change 1. Improved development of and access to climate change science in China.
2. Comprehensive risk assessments, based upon vulnerability and impacts, produced at national and provincial level.
3. Climate risks integrated into planning and management within the three project provinces, and informing national level processes.
4. Awareness and capacity are increased among Chinese policymakers and other key stakeholders to address climate chance adaptation within Chinas development process.
5. Knowledge sharing between China, UK, and other countries in Asia and Africa, to further develop climate change adaptation approaches, and better understand the political economy of adaptation to climate change

Rewarding Achievements in International Development

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:00:00 GMT

DFID, in partnership with Marie Stopes International (MSI) and the Guardian, has unveiled the five finalists of the Guardian Achievements in International Development Award.

How will climate change affect insect-borne diseases?

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:00:00 GMT

The latest SciDev.Net spotlight looks at how climate change might impact the spread of insect-borne diseases such as malaria, and how countries can prepare for these changes.

Computer modelling could help to reduce the human cost of cyclones

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Research carried out following Cyclone Nargis which caused extensive flooding and loss of life in Myanmar in May 2008 is being used to develop software to predict the extent of of future storm surges

Recipe for disaster: A growing population and climate change. Can science serve up a solution?

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:33:00 GMT

Miscellaneous Fahn, J. 2009 1 pp. (session review) The recipe for feeding and supporting the world's growing population will require using all the ingredients available in the scientific pantry, a group of agricultural experts contended at session held as part of the Development Strand of the World Conference of Science Journalists 2009. Click 'view documents' above for the link to the session and to read the session review.

Effective communication of science and climate change information to policy makers.

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:16:00 GMT

Miscellaneous B. O. Ochieng 2009 22 pp. CCAA recently supported the participation of 15 Kenyan journalists from print and electronic media in a half day symposium on Effective Communication of Science and Climate Change Information to Policy Makers. The event took place during the Third East African Health and Scientific Conference (EAHSC) held in Nairobi, March 25-27, 2009 and aimed to identify capacity gaps and opportunities to improve communication on these science issues between journalists, researchers and policymakers in the sub-region. This report summarises the Symposium.

The meeting highlighted the need for:

- more positive interaction between researchers, policymakers, and journalists in improving science and climate change communication;
- researchers to communicate outside the usual realm of scientific papers by involving the media at various stages of research development, using means aimed at broad audiences;
- and journalists to ensure the accuracy of their reports, and respect for intellectual property rights.

Participants recommended that journalists be trained on basic concepts and fundamentals of climate change and adaptation, and deepen their understanding of fundamentals such as the scientific method, interpreting numbers and statistics, and the significance of peer review.

Scoping Study on Vulnerability to climate change and climate variability in the greater horn of Africa.

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:35:00 GMT

Miscellaneous J. Kinyangi, M. Herrero, A. Omolo, J. van de Steeg, and P. Thornton 2009 International Livestock Research Institute, 100 pp. This study aims to deal with the identification and analysis of the multiple drivers of climate change vulnerability in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) and the different approaches to improving livelihoods and building adaptive capacity in relation to current CCAA activities. This includes an examination of the factors causing and exacerbating both biophysical and social vulnerability. A synthesis of regional projects is conducted in seeking to identify and target areas for future project development.

The report is organized to respond to the project objectives, beginning with a review of climate change scenarios and drivers and linking them to impacts on populations and institutions. We examine trends in future population growth and discuss these changes by casting vulnerability through the ability of social institutions to respond to current and future social risks. Apart from predicted changes in climate and climate variability, we note that growing poverty and inequality are key drivers of exposure with profound effects on production systems in the region. In Chapters 4 and 5 (sections 1-4) we further examine climate change impacts on social vulnerability, resilience through adaptations and provide examples of coping and risk management in the region. In the last section of chapter 5, we review the sensitivity of agricultural, health, water/energy resources and technological sectors to changing climate. Although some of these sectors provide opportunities for investments that would increase regional adaptive capacity, there are still gaps in the knowledge framework not just for assessing regional vulnerability but also for mainstreaming adaptation into the development process. Further on in chapter 6 we perform spatial analyses using national and sub-national data sets with a view to mapping regional vulnerability hotspots and identifying current and future trends in vulnerability. We map impacts of climate change from hotspots of climate change, changing population distribution and shifting crop-livestock production systems. Chapter 7, documents information on the severity of vulnerability distribution, coping and adaptation mechanisms from regional institutions participating in the CCAA program. A summary of their project activities provides the benchmark for assessing existing policy conduits and gaps in the current implementation. These gaps arise from applications of climate data, vulnerability knowledge and focus in current ongoing CCAA projects. In the next chapter 8 we combine knowledge from the review of climate change, sensitivity of development sectors and a summary of the activities of the project partners to scout for policy dimensions and suggest policy actions in the adaptation process. This analysis is followed in chapter 9 with an overview of implications for the existing projects. In this section we also propose a regional framework for vulnerability assessment and suggest some priority areas for consideration in future CCAA project call for proposals. In chapter 10, we summarize the report by offering recommendations for targeting during CCAA project alignment.

Blazing a trail for forest rights...in Nepal

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Climate change is creating real changes in the Nepal Himalaya, and the effect is more pronounced in the mountains than in the low-lying areas. Georgina Smith visited the Sundari community to see how a DFID-funded Research into Use initiative is helping local communities to live with potential climate change induced vulnerabilities

Adapting locally to global climate change : experiences from rural Africa; dialogue report

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:15:00 GMT

Miscellaneous M. O'Neill 2007 Dialogue at COP 13, 11 December 2007, Bali, Indonesia. 13 pp. On the occasion of the 13th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 3rd Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa program invited farmers and other representatives of rural Africa to Bali, to share their experiences of how they are experiencing and responding to climate change. This interactive half-day dialogue focused on the adaptation challenges facing the agricultural sector in different regions of Africa. It highlighted climate change impacts affecting food security and rural livelihoods, as seen by farmers, representatives of agrarian organizations, and action researchers working with rural people. This report summarizes the discussions.

Mid-Term Review of the DFID/IDRC Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) Research and Capacity Development Programme.

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:04:00 GMT

Miscellaneous A. Watkinson, S. Khennas, A. Misselhorn and A. Footitt 2008 Climate Change Adaptation in Africa, International Development Research Centre, Canada. 2 pp. summary only. This report presents the findings of the mid term review (MTR) of the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) Climate Change Adaptation in Africa research and capacity development programme (CCAA). It aims to inform on-going work and provide lessons that could be applied to other adaptation initiatives.

The review concludes that the establishment of the CCAA Programme is a timely and significant development in addressing climate change in Africa. The stated objectives remain worthwhile and generally well targeted at the longer-term challenges of climate change adaptation, and capacity building in the region. At the same time the review concludes that there are a number of refinements and improvements that could be made to the delivery of this ambitious programme to help ensure that the programme achieves the stated objectives. In particular, there is a need to place greater emphasis on adaptation to future climate change impacts as opposed to current climate variability.

Enhancing African Food Security in the Face of Climate Change: Are existing risk management mechanisms adequate? Meeting, 6 December 2008.

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:50:00 GMT

Miscellaneous 2008 CCCA COP 14 side event, December 6 2008. 4 pp. Food insecurity remains endemic in most of Africa, with climate factors such as rainfall variability a major cause. In 2006, 25 African countries needed food aid, largely due to recurring drought. A panel discussion, hosted by the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa program, invited representatives of key African subregional organizations to reflect on whether existing regional climate risk management mechanisms are adequate to achieve and sustain food security, in the context of long term climate change. The flyer lists topics for discussion.

RiPPLE Information Sheet: Climate change adaptation

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:41:00 GMT

Miscellaneous S. Yasabu 2009 Research-inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile Region (RiPPLE), Ethiopia, 1 p. Climate change adaptation is one of the sub-themes under RiPPLE's Growth Long-term Action Research Study examining the role of water investments in facilitating local adaptation to the current and projected impacts of climate change on water resources.

Final Report Desakota, Part II C. A baseline appraisal of water-dependant ecosystem services, the roles they play within desakota livelihood systems and their potential sensitivity to climate change.

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:03:00 GMT

Miscellaneous A. Gurnell, H. Moggridge, G. McGregor, S. Gosling, and A. Jones 2008 157 pp. This report forms part of a larger research programme on 'Reinterpreting the Urban-Rural Continuum', which conceptualises and investigates current knowledge and research gaps concerning 'the role that ecosystems services play in the livelihoods of the poor in regions undergoing rapid change'. The report aims to conduct a baseline appraisal of water-dependant ecosystem services, the roles they play within desakota livelihood systems and their potential sensitivity to climate change. The appraisal is conducted at three spatial scales: global, regional (four consortia areas), and meso scale (case studies within the four regions). At all three scales of analysis water resources form the interweaving theme because water provides a vital provisioning service for people, supports all other ecosystem processes and because water resources are forecast to be severely affected under climate change scenarios. This report, combined with an Endnote library of over 1100 scientific papers, provides an annotated bibliography of water-dependant ecosystem services, the roles they play within desakota livelihood systems and their potential sensitivity to climate change.

After an introductory, section, Section 2 of the report defines water-related ecosystem services and how these are affected by human activities. Current knowledge and research gaps are then explored in relation to global scale climate and related hydrological changes (e.g. floods, droughts, flow regimes) (section 3). The report then discusses the impacts of climate changes on the ESPA regions, emphasising potential responses of biomes to the combined effects of climate change and human activities (particularly land use and management), and how these effects coupled with water store and flow regime manipulation by humans may affect the functioning of catchments and their ecosystem services (section 4). Finally, at the meso-scale, case studies are presented from within the ESPA regions to illustrate the close coupling of human activities and catchment performance in the context of environmental change (section 5). At the end of each section, research needs are identified and justified. These research needs are then amalgamated in section 6.

Adapting to climate variability and climate change in Tanzania

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

With the help of the DFID-funded Climate Change Adaptation in Africa programme, the women farmers in the semi-arid central region of Tanzania are gaining an understanding of how to adapt farming practices to better cope with the changing conditions

Lessons on adapting to drought in north-east Niger

Thu, 22 May 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Lessons of the new farmers of Namary in Niger were captured through the

Preparing for malaria in the changing climate of East Africa's highlands

Thu, 22 May 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Kenyan researchers are combining climate observation with medical research to improve an existing model of malarial prediction so that local officials can better prepare

Managing climate risk in South Africa's Western Cape

Thu, 22 May 2008 01:00:00 GMT

A team of researchers led by the University of the Free State is working to give planners and farmers access to improved climate information and a range of options to help them prepare for a water-scarce future

Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:48:00 GMT

Current This five year research programme was designed to meet the critical lack of capacity to deal with unavoidable climate change impacts in Africa. It was therefore designed with a specific and direct emphasis on enhancing African participation in climate change adaptation research processes.

To significantly improve the pro-poor adaptive capacity of African societies so that the poor across Africa are resilient to climate volatility and change.

Four objectives are at the core of CCAA's mission They are:
1. To strengthen the capacity of African scientists, organizations, decision-makers and others to contribute to adaptation to climate change.
2. To support adaptation by rural and urban people, particularly the most vulnerable, through action research.
3. To generate a better shared understanding of the findings of scientists and research institutes on climate variability and change.
4. To inform policy processes with good quality science-based knowledge.

1. A portfolio of participatory action research projects with appropriate regional and thematic representation that address needs of vulnerable groups.
2. A series of capacity building, education and training activities for researchers and policy makers.
3. A series of events and web based initiatives that strengthen knowledge exchange and networking.
Objective of African research leadership achieved and research activities now being profiled in African media. Still too early to ascertain comprehensive impact, but evidence of impact on policy making beginning to appear e.g. Morrocco coastal flooding, Ethiopia crop insurance. Outcome mapping system now established which should make it easier to evaluate impact. DFID visibility very low and now being addressed.

Enhancing Capacity for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Caribbean UK Overseas Territories

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:53:00 GMT

Current

The Caribbean UK Overseas Territories, together with their independent neighbours, are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change including climate variability and severe weather events. The territories are all small islands; they have narrow economic bases and are sensitive to external market forces; they have limited natural resource bases and human capacity; and they have high population densities concentrated in low-lying coastal areas.

Key climate change issues for the territories are: sea level rise; changes in precipitation patterns, air temperatures and sea surface temperatures; and the incidence of extreme weather including increasing intensity and (possibly) frequency of hurricanes. All of these have potentially serious adverse environmental, social and economic consequences for the territories. While the territories have little, if any, scope for addressing the causes of climate change, they recognise the need to adapt to the unavoidable consequences of a problem not of their own making.

Since 1998, a series of regional programmes funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has been implemented in the independent Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to assist them in planning for adaptation to climate change. Although the UK is a major contributor to the GEF, the UK Overseas Territories, because of the nature of their relationship to the UK, are not eligible to participate in GEF-funded projects unless they are independently resourced.

This project seeks to facilitate the participation of the UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean in the ongoing regional adaptation activities largely funded by the GEF and managed by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), a CARICOM specialized agency, which became fully operational in Belmopan, Belize, in January 2005.

By the end of the project, it is expected that the participating territories will have enhanced their capacity to benefit from regional climate change adaptation programmes and will have initiated the integration of the outputs of these into national development planning processes.

The five UK territories: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands, have articulated their desire to participate in these regional programmes. This project provides the financial resources, through the CCCCC, to enable them to do so.

The project will assist the Caribbean Overseas Territories in the building of their local capacity to plan and implement measures to adapt to climate change and climate variability within the context of their national development planning processes. It is expected that by the end of the project all participating territories will have developed national climate change adaptation strategies and initiated the implementation of these. It is also expected that each participating territory will have developed the capacity to engage with regional and international climate change programmes, and to benefit from and contribute to the work of the relevant regional institutions, including the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC).

The project will provide the necessary financial resources to the CCCCC to enable it to facilitate a range of activities designed to assist the territories in producing outputs that will contribute to the achievement of these objectives.

The outputs, against which project performance will be measured, will include:
a) the establishment of the necessary project management structures at the CCCCC to ensure efficient and cost-effective delivery;
b) the establishment of national coordinating mechanisms in each territory;
c) the development and implementation of public education and outreach programmes;
d) the enhancement of national capacities to undertake vulnerability and risk assessments in key environmental and socio-economic sectors;
e) the development and initiation of climate change strategies and action plans and the integration of these into national development planning processes; and
f) the establishment of mechanisms for the mutual sharing of information and lessons among the territories, and with other countries and institutions within and beyond the region.

Project activities and outputs will broadly follow those of the GEF-funded regional project 'Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change' (MACC). The MACC project, operational since 2004 in twelve CARICOM states and initially managed as a stand-alone project, was transferred to the CCCCC (as Executing Agency) in August 2006 following a mid-term review by the World Bank. The four key components of the MACC project are:
a) To build capacity to assess vulnerability and risks associated with climate change
b) To build capacity to reduce vulnerability to climate change
c) To build capacity to access and use resources effectively to reduce vulnerability to climate change
d) To develop and implement a public education and outreach programme.

The project will also draw on the outputs of MACC's predecessor projects in the Caribbean and on a new GEF-funded project 'Special Programme on Adaptation to Climate Change' (SPACC), approved in August 2006 and to be implemented during the period 2007-2010.

Through the CCCCC, the territories will also benefit from its growing links with international institutions involved with climate change research, including those in the UK. It is expected that the engagement of the CCCCC in the UK Overseas Territories will enhance the rationale for the further development of the CCCCC's links with the Hadley Centre, the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, and the UK Climate Impacts Programme

Synthesis of RNRRS knowledge on adaptive capacity to climate change

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Current An analysis of selected RNRRS projects (with a focus on NRSP-SAPS) to assemble, develop and promote new knowledge on poor peoples' capacities to adapt to climate change and variability, in order to formulate research questions and guide policy priorities within or outside DFID. To improve through insights from RNRRS programmes, capacity of DFID's policy makers and research managers to make evidence-based decisions within DFID's area of comparative advantage on poor peoples' livelihoods under climate change. A body of knowledge from RNRRS projects that is relevant specifically to DFID's principled interest in the poor and their capacity to adapt to climate change and its impacts identified.

Implications for DFID's future research and development policy with regard to adaptation to climate change pinpointed.

Knowledge gaps identified, and research questions formulated with respect to an appropriate model of natural resource-based livelihood systems under climate change, that capitalise on DFID's comparative advantage.

Communication effected with stakeholders within constraint imposed by time.

Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed To identify the likely hydrological and social effects of climate change on specific case study water resource systems including system responses to climatic variables. Models and suite of programmes to estimate hydrological impacts of climate change.

Review of methodology for assessing economic impacts.

Report/papers disseminated amongst East African water departments.

Energy Planning in Developing Countries - facing the challenges of equitable access, secure supply and climate change.

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Current Poor households need energy for cooking, heating, lighting, and for basic appliances. Currently around 1.6 billion people in the developing world do not have access to electricity and 2.5 billion rely on biomass, burned in inefficient, dirty stoves. These figures are not anticipated to improve without significantly enhanced policies and investment. At the same time, improvements in access to energy by other sectors, such as education, health and business, are crucial for achieving development objectives, including economic growth. DFID's recent White Paper pointed out that economic growth is highly dependent on the availability and affordability of energy. The project report has the overall objective of informing the development of a future research programme on energy planning in developing countries.

Climate Change Adaptation

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Awaiting Confirmation of Completion To assist communities and adaptation experts share theoretical, policy and experiential knowledge to support community led adaptation in developing countries.

Climate Change Study

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed Global climate models are consistent in predicting substantial changes in climate over the coming decades, primarily due to temperature rises resulting from increases in concentrations of ,greenhouse gases,. However, there is great variation between model predictions of the scale and nature of these changes. Similarly, there is a very high degree of uncertainty over the effects which will arise, on the environment, animal and human populations. The intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) was set up in 1988 to examine the science, effects of and policy response to climate change and its first findings were reported in late 1990. One of its recommendations was that further studies should be carried out to investigate the social and economic costs and benefits at country level associated with climate change. The state of knowledge on climate change is far from perfect, and is being expanded upon all the time. A study of this nature can only hypothesise on the nature of possible effects, based on the current knowledge base; conclusions will need to be continually reassessed in the light of further information as it becomes available. Despite the high degree of uncertainty over future changes, this study will serve to alert attention to possible critical areas for further consideration. To draw attention to the possible effects of climate change, so that policy makers and others will be more aware and better informed regarding action that might become necessary in the future. A qualitative assessment of the possible range of effects, both physical and socio-economic, of climate change in Kenya and Ghana. Specify and approximate time-frame over which such effects might occur. Differentiate between the inevitable physical/biological effects, spontaneous socio-economic adaptation and deliberate policy-led responses.

Criteria by which the relative magnitude of effects can be compared. Use these criteria to determine which types of effect are potentially the most socio-economically damaging, and those where benefits can be expected.

Indicate in broad terms the types of action which might be taken by government and others to alleviate adverse consequences, or take advantage of favourable circumstances, and the costs associated with such action. (The degree to which it is feasible to meet this objective will depend on the predictive quality of previous stages of the analysis).

Suggest whether and what further research and/or institutional support is required to continue to monitor and address the problems posed by climate change (in Ghana and Kenya, but also more widely).

Peer review of Energy Planning in Developing Countries - facing the challenges of equitable access, secure supply and climate change. Final Report.

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed This project set out to peer review the final report of the project: Energy Planning in Developing Countries - facing the challenges of equitable access, secure supply and climate change.

Get ready to rumble...

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Development of an early warning system by DFID-funded researchers could help poor people in Central America farming the rich soils on the slopes of volcanoes

Taking a look at the bigger picture

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Farmers and fishers involved in adopting Integrated Floodplain Management in Bangladesh have benefited from higher catches, higher incomes from crops and greater community solidarity

Reducing household smoke in Sudan

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Practical Action work in partnership with local communities to find accessible, acceptable and affordable ways to alleviate smoke

Africa: the role of research

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Research is tackling the problems faced by people in Africa in many areas including health, agriculture and climate change

New systems for prediction and detection of malaria epidemics in the East African highlands (HIMAL)

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Improving malaria control through the early detection and prediction of epidemics saves lives, which is the focus of the Highland Malaria project (HIMAL)