Adapting to climate change is an urgent issue for developing countries. In many regions, the impacts of climate change are already affecting the ability of poor people to sustain livelihoods and provide enough food. How can the international community support developing countries as they adapt to a changing climate?

The need to adapt to a changing climate – to take actions in response to actual or anticipated changes – is increasingly recognised by all countries, but particularly developing countries. Predicted changes in climatic patterns, such as increased drought in Africa and sea-level rise, are raising real concern about global warming which prevents developing countries from achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development, Canada, has recently completed an overview of issues related to climate change adaptation and how the needs of developing countries could be better met in the future. The paper notes that while global climate models provide information about potential long-term impacts, policymakers need more detailed information to develop appropriate programmes that respond to climate change. Community-based, ‘bottom-up’ approaches that build upon local experiences have proved to be a better basis for developing adaptation strategies.

The effects of climate change need to be considered across a range of local and national programmes, such as emergency preparedness, watershed management, business strategies, community health and social services. There are several important issues for policymakers to consider:

• Hundreds of billions of dollars will be required to prepare for and deal with the effects of climate change; in many developing countries, financing adaptation programmes is a critical concern.
• Adaptation to climate change needs to influence policy decisions, budgets and the design of long-term infrastructure projects.
• Other development issues, such as HIV/AIDS and changing trade patterns, make adaptation more challenging.
• Climate change may bring new opportunities, such as the ability to grow crops in new locations.
• Integrating adaptation issues into the work of development agencies and private sector firms would increase the ability of developing countries to prepare for climate change.

The international research and development community is only beginning to understand how to adapt to climate change. An increase in awareness and understanding of adaptation is needed, as well as greater use of existing knowledge and tools. It is also necessary to increase the ability of developing countries to respond to climate change, for example through the transfer of appropriate technology.  

The research suggests a number of actions to support adaptation by developing countries:

• Involve non-climate experts to help integrate adaptation responses into development policies at local, national and international levels.
• Greater transfer of existing technologies for adaptation and the development of new tools, such as processes for determining the exposure of projects to new climate risks.
• Provide long-term, reliable and regular financial support for adaptation programmes. The private sector should also consider the potential effects of climate change when making long-term investments.
• Other existing finance schemes, such as insurance against losses caused by climate change, will be an important factor in reducing the cost of adaptation.
• Development agencies should increase their own awareness of adaptation issues and the concerns of developing countries.

Source(s):
‘Climate Change and Adaptation’, International Institute for Sustainable Development, by Jo-Ellen Parry, Anne Hammill and John Drexhage, August 2005 Full document.
‘Which Way Forward: Issues in developing an effective climate regime after 2012’, International Institute for Sustainable Development, by John Drexhage, Aaron Cosbey, Warren Bell, Deborah Murphy, Jo-Ellen Parry, Anne Hammill and John Van Ham, 2005 Full document.

Funded by: Environment Canada

id21 Research Highlight: 27 January 2006

Further Information:
Jo-Ellen Parry
International Institute for Sustainable Development
161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor
Winnipeg
Manitoba R3B 0Y4
Canada

Tel: +1 204 958 7722
Fax: +1 204 958 7710
Contact the contributor: jparry@iisd.ca

International Institute for Sustainable Development, Canada

Other related links:
id21 insights #53 - Securing development in the face of climate change

'Adapting to climate change: developing countries and the global response'

'Facing up to forecasts – adapting to climate change'

'Insuring against climate change: who will pay for the poorest?'

Linking Climate Adaptation Network