cva and adaptation qi zheng

Climate Vulnerability

Assessment

- A promising tool for

adaptationQi ZHENG ， Oxfam Hong Kong

South Asian Parliamentarians workshop on climate change 16/12/2013, Islamabad

Outline

- Adaptation and rural livelihood development

- What is CVA?

- How we have applied CVA in China-an undergoing case in Shaanxi province

- Lessons learnt, challenges so far and opportunities

Climate adaptation and rural livelihood development

Climate Adaptation and rural livelihood development

• People have always adapted to climate variability through a variety of means Ex. delaying planting time or switching to other, faster growing crops.

• However climate change is pushing at-risk populations beyond their capacity to cope and adapt to the changes they have traditionally dealt with, as well as making more people vulnerable due to their increased sensitivity and exposure to climate change impacts.

• Therefore•

Needs for adaptation and

adaptive capacity

Gradual changes in average

temperature, precipitation

risks related to more frequent, severe,

unpredictable extreme events

Climate Adaptation and rural livelihood development

Adaptation to CC is NOT fundamentally different from development activities aiming at reducing vulnerability of people to current stresses, but adaptation puts emphasis on reducing those vulnerabilities that result from current and future climate change impacts.

• Adaptation measures should be integrated into policy and programme design But HOW? Pools of tools and guides…

• Oxfam’s approach to building the adaptive capacity of people living in

• poverty (Pettengell 2010) combines institutional aspects, socio-economic • factors, and access to knowledge and resources.

• Different aspects of adaptive capacity are determined at different levels and addressing them all requires a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches.

What is Climate vulnerability Assessment?

What is Climate Vulnerability Assessment?

Introducing the sustainable livelihood framework

Towards Resilience 2013, adapted from IFAD: http://www.ifad.org/sla/index.htm

http://www.ifad.org/sla/index.htm


They might include one of several of the following components

A comprehensive picture in the country will help identify where the most vulnerable population groups (“hot spots”) are located.

Institutional Analysis which describe overall political and social settings that decides, to a large extent, on the vulnerability of communities

Community based assessment to examine the current impacts or future risks of climate change on rural livelihoods and the existing adaptive capacities of rural communities in order to understand the multi-causal structures of rural climate vulnerabilities


Process of integrating CCA into livelihoods projects

Assess current and future climate riskAnalyze vulnerabilities and capacities Analyze impacts : baseline & action-oriented

The possible level of performance of the institutions they can rely upon, and what type of external assistance may be needed?

Engage stakeholders for the knowledge they provide and to build a sense of ownership

How to find ways of addressing various constraints that can feed into policies and programmes for long-term development

How we have applied CVA in China- an undergoing case in Shaanxi province

How we have applied CVA in China- an

undergoing case in Shaanxi province

- National report “China: Building Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change A review of climate impacts and adaptation policy”

• Approaches to Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Rural Livelihood and Disaster Risk Reduction Programs:

-A Review and Recommendations

- Institutional Analysis of Climate Change Adaptation in Shaanxi Province

- Participatory vulnerability assessment survey in 7 villages of Shaanxi province

- Generate findings of the survey, propose adaptation options and launch broad consultation, adjustment

- Project design and implementation

How we have applied CVA in China- an undergoing case in Shaanxi provinceMains china’s policies on CCA and poverty alleviation:• 1998 Climate Change becomes development issue and established Climate

Change Coordination group• China put mitigation and adaptation into the 12th Five Year Plan 2011-2015• China released its National Adaptation Strategy: the goals are to integrate CC into

the whole process of economic development planning and enhance the adaptive capacity of the most vulnerable areas and people. There is no implementation plans, evaluation and monitoring plans on how to promote this policy

• National Guideline for Poverty Alleviation 2011-2020 which listed the 14 poorest areas in China but it does not take into CCA

Leading government bodies:• the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) with other ministries • The provincial DRC• International Poverty Reduction Centre of China (IPRCC)


Some results of the institutional analysis

1.“Top-down” & “Silo” approach2. Despite the progress gained in the climate projections in China limited capacity of planners at provincial and sub-provincial level on CCA, how to get access to data and use the information3. The different time scales - between short to mid-term planning and the long-term frame of climate change4. Focus on mitigation and energy sectors, preference for engineering solutions 5. Research gaps esp. from social-economical perspective, micro-level evidences 6. Lack of media and public support on CCA and rural poverty – it seems far away from citizens’ life


Distribution of Risk of Extreme Events

Sites of the community based vulnerability assessment

Distribution of Drought Risk Areas Distribution of Flood and Heavy Rain Risk Areas

• Scoping workshop: assess current understandings, gaps and discuss research goals

• Conceptual framework, focus issues and research methodology• review and analysis of secondary data• semi-structured interviews with provincial official• the participatory vulnerability assessment in 7 villages• data analysis, report writing,• Workshop to discuss and further analyze research findings• Options list, prioritization and consultation• Project design and resource allocation

• At village level: • Seasonal calendar, • Historical timeline• In-depth interviews;• Focus groups• Household survey• Village ranking • Transect


Village mappingDisasters ranking

Village institutional mapping group discussion


• Pilot projects in Changwu village- Drought -prone highland area, lasting rain causing floods and severe drought in recent years- Replacement of houses ; prepare a village replacement and development plan local

development plan is mainly seeking engineering solutions- Main income: rain-fed agriculture + off-farm activities- low access to market and added value to agriculture products: persimmon- Over use of fertilizers- degradation of soil - Left home elders and women; low awareness of climate change and access to technologies Our strategies1) test and demonstrate sustainable livelihoods practices ( appropriate /organic fertilzer use,

crop staw ) with a market focus (persimmon process, cooperative); 2) provide information and knowledge to farmers to foster informed decision making and

innovation; 3) enhance local government capacity to make forward-looking plans ( integrate CC and disasters consideration into new houses construction plan)4) toolkits development: VA, integrate- CCA into local plan, evaluation and learning

Lessons learnt , challenges so far and opportunities

Lessons learnt and challenges so far and opportunities

Lessons learnt - Sound policy and power analysis + keep updating is crucial - Engage wide partners at different levels and agree upon common goals- The participation from villagers - Balance international needs and national situations - Internal communication and cooperation

Challenges- Difficult to get buy in from central and provincial governments - Difficult to get data esp. socio-economical - Link the field experience with policy makers at top level- Balance between international needs and national priorities

New opportunities-International focus: CCA, food and agriculture, Post 2015…- More voices from the emerging countries and south-south - Regional platforms

LET’S TAKE ACTION!

cva and adaptation qi zheng

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