workshop on coastal communities’ resilience facing environmental and climate changes
DESCRIPTION
Workshop on Coastal communities’ resilience facing environmental and climate changes. Presenters: Dr. Liette Vasseur, Brock University and Ms. Chantal Gagnon, Coalition-SGSL. Salle 309 Université de Moncton, Campus de Shippagan Shippagan, NB June 15, 2012. Outline. Objective - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Presenters: Dr. Liette Vasseur, Brock University and Ms. Chantal Gagnon, Coalition-SGSL
Workshop on Coastal communities’ resilience
facing environmental and climate changes
Salle 309Université de Moncton, Campus de ShippaganShippagan, NBJune 15, 2012
Coalition-SGSL
Outline
Objective Introduction to the method – V2R Step by step activities Wrap-up
Coalition-SGSL
Objective
Help communities learn a simple method to help move forward regarding changes in their environment and become resilient.
To improve resilience and/or to reduce vulnerability in coastal communities.
Why is this important? Identifying vulnerabilities provides communities with the
opportunity to plan to avoid or minimise the negative consequences of hazards (disasters).
Conducting resilience assessments provides opportunities to highlight issues, needs and concerns and to work to effect change. Assessments are not an end in themselves.
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V2R: a framework
Vulnerability to resilience Community-centered approach Recognizes the need to build the capacity of
community members and institutions
Tools for the activities– Presentation– Workbook and pens– Glossary– Facilitator per table
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V2R: a framework
Definitions Vulnerability Resilience Coastal Risk Coastal Hazards Uncertainties Governance Adaptive Capacity
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Livelihoods Resilience
V2R: a framework
Hazards and consequences
Coalition-SGSL
Future uncertainty
Governance
Livelihoods Resilience
V2R: a framework
Hazards and consequences
Coalition-SGSL
Future uncertainty
Governance
Livelihoods Resilience
V2R: a framework
Hazards and consequences
Coalition-SGSL
Future uncertainty
Governance
Livelihoods Resilience
V2R: a framework
Hazards and consequences
Coalition-SGSL
V2R: a framework
What is vulnerability? Vulnerability in essence is a measure of the
propensity/susceptibility to suffer loss or damage. Vulnerability can be measured by degrees (more or
less vulnerable). Time and scale matter – you may be vulnerable at
different times in your life. Vulnerability is NOT a permanent state. Vulnerability can be in many areas: ecosystem,
economy, social, status, health, etc. Vulnerability is NOT physical/material only.
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V2R: a framework
What is resilience?
Ability of a community or members or institutions to resist, absorb, cope and recover to the effects of hazards and to adapt in the long term (in a sustainable way).
Property of the whole system and should include all components.
V2R: Step 1 –Vulnerability
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and consequences
Livelihoods
Resilience
The integration of these elements enable you to assess your level of vulnerability and find where there are issues and needs to adapt, improve…
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience
Activity 1 - Hazards and Consequences
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Hazards: any possible events that can have a negative impact on people, infrastructure, ecosystems, communities…
Risk: a degree of exposure to a hazard where there is a potential for loss.
Consequences: impacts or consequences of hazards.
Activity 1 - Hazards and Consequences
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast
Livelihoods Resilience
Activity 1 - Hazards and Consequences
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Workshop workbook– Activity #1: 15 minutes
– Work in small groups– Use the scenario as a base for discussion– Use your experience and knowledge to inform
discussion
Activity 1 - Hazards and Consequences
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience
Activity 2 - Future Uncertainties
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Kids migrate to Shediac
Governance
Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast
Livelihoods Resilience
Activity 2 - Future Uncertainties
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Workshop workbook– Activity #2: 10 minutes
– Work in small groups– Use the scenario as a base for discussion– Use your experience and knowledge to inform
discussion
Activity 2 - Future Uncertainties
Health Break
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience
Activity 3 - Governance
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Kids migrate to Shediac
Elderly parents left by themselves
Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast
Livelihoods Resilience
Activity 3 - Governance
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Workshop workbook– Activity #3: 15 minutes
– Work in small groups– Use the scenario as a base for discussion– Use your experience and knowledge to inform discussion
Activity 3 - Governance
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience
Activity 4 - Livelihood
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Kids migrate to Shediac
Elderly parents left by themselves
Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast
Elderly and poor parents
Resilience
Activity 4 - Livelihood
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Workshop workbook– Activity #4: 15 minutes
– Work in small groups– Use the scenario as a base for discussion– Use your experience and knowledge to inform
discussion
Activity 4 - Livelihood
V2R: Step 1 –VulnerabilityBring it all together
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and consequences
Livelihoods
Resilience
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Combination of skills, assets, networks and institutions, and policies that enable community to continually assess and improve with changing conditions.
Figuring out whether or not you have the capacity to adapt will help you determine your vulnerability level.
The purpose of figuring out the vulnerability level is to move towards actions that will strengthen your resilience.
Adaptive Capacity
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience
Adaptive Capacity
Disaster preparedness
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience
Adaptive Capacity
E.g. climate change, globalization, resource overexploitation, environmental degradation, migration
Long term trends
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience
Adaptive Capacity
Enabling environment
How people can access resources, skills, markets, support and act (not react)
Can be decentralized, participatory, with linkages…
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience
Diversity and security
Resources (skills, technologies, organizations) and activities to sustain healthy and sustainable people and communities
Adaptive Capacity
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and consequences
Livelihoods
Resilience
The integration of these components from a perspective of determining the capacity to adapt in each enables you to assess your level of vulnerability and find where there are issues and needs to adapt, improve…
Adaptive Capacity
Coalition-SGSL
Kids migrate to Shediac
Elderly parents left by themselves
Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast
Elderly and poor parents
Resilience
Level of vulnerability
These components show that as the couple ages and if the children leave, their level of vulnerability increases - unless local connections and resources are made available to them.
V2R: Step 2 – Resilience
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and stress Livelihoods Resilience
Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience
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In practice resilience is:
Ability to manage risks: understand and reduce risks, strategies based on available skills and resources to face the risk, manage and recover in the short term.
Ability to adapt over long term: pro-activity to maintain sustainable and healthy community.
Ability to secure basic needs and maintain sustainable activities.
Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience
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What you need to determine and discuss– Community involvement– Information– Resources– Knowledge– Management Capacity– Support– Participation
Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience
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Kids migrate to Shediac
Elderly parents left by themselves
Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast
Elderly and poor parents
Resilience
Moving to resilience
These components show that as the couple ages and if the children leave, their level of vulnerability increases - unless local connections and resources are made available to them.
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- Has the community included in its disaster preparedness plan a scenario for its elderly population with no family around?
- Does the elderly couple have access to information about coastal hazards and how to prepare for these?
- Does the community have a simple procedure to explain what type of financial assistance is available for repairing damages caused by hazards?
- Does the disaster preparedness plans include an understanding of how the elderly population may behave after a hazard severely damages their home?
- Does the community have it is disaster preparedness plan a list of volunteers specifically assigned to helping elderly people cope with a hazard?
- Are there grief counselors available in the region to provide psychological support to elderly residents impacted by a hazard?
- Has the elderly population of the town been included in consultations that informed the disaster preparedness plan?
Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience
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Future uncertainty
Governance
Hazards and stress Livelihoods Resilience
Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience
Ability to manage risks
Ability to adapt to changes
Ability to secure sustainable lives and activities (people, institutions and communities)
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Workshop workbook– Activity #5: 15 minutes
– Work in small groups– Use the scenario as a base for discussion– Use your experience and knowledge to inform
discussion
Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience
Coalition-SGSL
Kids migrate to Shediac
Elderly parents left by themselves
Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast
Elderly and poor parents
Move to Shediac
Moving to resilience
These components show that as the couple ages and if the children leave, their level of vulnerability increases - unless local connections and resources are made available to them.
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Details to make the decision on what can be done first:– Social values– Economic choices– Timeliness– Environmental importance
Resilience is dynamic.
Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience
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Taking it one step at a time
Strengthening resilience is a puzzle.
Start with a simple method. Get others to help you. Keep an open mind – things
change. Stay flexible – multiple
solutions. Choose a consensus
approach to setting priorities.
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References
Nelson, D.R., W.N. Adger and K. Brown. 2007. Adaptation to environmental change: contributions of a resilience framework. Annu. Rev. Environ. Resourc. 32: 395-419.
Pasteur, K. 2011. From vulnerability to resilience. A framework for analysis and action to build community resilience. Practical Action Publishing, Warwickshire, OK. 113 pages.
Buckle, Marsh & Smale, May 2001, Assessing Resilience & Vulnerability: Principles, Strategies & Actions.
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Thank you!
Ville de Shippagan
Coastal Communities Challenges – CURA
Government of Canada