Abstract:
Climate change is affecting bio-physical systems worldwide. Variabilities in precipitation is
altering water budgets and affecting the amounts and quality of water available for growth
and support of life. Increasing temperatures are reducing the ability of ecosystems to retain
water for growth. Soils are degrading as they loose water and microbial biodiversity. The
spatial extent and intensity of these effects vary geographically from one place to another
depending on location in the global atmospheric systems, regional settings on: land cover,
land use, topography and weather patterns. The two most important climate stressors are
changes in rainfall and temperature
For quite some time the focus on climate change issues has been vulnerability assessments
to determine the areas which are more at risk from impacts of climate change. Recently
however, there is a shift from vulnerability to adaptation. The shift needs metrics of impacts
that focus on the direct effects on community or household assets: what is at risk and how
much is potentially lost. On the other hand adaptation solutions need to relate to the
livelihood assets capitals that characterize the [Sustainable Livelihoods Approach]. Moving
the debate from vulnerability assessments to adaptation requires the application of different
set of tools and methodologies that allow for the integration of various pieces of information
and concerns. The shift from vulnerability to adaptation requires the design and
implementation of appropriate channels for linking data and information to the
decision/policy making process.