Climate change doesn't just affect the natural environment but the whole ecosystem that depends on it. Successful adaptation then, needs to put local communities at its centre
In Africa, food production will be hit by more frequent and more extreme heat waves and droughts if climatic changes continue at their current pace. The new report from the World Bank, Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience (pdf) suggests that the worst impacts can be avoided if the temperature rise is kept under 2° Celsius. But a 2°C rise will still see the median yield of all crops fall by 11%, destabilising efforts to alleviate hunger, poverty, and disease.
There is therefore an urgent need for robust and effective strategies which allow communities to adapt. Out of this context comes ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA). EBA is based on the following rationale: healthy ecosystems and the multiple services they provide are part of our life insurance and are essential in any strategy for avoiding dangerous climate change. For EBA to be work, one has to recognise the inter-connectivity between ecological, social-cultural, economic and institutional structures. Securing sustainable social benefits for the local community is essential to successful climate change adaptation practices.
**Exploring the benefits of EBA**
With funds from the Climate Change Adaptation and Development Programme, and implementation support from UNEP, the Department of Rural Water Supply in Togo was able to rehabilitate two small rainwater dams, improving water supply to rural communities.
The project was designed intentionally to support pro-poor rural investment and so used affordable technologies and materials that were locally available. The project not only improved water security but improved vegetation cover, both vital in mitigating climate change. The ability to irrigate fields has led to increased incomes through the sale of produce and lengthened seasonal employment. By applying an EBA approach, the water stored in the reservoirs can now be used for other activities such as making bricks for sale. These "spin-off" businesses in turn diversify employment opportunities and promote social mobility.
The Togo project establishes that efforts to build climate change resilience can also transform the local economy whilst improving human health. And this is the intrinsic value of the EBA approach: it allows for climate change adaption while meeting other human development goals.
**Constraints and limitations**
Like with most development projects, success of EBA depends largely on involving the local community in the planning and implementation process, while bearing in mind the overall political context and any present land use conflicts. This is particularly true as EBA often requires for large patches of previously productive land to be set aside for restoration purposes. But by demonstrating the long-term benefits of this type of adaptation it is possible to build support from the local community. Open communication, an inclusive approach, and respect of the traditional land rights of affected local communities are all essential for both the future resilience of the community and for achieving EBA goals.
It is also important to include local knowledge in planning processes at the regional and national levels. As well as providing useful insights, incorporating local viewpoints can facilitate community-based management of adaptation measures, which has been shown to improve their success. Identifying 'local champions' who could help raise awareness and enthusiasm but in most cases this is not done.
In addition to improving participation, the language around EBA can cause confusion and limit its understanding and in turn its use. The term 'ecosystem-based adaptation' is relatively new and needs to be better understood by the general public and especially by policymakers. Better evidence is also needed to support and encourage EBA use. At the moment this is currently lacking. There is a need for for continued monitoring and evaluation to better quantify EBA's benefits, the effects of climate change on ecosystems and a more detailed comparison between EBA and other adaptation strategies. With more knowledge, these approaches can be better applied to provide smarter solutions.
*Which way forward?*
The Togo project proves that it possible to align climate change adaptation and other economic and social goals. EBA remains disappointingly underutilised and so the way forward is to promote collaboration between policymakers, local communities, and capacity building organisations as well as provide adequate and accessible financing. The world is getting warmer and the only adequate response to a complex problem is to use a multifaceted solution. With the right investments in ecosystem preservation and by carefully including communities to find locally-relevant strategies, EBA can build resilience to climate change and improve community wellbeing.
Richard Munang is UNEP's Africa regional climate change co-ordinator. He tweets as @MTingem. Jessica Andrews is an intern with UNEP's programme in Africa
*This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more articles like this direct to your inbox, sign up free to become a member of the Global Development Professionals Network* Reported by guardian.co.uk 9 hours ago.
In Africa, food production will be hit by more frequent and more extreme heat waves and droughts if climatic changes continue at their current pace. The new report from the World Bank, Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience (pdf) suggests that the worst impacts can be avoided if the temperature rise is kept under 2° Celsius. But a 2°C rise will still see the median yield of all crops fall by 11%, destabilising efforts to alleviate hunger, poverty, and disease.
There is therefore an urgent need for robust and effective strategies which allow communities to adapt. Out of this context comes ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA). EBA is based on the following rationale: healthy ecosystems and the multiple services they provide are part of our life insurance and are essential in any strategy for avoiding dangerous climate change. For EBA to be work, one has to recognise the inter-connectivity between ecological, social-cultural, economic and institutional structures. Securing sustainable social benefits for the local community is essential to successful climate change adaptation practices.
**Exploring the benefits of EBA**
With funds from the Climate Change Adaptation and Development Programme, and implementation support from UNEP, the Department of Rural Water Supply in Togo was able to rehabilitate two small rainwater dams, improving water supply to rural communities.
The project was designed intentionally to support pro-poor rural investment and so used affordable technologies and materials that were locally available. The project not only improved water security but improved vegetation cover, both vital in mitigating climate change. The ability to irrigate fields has led to increased incomes through the sale of produce and lengthened seasonal employment. By applying an EBA approach, the water stored in the reservoirs can now be used for other activities such as making bricks for sale. These "spin-off" businesses in turn diversify employment opportunities and promote social mobility.
The Togo project establishes that efforts to build climate change resilience can also transform the local economy whilst improving human health. And this is the intrinsic value of the EBA approach: it allows for climate change adaption while meeting other human development goals.
**Constraints and limitations**
Like with most development projects, success of EBA depends largely on involving the local community in the planning and implementation process, while bearing in mind the overall political context and any present land use conflicts. This is particularly true as EBA often requires for large patches of previously productive land to be set aside for restoration purposes. But by demonstrating the long-term benefits of this type of adaptation it is possible to build support from the local community. Open communication, an inclusive approach, and respect of the traditional land rights of affected local communities are all essential for both the future resilience of the community and for achieving EBA goals.
It is also important to include local knowledge in planning processes at the regional and national levels. As well as providing useful insights, incorporating local viewpoints can facilitate community-based management of adaptation measures, which has been shown to improve their success. Identifying 'local champions' who could help raise awareness and enthusiasm but in most cases this is not done.
In addition to improving participation, the language around EBA can cause confusion and limit its understanding and in turn its use. The term 'ecosystem-based adaptation' is relatively new and needs to be better understood by the general public and especially by policymakers. Better evidence is also needed to support and encourage EBA use. At the moment this is currently lacking. There is a need for for continued monitoring and evaluation to better quantify EBA's benefits, the effects of climate change on ecosystems and a more detailed comparison between EBA and other adaptation strategies. With more knowledge, these approaches can be better applied to provide smarter solutions.
*Which way forward?*
The Togo project proves that it possible to align climate change adaptation and other economic and social goals. EBA remains disappointingly underutilised and so the way forward is to promote collaboration between policymakers, local communities, and capacity building organisations as well as provide adequate and accessible financing. The world is getting warmer and the only adequate response to a complex problem is to use a multifaceted solution. With the right investments in ecosystem preservation and by carefully including communities to find locally-relevant strategies, EBA can build resilience to climate change and improve community wellbeing.
Richard Munang is UNEP's Africa regional climate change co-ordinator. He tweets as @MTingem. Jessica Andrews is an intern with UNEP's programme in Africa
*This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more articles like this direct to your inbox, sign up free to become a member of the Global Development Professionals Network* Reported by guardian.co.uk 9 hours ago.