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Adaptation to Climate Change through Spatial Planning: Basic Concepts, Strategies, Tools - KLIMAPAKT
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Project details
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Implementing Agency and Partnering Organizations:
Postdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Leibniz Gemeinschaft, Academy for Spatial Research and Planning, Leibniz Institute of Ecological and Regional DevelopmentSummary:
The KLIMAPAKT project explores strategies and options of spatial planning to enhance climate change adaptation. Researchers from different disciplines, e.g. climate impact research, risk and vulnerability research or spatial planning science are cooperating in KLIMAPAKT in order to improve the knowledge base for spatial planning and climate change adaptation. In this regard also adaptation is linked to mitigation and vice versa.
Expected Outputs:
- Demonstration of climate change impacts for urban and rural areas
- Indicator-based vulnerability analysis for different types of land use and different regions
- Analysis of options in spatial planning to promote adaptation to climate change
- Design of strategies for a climate change adapted spatial development
- Advancement of tools for spatial and environmental development
Contacts:
PD Dr Jörn Birkmann
Head of Section
Tel.: + 49-228-815-0208
birkmann@ehs.unu.eduMaike Vollmer
Research Associate
Tel.: + 49-228-815-0250
mvollmer@ehs.unu.eduProject Status:
Completed (2008-2010)
Disaster Information System for Large-scale Flood Events using Earth Observation - DISFLOOD
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Project details
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Implementing Agency and Partnering Organizations:
German Aerospace Centre (Deutsches Luft- und Raumfahrtzentrum, DLR), GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ), Helmholtz AssociationSummary:
The overall objective of DISFLOOD is the development of a Disaster Information System (DIS) providing a multi-disciplinary flood risk assessment for Germany. In different work packages techniques and methods are identified that (1) facilitate the assessment of vulnerability, (2) create large-scale flood event sets and (3) derive flood hazard maps from remote sensing data. Maps and information will be provided in a Geographical Information System (GIS) and are supposed to contribute to disaster risk reduction.
Expected Outputs:
The objective of DISFLOOD is to provide a Disaster Information System which offers valuable information on flood risk, vulnerability and damage depending on different flood hazard scenarios. The information system is realized in an interactive WebGIS format which is implemented on the Helmholtz-EOS NaDiNe platform.
Contacts:
PD Dr.-Ing. Jörn Birkmann
Head of Section
Tel.: + 49-228-815-0208
e-mail: birkmann@ehs.unu.eduProject Status:
Completed (2005-2008)
Critical infrastructure and population/civil protection in the context of climate change related extreme events - KIBEX
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Project details
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Implementing Agency and Partnering Organizations:
Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschuz und Katastrophenhilfe, BBK), Postdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (Potsdam Institut für Klimafolgenforschung, PIK), German Aerospace Centre (Deutsches Luft- und Raumfahrtzentrum, DLR)Summary:
Within the framework of the KIBEX project, methods for the vulnerability assessment of population and critical infrastructure towards climate change related extreme events (high intensity rainfall events, storms, droughts and heat waves) will be developed with several representative communities in Germany. Thereby, the close cooperation with local actors (e.g., infrastructure operators, administration, protection agencies) plays an essential role, as important information can only be obtained on this level.
Project Components:
The results of these techniques, in addition to generating further empirical data (conducting expert interviews and surveys), will lead to a more comprehensive vulnerability assessment of populations and Critical Infrastructures, as well as to an understanding of their interdependencies and functional chains in light of climate change and extreme events.
Within the project duration, a variety of methods will contribute to our interdisciplinary approach. Regional climate scenarios will be evaluated in order to assess vulnerabilities and to develop indicators and criteria that also help to evaluate actual and potential adaptation strategies. Furthermore, cartographic data will be analysed in order to create exposure maps and project scenarios for extreme events.
Through regular workshops the close cooperation with local stakeholders will be sought; not only to share information, but also to generate locally grounded data and to systematize actual experiences that can lead to sustainable dissemination and implementation of adaptive strategies and management in cases of extreme events.
Expected Outputs:
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Assessment of vulnerabilities of different social groups and Critical Infrastructures to climate change related extreme weather events, particularly heat waves, droughts and flash floods
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Development of different assessment methods including criteria and indicators to assess the exposure, susceptibility and adaptive capacities of these systems and components of risk
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Identification of interdependencies of Critical Infrastructures (esp. water supply, electricity supply and transportation)
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Discussion of the resulting conditions and challenges for civil protection
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Development of specific and applicable adaptation strategies
- Exchange of information and experiences with local stakeholders
Contacts:
PD Dr.-Ing. Jörn Birkmann
Tel: + 49-228-815-0208
e-mail: birkmann@ehs.unu.eduClaudia Bach
Tel.: + 49-228-815-0230
e-mail: bach@ehs.unu.eduProject Status:
Under Implementation (2009-2011) -
Munich Climate Insurance Initiative - MCII
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Project details
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Implementing Agency and Partnering Organizations:
UNU-EHSSummary:
MCII provides a forum and gathering point for insurance-related expertise on climate change impact issues. MCII is hosted at UNU-EHS in Bonn, Germany.
Project Components:
- Networking with experts on insurance and climate change adaptation
- Facilitating dialogue between delegates of the UNFCCC, policymakers and MCII partners on the objectives of the initiative
- MCII partners work on risk assessment, value at risk, exposure to natural hazards & climate change, development, disaster risk management and climate change adaptation
Expected Outputs:
Develop insurance-related solutions to help manage the impacts of climate change.
MCII strives to fulfil four objectives:
- Conduct and support pilot projects for the application of insurance-related solutions, in partnerships and through existing organizations and programmes. Identify success stories and disseminate information about the factors that are necessary to design and implement effective climate insurance-related mechanisms. The emphasis in such actions will be on developing countries, while simultaneously evaluating insurance designs that have been used in developed countries.
- Promote insurance approaches in cooperation with other organizations and initiatives within existing frameworks such as the United Nations system, International Financial Institutions, international donors, and the private sector.
- Identify and promote loss reduction measures for climate-related events
Contacts:
Dr Koko Warner
Tel.: + 49-228-815-0226
Fax: + 49-228-422-855-99
e-mail: warner@ehs.unu.eduProject Status:
Under Implementation
Quo Vadis Aquifers Programme (QVA)
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Project details
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Summary:
The QVA Programme is a joint activity of the United Nations University and the International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO.
Project Status:
Under Implementation (open-ended)
Munich Re Foundation Chair on Social Vulnerability
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Project details
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Implementing Agency and Partnering Organizations:
United Nations University-EHSSummary:
The Munich Re Foundation (MRF) Chair on Social Vulnerability has been accommodated at UNU-EHS since 2005 to support and initiate policy relevant research on social vulnerability. This project has been extended to 2012 due to its success in the first project period between 2005 and 2009.
Contacts:
Dr Xiaomeng Shen
Associate Academic Officer
MRF Chair
Tel.: + 49-228-815-0258
Fax: + 49-228-815-0299
e-mail: shen@ehs.unu.eduProject Status:
Under Implementation (2005-2012)
United Nations University Graduate Research Series: PhD Dissertation - Micro-Finance Instruments Can Contribute to Build Resilience
Submitted by ayesha on Sat, 2011-04-09 08:28Year:
Publisher:
Summary:
The second volume of the UNU-EHS Graduate Research Series, written by Philine Oft, investigates the livelihood systems of farmers in the region of Piura, Peru, including influencing strategies and frameworks. This PhD dissertation examines existing coping and adaptation strategies with a special focus on financial service schemes, such as agricultural micro-credits or insurance funds. Coping and adaptation as well as financial risk management strategies all can contribute to increase the resilience of rural livelihoods.
United Nations University - Policy Brief Series: Solutions for Vulnerable Countries and People
Submitted by ayesha on Sat, 2011-04-09 07:55Year:
Summary:
The third UNU-EHS Policy Brief is the continuation of "Vulnerable Countries and People" where people explained what they need in terms of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Now, the focus lies on how to implement DRR measures and insurance for adaptation.
United Nations University - Policy Brief Series: Vulnerable Countries and People. How Disaster Risk Reduction & Insurance Can Help Manage the Risks of Climate Change
Submitted by ayesha on Sat, 2011-04-09 07:46Year:
Publisher:
Summary:
"Vulnerable Countries and People. How Disaster Risk Reduction & Insurance Can Help Manage the Risks of Climate Change" focuses on linking disaster risk reduction and insurance approaches. A central concern is how to make such measures accessible and affordable to vulnerable people in developing countries. This Policy Brief helps delegates and policy-makers understand more clearly the links between climate risk insurance and "real people" by sharing interviews with people around the world affected by weather-related natural hazards.
United Nations University - Policy Brief Series: The Megacity Resilience Framework
Submitted by ayesha on Fri, 2011-04-08 16:09Year:
Publisher:
Summary:
“The Megacity Resilience Framework” by Carsten Butsch, Benjamin Etzold and Patrick Sakdapolrak, provides policy recommendations on how to increase the resilience and sustainability of megacities where more than half of the world’s population is living today. Megacities are an extreme product of the urbanization process that is shaping the planet. Rather than merely concentrating on the negative effects - like poverty and slums - the three scientists draw attention to the new opportunities that megacities equally provide.
