Download or read book Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation written by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2012-05-28 with total page 593 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Extreme weather and climate events, interacting with exposed and vulnerable human and natural systems, can lead to disasters. This Special Report explores the social as well as physical dimensions of weather- and climate-related disasters, considering opportunities for managing risks at local to international scales. SREX was approved and accepted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on 18 November 2011 in Kampala, Uganda.

Download or read book Achieving Sustainable Development and Promoting Development Cooperation written by Department of Economic & Social Affairs and published by United Nations Publications. This book was released on 2008 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents an overview of the key debates that took place during the Economic and Social Council meetings at the 2007 High-level Segment, at which ECOSOC organized its first biennial Development Cooperation Forum. The discussions also revolved around the theme of the second Annual Ministerial Review, "Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to sustainable development."--P. 4 of cover.

Download or read book The Politics of Evidence written by Justin Parkhurst and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-10-04 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.tandfebooks.com/, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 3.0 license. There has been an enormous increase in interest in the use of evidence for public policymaking, but the vast majority of work on the subject has failed to engage with the political nature of decision making and how this influences the ways in which evidence will be used (or misused) within political areas. This book provides new insights into the nature of political bias with regards to evidence and critically considers what an ‘improved’ use of evidence would look like from a policymaking perspective. Part I describes the great potential for evidence to help achieve social goals, as well as the challenges raised by the political nature of policymaking. It explores the concern of evidence advocates that political interests drive the misuse or manipulation of evidence, as well as counter-concerns of critical policy scholars about how appeals to ‘evidence-based policy’ can depoliticise political debates. Both concerns reflect forms of bias – the first representing technical bias, whereby evidence use violates principles of scientific best practice, and the second representing issue bias in how appeals to evidence can shift political debates to particular questions or marginalise policy-relevant social concerns. Part II then draws on the fields of policy studies and cognitive psychology to understand the origins and mechanisms of both forms of bias in relation to political interests and values. It illustrates how such biases are not only common, but can be much more predictable once we recognise their origins and manifestations in policy arenas. Finally, Part III discusses ways to move forward for those seeking to improve the use of evidence in public policymaking. It explores what constitutes ‘good evidence for policy’, as well as the ‘good use of evidence’ within policy processes, and considers how to build evidence-advisory institutions that embed key principles of both scientific good practice and democratic representation. Taken as a whole, the approach promoted is termed the ‘good governance of evidence’ – a concept that represents the use of rigorous, systematic and technically valid pieces of evidence within decision-making processes that are representative of, and accountable to, populations served.

Download or read book Indigenous knowledge for climate change assessment and adaptation written by Nakashima, Douglas and published by UNESCO Publishing. This book was released on 2018-12-31 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This unique transdisciplinary publication is the result of collaboration between UNESCO's Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS) programme, the United Nations University's Traditional Knowledge Initiative, the IPCC, and other organisations

Download or read book The Tools of Policy Formulation written by Andrew J. Jordan and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2015-04-30 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A PDF version of this book is available for free in open access via the Elgaronline platform - www.elgaronline.com/view/9781783477036.xml Policy analysts are accustomed to thinking in terms of tools and instruments. Yet an authoritative exa

Download or read book Social Dimensions of Climate Change written by Robin Mearns and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2009-12-02 with total page 348 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While major strides have been made in the scientific understanding of climate change, much less understood is how these dynamics in the physical enviornment interact with socioeconomic systems. This book brings together the latest knowledge on the consequences of climate change for society and how best to address them.

Download or read book Adapting to Climate Change written by W. Neil Adger and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2009-06-25 with total page 533 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents the latest science and social science research on whether the world can adapt to climate change.

Download or read book Biomass Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage BECCS written by Clair Gough and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2018-09-24 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An essential resource for understanding the potential role for biomass energy with carbon capture and storage in addressing climate change Biomass Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) offers a comprehensive review of the characteristics of BECCS technologies in relation to its various applications. The authors — a team of expert professionals — bring together in one volume the technical, scientific, social, economic and governance issues relating to the potential deployment of BECCS as a key approach to climate change mitigation. The text contains information on the current and future opportunities and constraints for biomass energy, explores the technologies involved in BECCS systems and the performance characteristics of a variety of technical systems. In addition, the text includes an examination of the role of BECCS in climate change mitigation, carbon accounting across the supply chain and policy frameworks. The authors also offer a review of the social and ethical aspects as well as the costs and economics of BECCS. This important text: Reveals the role BECCS could play in the transition to a low-carbon economy Discusses the wide variety of technical and non-technical constraints of BECCS Presents the basics of biomass energy systems Reviews the technical and engineering issues pertinent to BECCS Explores the societal implications of BECCS systems Written for academics and research professionals, Biomass Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) brings together in one volume the issues surrounding BECCS in an accessible and authoritative manner.

Download or read book Reducing Poverty Protecting Livelihoods and Building Assets in a Changing Climate written by Dorte Verner and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2010-06-25 with total page 460 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Climate change is the defining development challenge of our time. More than a global environmental issue, climate change and variability threaten to reverse recent progress in poverty reduction and economic growth. Both now and over the long run, climate change and variability threatens human and social development by restricting the fulfillment of human potential and by disempowering people and communities in reducing their livelihoods options. Communities across Latin America and the Caribbean are already experiencing adverse consequences from climate change and variability. Precipitation has increased in the southeastern part of South America, and now often comes in the form of sudden deluges, leading to flooding and soil erosion that endanger people s lives and livelihoods. Southwestern parts of South America and western Central America are seeing a decrease in precipitation and an increase in droughts. Increasing heat and drought in Northeast Brazil threaten the livelihoods of already-marginal smallholders, and may turn parts of the eastern Amazon rainforest into savannah. The Andean inter-tropical glaciers are shrinking and expected to disappear altogether within the next 20-40 years, with significant consequences for water availability. These environmental changes will impact local livelihoods in unprecedented ways. Poverty, inequality, water access, health, and migration are and will be measurably affected by climate change. Using an innovative research methodology, this study finds quantitative evidence of large variations in impacts across regions. Many already poor regions are becoming poorer; traditional livelihoods are being challenged in unprecedented ways; water scarcity is increasing, particularly in poor arid areas; human health is deteriorating; and climate-induced migration is already taking place and may increase. Successfully reducing social vulnerability to climate change and variability requires action and commitment at multiple levels. This volume offers key operational recommendations at the government, community, and household levels with particular emphasis placed on enhancing good governance and technical capacity in the public sector, building social capital in local communities, and protecting the asset base of poor households.

Download or read book Migration Environment and Climate Change written by Frank Laczko and published by UN. This book was released on 2009 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Gradual and sudden environmental changes are resulting in substantial human movement and displacement, and the scale of such flows, both internal and cross-border, is expected to rise with unprecedented impacts on lives and livelihoods. Despite the potential challenge, there has been a lack of strategic thinking about this policy area partly due to a lack of data and empirical research on this topic. Adequately planning for and managing environmentallyinduced migration will be critical for human security. The papers in this volume were first presented at the Research Workshop on Migration and the Environment: Developing a Global Research Agenda held in Munich, Germany in April 2008. One of the key objectives on the Munich workshop was to address the need for more sound empirical research and identify priority areas of research for policy makers in the field of migration and the environment.

Download or read book Coping with Global Environmental Change Disasters and Security written by Hans Günter Brauch and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-02-03 with total page 1816 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coping with Global Environmental Change, Disasters and Security - Threats, Challenges, Vulnerabilities and Risks reviews conceptual debates and case studies focusing on disasters and security threats, challenges, vulnerabilities and risks in Europe, the Mediterranean and other regions. It discusses social science concepts of vulnerability and risks, global, regional and national security challenges, global warming, floods, desertification and drought as environmental security challenges, water and food security challenges and vulnerabilities, vulnerability mapping of environmental security challenges and risks, contributions of remote sensing to the recognition of security risks, mainstreaming early warning of conflicts and hazards and provides conceptual and policy conclusions.

Download or read book Adaptation to Climate Change written by Mark Pelling and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2010-10-18 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The impacts of climate change are already being felt. Learning how to live with these impacts is a priority for human development. In this context, it is too easy to see adaptation as a narrowly defensive task – protecting core assets or functions from the risks of climate change. A more profound engagement, which sees climate change risks as a product and driver of social as well as natural systems, and their interaction, is called for. Adaptation to Climate Change argues that, without care, adaptive actions can deny the deeper political and cultural roots that call for significant change in social and political relations if human vulnerability to climate change associated risk is to be reduced. This book presents a framework for making sense of the range of choices facing humanity, structured around resilience (stability), transition (incremental social change and the exercising of existing rights) and transformation (new rights claims and changes in political regimes). The resilience-transition-transformation framework is supported by three detailed case study chapters. These also illustrate the diversity of contexts where adaption is unfolding, from organizations to urban governance and the national polity. This text is the first comprehensive analysis of the social dimensions to climate change adaptation. Clearly written in an engaging style, it provides detailed theoretical and empirical chapters and serves as an invaluable reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in climate change, geography and development studies.

Download or read book Responsibility written by Ann Elisabeth Auhagen and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2002-09-26 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First Published in 2004. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Download or read book We the Media written by Dan Gillmor and published by "O'Reilly Media, Inc.". This book was released on 2006-01-24 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Looks at the emerging phenomenon of online journalism, including Weblogs, Internet chat groups, and email, and how anyone can produce news.

Download or read book Global Energy Perspectives written by Nebojsa Nakicenovic and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1998-10-15 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Global energy needs are expanding substantially as populations grow and economies develop around the world. There is clear evidence that continued use of fossil fuels as the world's dominant energy supply is damaging the environment and causing changes in global climate patterns. People want higher levels of more efficient, cleaner, and less obtrusive energy services. How much of those needs will be met by fossil fuels, how much by alternative fuels, and how much by efficiency increases and expanded energy conservation is a wide open question. Global Energy Perspectives describes the results of a five-year joint study by the International Institute for Applied systems Analysis and the World Energy Council. It presents six long-term energy futures which lay out the alternatives among future fuels, technologies, efficiency gains, conservation patterns, and pollution levels, and pinpoints the key choices that are most likely to characterize the twenty-first century. The primary audience will include researchers, educators, policy makers in private and public sectors and other workers in the energy, technology, economics and environmental areas, but the book will appeal to anyone interested in the future of energy production as a prerequisite for human development.

Download or read book Climate Change and Aviation written by Stefan Gossling and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012-05-04 with total page 410 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'This is a timely, challenging and fascinating book on a topic of central importance to the success or otherwise of our climate change policies. It sets down a clear marker for what has to be done in the aviation sector.' Professor John Whitelegg, Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, UK 'Climate Change and Aviation presents a clear picture of the transport sector's greatest challenge: how to reconcile aviation's immense popularity with its considerable environmental damage and its dependence on liquid hydrocarbon energy sources. This book avoids wishful thinking and takes the much harder, but more productive, path of considering difficult solutions that clash with short-term and short-sighted expectations about the unlimited growth potential for flying.' Professor Anthony Perl, Urban Studies Program, Simon Fraser University, Canada 'A convincing and timely collection that brings together an impressive range of expertise. The book integrates various perspectives into a powerful core argument - we must do something, and quickly, to tackle the impact of aviation on our environment. The authors recognise the political difficulties associated with promoting change but present constructive options for policy makers. Required reading, especially for transport ministers set on promoting the growth of air travel.' Professor Jon Shaw, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Transport, University of Plymouth, UK Trends such as the massive growth in availability of air travel and air freight are among those which have led to aviation becoming one of the fastest growing emitters of greenhouse gases. These trends have also caused a shift in expectations of how we do business, where we go on holiday, and what food and goods we can buy. For these reasons aviation is (and is set to stay) high up on global political, organizational and media agendas. This textbook is the first to attempt a comprehensive review of the topic, bringing together an international team of leading scientists. Starting with the science of the environmental issues, it moves on to cover drivers and trends of growth, socio-economics and politics, as well as mitigation options, the result being a broad yet detailed examination of the field. This is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in transport, tourism, the environment, geography and beyond, while also being a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers seeking a clear understanding of this complex yet urgently pressing issue.

Download or read book Common European Framework of Reference for Languages written by Council of Europe and published by Council of Europe. This book was released on 2002 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Framework has been widely adopted in setting curriculum standards, designing courses, developing materials and in assessment and certification. This compendium of case studies is written by authors who have a considerable and varied experience of using the Framework in their professional context. The aim is to help readers develop their understanding of the Framework and its possible uses in different sectors of education.