MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
In order to reduce the risk of a damaging outcome, we are most often unable to
reduce the hazard (e.g. we have no control over the extent of a dry spell or
drought), but we can reduce the vulnerability or increase the capacity of those
likely to be affected.
In order to be able to reduce vulnerability, we need to understand who is
vulnerable, and why they are vulnerable. Only then can we begin to identify
strategies to reduce their vulnerability. We will be dealing with livelihood and
vulnerability analysis in detail later in this workshop.
To what hazards, shocks and stresses are the people you
work with currently exposed?
How are these changing – for better or worse?
SLIDE - Increasing Severity of (some) Hazards
• The number of reported disasters is increasing, particularly
hydro-meteorological disasters (weather events).
• Experts believe that some of the increase in reported disasters
can be attributed to increases in extreme climatic events, but the
proportion is very difficult to determine and attribution is even
tougher
• Impact on hazards (IPCC 2007) Confidence in understanding or
projecting changes in hazards and extremes depends on the type
of extreme, as well as on the region and season.
• Frequency and magnitude of hot/cold extremes increasing and
projected to continue. Same with heavy precipitation. No clear
trend in tropical cyclones.
• Some suggestion that droughts will increase, but this depends on
definition of drought and the area in question.
A Training Manual on Use of Climate Information and Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment for
Agricultural Extension Staff in Zimbabwe
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