What's New

What's New at AIACC?

Recent publication from the AIACC project: "Vulnerability to Epidemic Malaria in the Highlands of Lake Victoria Basin: The Role of Climate Change/Variability, Hydrology and Socio-Economic Factors"

Edited by Shem O. Wandiga, et al, this article appeared in the October 14, 2009 Climatic Change Journal, published by Springer.

Endemic malaria in most of the hot and humid African climates is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. In the last twenty or so years the incidence of malaria has been aggravated by the resurgence of highland malaria epidemics which hitherto had been rare. A close association between malaria epidemics and climate variability has been reported but not universally accepted. Similarly, the relationship between climate variability, intensity of disease mortality and morbidity coupled with socio-economic factors has been mooted. Analyses of past climate (temperature and precipitation), hydrological and health data (1961–2001), and socio-economics status of communities from the East African highlands confirm the link between climate variability and the incidence and severity of malaria epidemics. The communities in the highlands that have had less exposure to malaria are more vulnerable than their counterparts in the lowlands due to lack of clinical immunity. However, the vulnerability of human health to climate variability is influenced by the coping and adaptive capacities of an individual or community. Surveys conducted among three communities in the East African highlands reveal that the interplay of poverty and other socio-economic variables have intensified the vulnerability of these communities to the impacts of malaria.

Download the full article.

Lessons from AIACC

Lessons from the AIACC regional assessments are available in two new 8-page pamphlets from the AIACC project. For Whom the Bell Tolls, Vulnerabilities in a Changing Climate summarizes lessons about vulnerability to climate change from the AIACC investigations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Small Island States. The vulnerability lessons include the urgency of climate change risks, the role of social and governance systems in dampening or amplifying vulnerability, impediments to development from water scarcity, worsening land degradation, threats to rural poor, vulnerabilities in coasts and small islands, risks to ecosystems and species, and human health risks.

Lessons for climate change adaptation are summarized in A Stitch in Time, Adapting to a Changing Climate. The adaptation lessons include: adapt now, adaptation is development, adaptation is for ourselves, international financial help is necessary, strengthen institutions, involve those at risk, expand information and awareness, and adaptation is place-based.

The pamphlets of vulnerability and adaptation lessons can be downloaded from the links below.

Synthesis of the AIACC Regional Assessments

The AIACC regional assessments are mostly complete and a synthesis of their results is underway. The regional assessment teams are preparing case study papers to present their findings on climate change vulnerability and adaptation related to agriculture, grazing systems, water resources, ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, coastal settlements, food security, livelihoods and human health. The authors of the papers met in 2005 in Bellagio, Italy and Naivasha, Kenya to discuss, compare and synthesize their findings. The case study papers are being reviewed and revised for publication in two books in 2006.

The two pamphlets described above are summary outputs of these efforts. A longer, more detailed synthesis of climate change vulnerability is available by clicking here.

New AIACC Working Papers

Five new papers have recently been added to AIACC Working Papers, an on-line, peer-reviewed publication of the AIACC project. AIACC Working Papers can be accessed by clicking here. The new papers are:

Social methods for assessing agricultural producers vulnerability to climate variability and change based on the notion of sustainability. By M. Wehbe, R. Seiler, M. Vinocur, H. Eakin, C. Santos and H. Civitaresi. (AIACC Working Paper No. 19)

Climate Variability and Change: Implications for Household Food Security. By G. Ziervogel, A. Nyong, B. Osman, C. Conde, S. Cortés, and T. Downing. (AIACC Working Paper No. 20)

For Whom the Bell Tolls, Vulnerabilities in a Changing Climate: A Synthesis from the AIACC Project. By N. Leary, J. Adejuwon, W. Bailey, V. Barros, M. Caffera, S. Chinvanno, C. Conde, A. De Comarmond, A. De Sherbinin, T. Downing, H. Eakin, A. Nyong, M. Opondo, B. Osman, R. Payet, F. Pulhin, J. Pulhin, J. Ratnasiri, E. Sanjak, G. von Maltitz, M. Wehbe, Y. Yin, and G. Ziervogel. (AIACC Working Paper No. 21)

Assessing vulnerability to climate variability and change in estuarine waters and coastal fisheries of the Rio de la Plata. By G. J. Nagy, M. Bidegain, R. M. Caffera, F. Blixen, G. Ferrari, J. J Lagomarsino, C. H. López, W. Norbis, A. Ponce, M. C. Presentado, V. Pshennikov, K. Sans, and G. Sención. (AIACC Working Paper No. 22)

A Plan of Action to Support Climate Change Adaptation through Scientific Capacity, Knowledge and Research. By N. Leary, W. Baethgen, V. Barros, I. Burton, O. Canziani, T. Downing, R. Klein, D. Malpede, J. Marengo, L. Mearns, R. Lasco, and S. Wandiga. (AIACC Working Paper No. 23)


What's New at AIACC? Recent publication from the AIACC project: "Vulnerability to Epidemic Malaria in the Highlands of Lake Victoria Basin: The Role of Climate Change/Variability, Hydrology and Socio-Economic Factors" Edited by Shem O. Wandiga, et al, this article appeared in the October 14, 2009 Climatic Change Journal, published by Springer. Endemic malaria in most of the hot and humid African climates is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. In the last twenty or so years the incidence of malaria has been aggravated by the resurgence of highland malaria epidemics which hitherto had been rare. A close association between malaria epidemics and climate variability has been reported but not universally accepted. Similarly, the relationship between climate variability, intensity of disease mortality and morbidity coupled with socio-economic factors has been mooted. Analyses of past climate (temperature and precipitation), hydrological and health data (1961–2001), and socio-economics status of communities from the East African highlands confirm the link between climate variability and the incidence and severity of malaria epidemics. The communities in the highlands that have had less exposure to malaria are more vulnerable than their counterparts in the lowlands due to lack of clinical immunity. However, the vulnerability of human health to climate variability is influenced by the coping and adaptive capacities of an individual or community. Surveys conducted among three communities in the East African highlands reveal that the interplay of poverty and other socio-economic variables have intensified the vulnerability of these communities to the impacts of malaria. Download the full article. Lessons from AIACC Lessons from the AIACC regional assessments are available in two new 8-page pamphlets from the AIACC project. For Whom the Bell Tolls, Vulnerabilities in a Changing Climate summarizes lessons about vulnerability to climate change from the AIACC investigations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Small Island States. The vulnerability lessons include the urgency of climate change risks, the role of social and governance systems in dampening or amplifying vulnerability, impediments to development from water scarcity, worsening land degradation, threats to rural poor, vulnerabilities in coasts and small islands, risks to ecosystems and species, and human health risks. Lessons for climate change adaptation are summarized in A Stitch in Time, Adapting to a Changing Climate. The adaptation lessons include: adapt now, adaptation is development, adaptation is for ourselves, international financial help is necessary, strengthen institutions, involve those at risk, expand information and awareness, and adaptation is place-based. The pamphlets of vulnerability and adaptation lessons can be downloaded from the links below. Synthesis of the AIACC Regional Assessments The AIACC regional assessments are mostly complete and a synthesis of their results is underway. The regional assessment teams are preparing case study papers to present their findings on climate change vulnerability and adaptation related to agriculture, grazing systems, water resources, ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, coastal settlements, food security, livelihoods and human health. The authors of the papers met in 2005 in Bellagio, Italy and Naivasha, Kenya to discuss, compare and synthesize their findings. The case study papers are being reviewed and revised for publication in two books in 2006. The two pamphlets described above are summary outputs of these efforts. A longer, more detailed synthesis of climate change vulnerability is available by clicking here. New AIACC Working Papers Five new papers have recently been added to AIACC Working Papers, an on-line, peer-reviewed publication of the AIACC project. AIACC Working Papers can be accessed by clicking here. The new papers are: Social methods for assessing agricultural producers vulnerability to climate variability and change based on the notion of sustainability. By M. Wehbe, R. Seiler, M. Vinocur, H. Eakin, C. Santos and H. Civitaresi. (AIACC Working Paper No. 19) Climate Variability and Change: Implications for Household Food Security. By G. Ziervogel, A. Nyong, B. Osman, C. Conde, S. Cortés, and T. Downing. (AIACC Working Paper No. 20) For Whom the Bell Tolls, Vulnerabilities in a Changing Climate: A Synthesis from the AIACC Project. By N. Leary, J. Adejuwon, W. Bailey, V. Barros, M. Caffera, S. Chinvanno, C. Conde, A. De Comarmond, A. De Sherbinin, T. Downing, H. Eakin, A. Nyong, M. Opondo, B. Osman, R. Payet, F. Pulhin, J. Pulhin, J. Ratnasiri, E. Sanjak, G. von Maltitz, M. Wehbe, Y. Yin, and G. Ziervogel. (AIACC Working Paper No. 21) Assessing vulnerability to climate variability and change in estuarine waters and coastal fisheries of the Rio de la Plata. By G. J. Nagy, M. Bidegain, R. M. Caffera, F. Blixen, G. Ferrari, J. J Lagomarsino, C. H. López, W. Norbis, A. Ponce, M. C. Presentado, V. Pshennikov, K. Sans, and G. Sención. (AIACC Working Paper No. 22) A Plan of Action to Support Climate Change Adaptation through Scientific Capacity, Knowledge and Research. By N. Leary, W. Baethgen, V. Barros, I. Burton, O. Canziani, T. Downing, R. Klein, D. Malpede, J. Marengo, L. Mearns, R. Lasco, and S. Wandiga. (AIACC Working Paper No. 23)