Pathways to climate change adaptation: the case of Small Island Developing States
This course provides an overview of climate change adaptation for the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with a focus on the environmental perspective. It will present the key concepts regarding the issues of adaptation to climate change and the methodological tools needed to analyse challenges faced by SIDS, in order to propose sustainable solutions.
About the Course
Climate change has already taken place, and it will continue to do for the foreseeable future. These changes present important challenges, but also opportunities, for humanity.
The focus of this course will be on adaptation. In other words, it will look at how each country must assess their specific vulnerabilities to climate change, and the tools at their disposal for protecting the well-being, economy, and environment of its citizens.
The examples will be based on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). In such countries economic assets and population density occur primarily in coastal areas. As such, SIDS countries are particularly vulnerable to two of the main predicted changes to occur with climate change: rising sea levels and increased intensity of storms. In some cases, the combination of rising sea levels and exceptional storms can lead to the disappearance of high quality farmlands and the destruction of wetlands and human infrastructure that provide important ecosystem services.
At the end of this course launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the University of Geneva (UNIGE) in collaboration with the National Adaptation Planning Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP), you will be able to:
-Explain why countries will have to adapt to climate change and provide examples of what this could look like.
-Explain why Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are particularly vulnerable to climate change.
-Outline how to analyse climate risks and discuss why some countries are more vulnerable than others.
-Discuss how adaptation can contribute to sustainable development goals.
And last but not least, you will have the opportunity to create a network and exchange experiences and practices on the SIDS problematic and more largely on climate change adaptation topics.
Course Syllabus
Week 1. Introduction to climate change and climate change adaptation (Martin Beniston)
Week 2. Focus on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) (Arthur Dahl)
Week 3. How to identify vulnerabilities and solutions to climate change (Alexander Sandy Bisaro)
Week 4. Integrating climate change adaptation in policy planning (Pradeep Kurukulasuriya & Rohini Kohli)
Week 5. Specific case studies related to RiVamp (Pascal Peduzzi)
Recommended Background
This course does not require any prerequisites or special skills.
Course Format
This course will last 5 weeks. Each week, a series of lecture videos will be proposed. The evaluation process will be done throughout the duration of the course through different activities (quizz, peer to peer evaluation).
Students who completed successfully the course will receive a Statement of Accomplishment signed by the instructors. However, no credits will be awarded.