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Photo of Mo Hamza

Mo Hamza

Researcher

Photo of Mo Hamza

Using Expert Knowledge to Develop a Vulnerability and Adaptation Framework and Methodology for Application in Tropical Island Communities

Author

  • Elizabeth Mcleod
  • Brian Szuster
  • Emma L. Tompkins
  • Nadine Marshall
  • Thomas Downing
  • Supin Wongbusarakum
  • Anand Patwardhan
  • Mo Hamza
  • Cheryl Anderson
  • Sukaina Bharwani
  • Lara Hansen
  • Pamela Rubinoff
Show all

Summary, in English

Climate change threatens tropical coastal communities and ecosystems. Governments, resource managers, and communities recognize the value of assessing the social and ecological impacts of climate change, but there is little consensus on the most effective framework to support vulnerability and adaptation assessments. The framework presented in this research is based on a gap analysis developed from the recommendations of climate and adaptation experts. The article highlights social and ecological factors that affect vulnerability to climate change; adaptive capacity and adaptation options informing policy and conservation management decisions; and a methodology including criteria to assess current and future vulnerability to climate change. The framework is intended for conservation practitioners working in developing countries, small island nations, and traditional communities. It identifies core components that assess climate change impacts on coastal communities and environments at the local scale, and supports the identification of locally relevant adaptation strategies. Although the literature supporting vulnerability adaptation assessments is extensive, little emphasis has been placed on the systematic validation of these tools. To address this, we validate the framework using the Delphi technique, a group facilitation technique used to achieve convergence of expert opinion, and address gaps in previous vulnerability assessments.

Publishing year

2015-07-04

Language

English

Pages

365-382

Publication/Series

Coastal Management

Volume

43

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Topic

  • Environmental Sciences
  • Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Keywords

  • adaptation
  • climate vulnerability
  • Delphi
  • vulnerability framework

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0892-0753