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Climate change, adaptive strategies and rural livelihoods in semiarid Tanzania
No full textThis article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/nr.2013.43034Climate change is a global challenge to both sustainable livelihoods and economic development. In Tanzania as in most African countries, farming depends almost entirely on rainfall, a situation that makes agriculture and thus rural livelihoods especially in semiarid environments particularly vulnerable to climate change. This study analyses the impacts of climate change and variability on rural livelihoods with particular focus on agricultural production, food security and adaptive capacities in semiarid areas of Tanzania. The methods used in this study included focus group discussions, key informant interviews, household surveys and field observations. Results from the study indicate that communities understood climate change in terms of variability in rainfall patterns and amount, temperature patterns, wind, water availability, increased incidences of drought and decreased agricultural productivity. Communities in the study area acknowledged that while rainfall amounts have decreased over the last thirty years, temperatures have increased, an experience is also supported by meteorological data. Such changes were claimed to have reduced agricultural productivity particularly due to prolonged drought, inadequate and uneven distribution of rainfall as well as unpredictable onset and ending of rains. Stressors such as crop diseases and pests, low soil fertility and inadequate extension services were also reported to contribute to the decline in agricultural productivity and re-occurrence of food insecurity. In response, communities have developed multiple adaptation strategies, including growing of drought tolerant and early maturing crop varieties, increasing wetlands cultivation, water harvesting for small-scale irrigation and livestock keeping. However, households with limited livelihood assets are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and food insecurity. The study argues that diversification of adaptive strategies, such as water harvesting for small-scale irrigation, integration of livestock and crop production are crucial to ensuring sustainable livelihood in a changing climate
The effect of forest degradation on forest structure and carbon stock in Kiwengwa Pongwe forest reserve, Zanzibar
No full textThis work reported in this dissertation was conducted in Kiwengwa-Pongwe Forest
Reserve (KPFR) in Zanzibar. Specifically, the study assessed the forest structure, carbon
stock and forest degradation. Eleven transects were laid out in the North - South direction
and plots located along each transect. The distance between transects was 600 meters and
plots were laid down systematically at intervals of 300 meters along each transect.
Clusters of concentric circular plots of 5, 10 to 15 metres radius were established for
measurement of diameter at breast height (dbh). The measured trees were grouped into
the following classes: 20 em, The forest had composition of 60
species in 52 families, Stand density of 281 stems ha-1
, Basal area of 5.75 m2ha-1 and
Volume of 33.97 nr'ha". Biomass was 22.9 tha" with a Carbon stock of 11.7 tCha-1.
These results were slightly lower than earlier reported (1997) for the same forest, where
volume and biomass then stood at 35.37 rrr'ha" and 26.39 tha", respectively. The mean
Shannon & Wienner species diversity Index ranged from 0.83 at the forest edge to 1.74 at
the forest centre, with a mean of 1.34, which is considered to be low to medium.
Assessment of forest degradation showed removals of 159 stems ha-1 corresponding to a
basal area of 2.6 m2ha-1, volume of 18 rrr'ha', carbon of 6.1tCha-1 and C02 emission of
12tC02-e. These results indicated that KPFR is subject to degradation and hence a high
potential for enhance carbon sequestration and storage through sustainable forest
management. The study recommends that there is a need to upgrade the status of the
surveyed forest reserve to improve its forest structure and carbon sequestration and
storage potential.Sustainable Management of Land and Environment (SMOLE) project
Small scale farmers’ adaptation to climate change effects in Pangani River Basin and Pemba: challenges and opportunities
No full textClimate change is a global problem with its effects being severe in developing countries where the majority are poor and depend primarily on rain-fed agriculture. Evidence shows that Africa is more vulnerable because 80% of its population depends on rain-fed agriculture for food and other livelihood needs. Climatic data indicate that the continent experiences decreasing and increasing trends of rainfall and temperature respectively. Considering that agricultural continue to be the main stay of the majority of rural communities in the continent. This study therefore, investigated small scale farmers’ perceptions to climate change; farm level adaptation efforts and limitation; and factors influencing adoption adaptation mechanisms in Pangani River Basin and Pemba of Tanzania. Results indicate that farmers in the area perceive that there is change in trends of temperature and rainfall and they are able to link with changes in crop types, cropping patterns, and outbreak of human, animal and crop diseases happening in their respective areas. Results also indicate that farmers are making efforts to adapt to it but shortage of water for irrigation, lack of necessary farm inputs, capital, lack of information on appropriate adaptation mechanisms, and shortage of farm land are the major limitations. Results from Multinomial Logit Model indicate that access to extension services; credit; education level, and location positively condition farmers’ choices of climate change coping strategy. These results suggest that there are opportunities and limitation in ensuring small scale farmers fully adapt to climate change that need immediate attention
Climate change mitigation approaches in Bangladesh
No full textBeing a densely populated country with limited natural resources, Bangladesh is deadly suffering from the
energy crisis since the past few decades. The geographical location of the country has even made it more
vulnerable to the natural disasters. As a result, the country is experiencing the impact of current weather change
and the economy is struggling to improve against the periodic occurrence of natural calamities such as cyclones,
floods and drought. In spite of being in the row of least carbon producers, Bangladesh is one of the worst
sufferers. Due to the limitation in fossil fuel reserve, the only way to minimize the supply-demand gaps in the
energy sector is switching towards the alternative renewable energy sources. The initiatives in sourcing out
alternative energy resources with low carbon emission from both the government and the private investors are
still on the infancy stages. Local investors have started the initiations to switch towards renewable energy
systems. There have been some remarkable achievements as the rural people have started using these green
energy systems. Government has already taken necessary steps to energize the local economy through inspiring
them by low interest loan schemes, and introducing the energy usage in the government owned offices. The
renewable energy system is showing a lot of promise in Bangladesh, with the proper technical support and large-scale production Bangladesh will be one of the world leaders in adaptation of renewable energy system
Global climate change: variants for solution
No full textthis article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/acs.2013.34A001Purpose of the article is a presentation of possible solutions to the problem of global warming. The first is based on the physical properties of the Earth and its atmospheres. Another way represents reduction of anthropogenous influence on the climate. Efforts of international association in an agreement achievement among issuers’ greenhouse gas emissions on reduction of emissions are analyzed. It discussed an actual objectification problem of emissions quotes distribution based on the principle of differentiated responsibilities. For decision of this problem, it presented a mathematical algorithm of objectification of greenhouse gases distribution
Climate change challenges to accounting
No full textThis article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/lce.2013.41003Low carbon economy is causing the implementation and development of carbon markets that affect an increasing or- ganizations number. These markets entail new challenges to accounting practitioners. The aim of this paper is, on the one hand, to know how the financial statements are being affected by the obligations of companies to control and com- pensate their carbon emissions, by analyzing the different positions adopted by both regulatory organizations and com- panies in the practice; and, on the other hand, to analyze the content and specific problematic of accounting statements that report on emissions in physical terms. This paper considers the accounting treatment of new carbon assets and li- abilities which external information is not sufficiently regulated. Also, the paper analyzes the new contractual relation- ships that are being developed such as complex derivative structures, purchasing carbon units through ERPAs (Emis- sions Reduction Purchase Agreements), carbon monetization, carbon collateralization and carbon funds. Finally, new report requirements to companies that are arising, like Carbon Accounting or risks and strategies regard to climate change (Carbon Reporting), are also analyzed
Teaching global climate change
No full textThis article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ns.2013.51A018Although there is strong consensus among scientists that global climate change is real and dangerous, and there is increasing belief of this among the general public, there still remains a significant gap between scientific opinion and that of the public. The academic environmental community, therefore, has a clear opportunity and responsibility to teach the facts of global climate change, particularly to non-environmental majors, those people who are the voters of the future. The article presents several ideas along these lines, and calls for a revitalized effort to teach climate change to undergraduate students
Christocentric ecotheology and climate change
No full textThis article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojpp.2013.31A021Christocentric ecotheology is a concept that examines ecological phenomena from Christian theological perspective. This research was therefore required to examine the theological implications of climate change with the aim of bridging the gaps between theological and scientific interpretation of the events. Comparative phenomenological methodology was adopted in view of the fact that theological interpreta-tions of events needed to be compared with scientific ideas so as to ascertain the meeting point. The re-search noted that the areas of variance between theological beliefs and climate change are as a result of wrong interpretation of theological events
The Second-Image Reversed and Climate Policy: How International Influences Helped Changing Brazil’s Positions on Climate Change
No full textThis article is available at www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainabilityInternational climate policy over the last 7–8 years has been characterized by the increasing involvement of developing countries. While COP-13 at Bali marked a stronger willingness to participate in mitigation efforts in principle, there are now numerous examples of domestic programs for mitigation by this group of countries. Brazil has gone furthest among developing countries, with a substantial voluntary commitment to reduce its emissions proclaimed in 2009. The dynamics behind the change in Brazil’s position are discussed, with a particular eye to the effects of international influences. In conjunction with important domestic changes, a set of interacting influences through a variety of pathways both changed preferences among important interest groups in Brazilian society towards favoring some kind of commitments and helped to change the structure of government forums and decision-making rules in a way that empowered reform-minded ministries. It is argued that this perspective, drawn from Peter Gourevitch’s idea of the ―second image reversed‖, is increasingly relevant for understanding the influence of the broad ―regime complex‖ on climate change on politics in developing countries.The Norwegian Research Council and The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperatio
The Impact of Climate, CO2 and Population on Regional Food and Water Resources in the 2050s
No full textPopulation growth and climate change are likely to impact upon food and water availability over the coming decades. In this study we use an ensemble of climate simulations to project the implications of both these drivers on regional changes in food and water. This study highlights the dominant effect of population growth on per capita resource allocation over climate induced changes in our model projections. We find a strong signal for crop yield reductions due to climate change by the 2050s in the absence of CO2 fertilisation effects. However, when these additional processes are included this trend is reversed. The impacts of climate on water resources are more uncertain. Overall, we find reductions in the global population living in water stressed conditions due to the combined effects of climate and CO2. Africa is a key region where projected decreases in runoff and crop productivity from climate change alone are potentially reversed when CO2 fertilisation effects are included, but this is highly uncertain. Plant physiological response to increasing atmospheric CO2 is a major driver of the changes in crop productivity and water availability in this study; it is poorly constrained by observations and is thus a critical uncertainty