Localising vulnerability
assessments
Presented by
Johanna Johnson
Natadola, Fiji
The Challenge
Exposure
Sensitivity
Potential
impact
Adaptive
capacity
Vulnerability
?
Key considerations
• Resources are often limited
• Time is critical
Existing knowledge and information
invaluable
• Downscaling from regional to community level
• Long-term community capacity
Pathway from assessment to action
Existing knowledge and
information
• Main food security and livelihood activities
• Key community assets & values
• Links between climate and activities
• Past response to change (e.g. natural
disasters)
• Current issues (drivers of change)
• Future issues (e.g. climate change)
Community knowledge
key activities
assets & values
Existing information
climate
resource condition
Drivers of change
current issues
climate change
Future vision
range of options
desirable
Community adaptation
actions
review & revise
Building resilient futures
A participatory approach for determining
adaptation actions and considerations for
their implementation
Pathway to Adaptation
Scoping
What are the
key issues and
drivers of
change
impacting the
resilience of
fishers and
farmers
livelihoods?
Identifying
options
Evaluation of
options
(i) What are the
current and likely
future impacts of
a changing
climate?
(i) What do the
adaptations look
like and what is
their relative
cost?
(ii) What does a
desirable future
farming/fishing
livelihood look
like?
(ii) What people,
organisations and
institutions are
needed to
facilitate
adaptations?
(iii) What adaptation
actions may
address impacts
and help realise
the desired
future?
(iii) What is likely
impact of the
adaptations on
the natural
resource base?
Planning
implementation
(i)
Can an informed
decision be
made about
what adaptations
will be
implemented?
(ii) What are the
social, economic
or environmental
triggers that will
indicate when it
is time to
implement an
adaptation?
Current climate
How do current trends in temperature and rainfall drive fishing and farming activities?
Source: S. Park (WFC)
Future: options & vision
Community knowledge
key activities
assets & values
Existing information
climate
resource condition
Drivers of change
current issues
climate change
Future vision
range of options
desirable
Community adaptation
actions
review & revise
Lobster life cycle
Communicating: present
Communicating: the future
Community participation
Conclusions
• Use available knowledge and information
• Integrate across scales (local, national, regional)
and sectors
• Multi-disciplinary
• Largely participatory; building local capacity
• Rapid and action-orientated
Local knowledge provides relevance
Thank you
j.johnson@c2o.net.au