Context Adaptation is needed, and is moving up the political and development agendas. Lots of money beginning to go into adaptation through both public and private sector. There is no ‘easy’ solution to adaptation; to be effective it will require learning from information and experience of many different groups.

What is weADAPT?

weADAPT Collaborative platform for adaptation: -Multi-disciplinary. -From NGOs to research organizations to the private sector. -Guidance and advice on adaptation. -Tools and methods to aid adaptation -Learning from experience -Building capacity on adaptation

Structure Loose network of organisations working together on adaptation. Largely developed through partnerships in the ACCCA and ADAM projects, and SEI’s climate for development programme. Organisations working through projects to develop weADAPT platform; there is no ‘weADAPT project’.

Principles Adaptation is a process of socio- institutional learning. The future is uncertain, but we know enough to act! The value of information is in reducing the uncertainty in making a decision.

Components Network of people and organisations Technical elements; -wikiADAPT -Climate Change Explorer (CCE) -AWhere software -Adaptation decision Explorer (ADX) -Other methods and approaches

wikiADAPT

Why wiki? Collaborative, everyone can edit the wiki once they have a password. No gate-keepers, can be developed according to user needs Place to share experiences, knowledge on adaptation and resources.

wikiADAPT Adaptation Basics Guidance on process of adaptation; from vulnerability assessment to screening adaptation options to communicating results. Sharing experiences and examples Collaborative work Information on tools and methods

The Climate Change Explorer Developed by SEI, UCT and Awhere.inc as part of weADAPT. Downscaled data currently available for Africa, Asia data currently being downscaled. 3 models and NCEP reanalysis currently in the tool, more will become available.

Why CCE? Inherent uncertainty in climate models: Can’t say which model is ‘best’. Mean ensemble forecast may give false sense of certainty of range of possible changes GCM projections not very useful for planning adaptation! CCE allows non-expert users to explore the range of uncertainty and choose adaptation options robust against range of futures.

Data visualizations

Using the CCE Station data available for Bougouni Priority is drought and high temperatures – use CCE to look at how these may change.

Bougoni: Analysis Start with historic rainfall Rains, and agricultural production, begin April-June

Future rainfall 2046 to 2065 anomalies (expected changes). GISS expected reduction of 40 mm during March to June (critical time for agricultural production) All 3 available models predict rainfall decreases during this period

AWhere Easy to use GIS software Comes with background data on physical and social attributes of different areas Good to build up an initial picture of the vulnerability of an area. Data collected on the ground can be added in and easily mapped.

Examples of AWhere maps

Decision-making explorer Lots of options, how do we make decisions on adaptation given the uncertainties involved? Reduce uncertainty in making a decision.

Ideas for development Don’t rely on one method for choosing decisions. Compare the options chosen by different methods Network approach; which options were chosen by people I trust?

Target audience

Decision-making explorer

AWhere Map ACCCA Project Study Sites

AWhere Map droughts

AWhere Map Livelihood Zones 2

AWhere Map Total Poverty

AWhere Map Croplands Use Intensity %

AWhere Map annual precipitation

AWhere Map annual evapotranspiration

Hotter and Drier? : Maximum temperatures much higher, key growing months are drier.

Baseline vulnerability assessment Climate sensitive exposure units How will key climate variables change Can we identify thresholds in indicators? What are possible adaptation strategies? Key points from the process