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The world warmed by about 0
.7°C in the 20th century. Every year in this century has been warmer than all but one in the last (1998, since you ask). If carbon-dioxide levels were magically to stabilise where they are now (almost 390 parts per million, 40% more than before the industrial revolution) the world would probably warm by a further half a degree or so as the ocean, which is slow to change its temperature, caught up. But CO2 levels continue to rise. Despite 20 years of climate negotiation, the world is still on an emissions trajectory that fits pretty easily into the “business as usual” scenarios drawn up by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
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The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region comprises of areas which are highly vulnerable to flood risks
. The region faces challenges from multiple non-climate stressors such as poverty, environmental and climate shocks, and inadequate infrastructure. Addressing these deprivations in ways that reduce vulnerability associated with a changing climate are critical for the communities that live here. This paper combines data on flood risks derived from a climate?hydrology model under two future scenarios of RCP 4.5 and 8.5, with socio-economic data from communities in the Gandak basin, to demonstrate how mainstreaming climate change impacts into decision-making for sanitation interventions can reduce socio-economic vulnerability to flooding. A Cost-effectiveness analysis of the alternative interventions for sanitation reveals that gains are substantially higher under an intervention that takes note of climatic events, both for the present and in the future. Substantial health costs and inconvenience losses that are particularly acute for women during floods can be averted by investing in climate-friendly options. Climate adaptation (SDG goal 13 on climate action) can be synergistic with the achievement of other SDGs (Goal 6 on sanitation, goal 3 on health and well-being, goal 5 on gender)
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Mountains matter because what happens in the mountains affects every human on the planet
. Mountains occupy 22% of the world’s land surface area and are home to about 13% of the world’s population. They host vast biological diversity and are an integral component of all of the planet’s ecosystems. The glaciers in these mountains have forever acted as critically important water storage in the form of ice. But across the planet, that water storage system is rapidly changing since – due to elevation dependent increased warming – glaciers are melting more rapidly than scientists originally predicted. That change in the amount and timing of glacier melt has profound impacts on human populations – on the way we organize our food systems and agriculture, and on the very availability of water for basic human needs
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Mountains matter because what happens in the mountains affects every human on the planet
. Mountains occupy 22% of the world’s land surface area and are home to about 13% of the world’s population. They host vast biological diversity and are an integral component of all of the planet’s ecosystems. The glaciers in these mountains have forever acted as critically important water storage in the form of ice. But across the planet, that water storage system is rapidly changing since – due to elevation dependent increased warming – glaciers are melting more rapidly than scientists originally predicted. That change in the amount and timing of glacier melt has profound impacts on human populations – on the way we organize our food systems and agriculture, and on the very availability of water for basic human needs
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This report documents several stories showing the cumulative impact of ICIMOD’s work over the last five years
. They show how we combine efforts on multiple fronts – from working with communities, engaging policymakers and promoting collaboration across borders to generating new knowledge and building capacity – to create positive change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). During this timeframe many important lessons have emerged to help us chart the way forward
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Springs are the most important source of water for millions of people in the mid-hills of the Himalaya
. Both rural and urban communities depend on springs for meeting their drinking, domestic, and agricultural water needs. There is now increasing evidence of springs drying up or their discharge reducing, as a result of which communities are facing water stress. The science of springs and hydrogeology are usually not well understood; aspects like linking recharge areas, the movement of groundwater and the difference between ‘source’ and ‘resource’ of springshed systems need to be demystified to local communities, administrators, and landowners. Springs are also part of complex social and informal governance systems, which are often inadequate both in terms of governance and management of the sources. This can also lead to disruption in the recharge areas. To provide more insights into these issues, this Working Paper identifies and maps spring systems, water budgeting, groundwater flows, and governance issues around the pilot areas of the Chibo–Pashyor watershed of Kalimpong. A total of 55 springs were mapped in the study site and 12 critical springs were selected for monitoring and detailed study, based on vulnerability criteria developed for this research. An analysis of water access, discharge, and budgeting, based on the “National Rural Drinking Water Programme Guidelines 2013”, was also conducted. Furthermore, in order to understand spring sources and resources as well as recharge areas, hydrogeological and lithological studies were conducted. For this study, understanding groundwater flow was critical. Groundwater is stored and transmitted through aquifers. So, an aquifer is considered the basic element in any study of groundwater or watershed development. Spring water is part of the groundwater system and only becomes “surface water” after flowing into a surface waterbody such as a stream or a lake. Based on a study of critical springs in the watershed, the paper presents a set of recommendations related to key issues of governance and management. It also explains the science behind the drying up of springs in the study area. Finally, key take-home messages for communities, practitioners, and administrators are provided to promote conservation of these springs for the future water security of the area, and to link it to climate change adaptation actions
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This assessment analyses the vulnerability of the ecosystem, infrastructure, and socio-economic conditions in Hakha Township located in Chin State, Myanmar in relation to present and projected climatic conditions
. It concludes that the current vulnerability of Hakha Township is high, and with the predicted changes in climate, decision makers in Hakha Township will need to plan for increased flash floods and landslides, strong winds, increased temperature, and erratic rainfall with greater amounts of rain within a shorter monsoon season. Based on these findings, required actions for building resilience over the medium to long term are proposed in this report
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A three-day workshop brought together providers, intermediaries, and users of climate information to grapple with the challenges and opportunities associated with the provision and application of future climate projections in South Asia
. South Asia is a region highly sensitive to climate variability and change. There is a growing need for information to guide national adaptation plans and to inform decision-making to increase resilience to climate change. Questions, therefore, arise as to whether decision- and policy-makers in the region have access to high-quality future climate projections and derived climate services that are fit for purpose
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