On the development of a regional climate change adaptation plan: Integrating model-assisted projections and stakeholders' perceptions

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Goncalves, C (Author) Other; Joao Honrado (Author) FCUP; Cerejeira, J (Author) Other; Sousa, R (Author) Other; Fernandes, PM (Author) Other; Vaz, AS (Author) Other; Alves, M (Author) Other; Araujo, M (Author) Other; Carvalho Santos, C (Author) Other; Fonseca, A (Author) Other; Fraga, H (Author) Other; Goncalves, JF (Author) Other; Lomba, A (Author) Other; Pinto, E (Author) Other; Vicente, JR (Author) Other; Santos, JA (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Science of the Total Environment

Vol. 805

ISSN: 0048-9697

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 10 Citations

Scopus - 12 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-DTS

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150320

Abstract (EN): Climate change is expected to have strong social-ecological implications, with global but especially regional and local challenges. To assess the climatic vulnerability of a given territory, it is necessary to evaluate its exposure to climate change and its adaptive capacity. This study describes the development of an Action Plan for Adapting to Climate Change in the Tamega and Sousa Region, a mountainous inter-municipal community in the North of Portugal. The goals were to identify the main impacts of climate change on water resources, agriculture, forests, biodiversity, and socioeconomic sectors, as well as to develop a plan, merging local and scientific knowledge through a transdisciplinary lens. This study describes an approach that combines modelling methods, applied in the different sectors, and participatory methods, based on the analysis of the perceptions of local actors. Results indicate that the target region will experience a generalized increase in temperature and a decrease in precipita-tion, which will negatively impact all studied social-ecological dimensions. Overall, local business and institu-tional agents perceive the primary and tourism sectors as the most vulnerable in the region. The described framework demonstrates the engagement process between relevant scientific experts and local practitioners, as well as how it is critical to understand the impacts of climate change and to support the co-design of an adaptation plan, which in turn can guide political and economic decision-making towards effective implementation of the plan. In addition, the difficulties and challenges encountered during this process are discussed to support future plans and strategies for local adaptation.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14