Office of Overseas Programming & Training Support (OPATS) Introduction to Climate Change Global Agriculture Training Package

Climate Change Review Round 1: What are some of the human and natural causes of climate change? Round 2: What are some of the consequences of climate change? Round 3: How have you observed and experienced these causes and consequences in your own home communities in the U.S.? Round 4: How have you observed and experienced these causes and consequences in your training community so far?

Key Definitions and Concepts Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get – Mark Twain Climate Change - Changes in the mean and/or degree of variability of the climate over time. Climate Variability - Variations in climatic conditions on time scales of months, years, decades, centuries, and longer.

Climate Change Models = UNCERTAINTY All climate models predict alarming warming trends; however, there is great uncertainty about how much.

Climate Variability Climate Variability West African Sahel, Present Source: Adapted from Baethgen, 2013

What do you see? (F rom top left) Janeiro.jpg

What do you see? Source: August 13, 1941August 31, 2004

Quick and Slow-Onset Shocks and Stresses Quick-Onset Earthquakes Floods Hurricanes Storm surges Tsunamis Wide-spread insect infestations Civil conflict Slow-Onset Drought Disease (e.g., the HIV/AIDS epidemic) Sea level rise Political or market instability

 Assets: – Human – Livelihoods – Infrastructure Impacts of Climate Stresses & Shocks

Three Dimensions of Vulnerability Vulnerability: Degree to which assets (people, livelihoods, infrastructure) are likely to be harmed by adverse impacts of a climate change stress or shock Exposure Degree and duration of exposure of an asset to a climate stress or shock Sensitivity The level of sensitivity (or tolerance) of an asset to a climate stress or shock Adaptive Capacity The capacity of an asset to adapt or adjust to a climate stress or shock Reduce Exposure Reduce Sensitivity Increase Adaptive Capacity Adapted from CIAT Adaptation Framework, 2011 Our goal is to:

Goal: Build Adaptive Capacity Volunteer activities should increase the adaptive capacity of people, livelihoods, and infrastructure to withstand and overcome climate stresses and shocks.

Who is Vulnerable? Women and children gathering water. They can walk up to 2 km to a small stream that occasionally dries up. Source:

Who is Vulnerable? This is a small scale drip irrigation home garden kit for fruits and vegetables. Source:Source: (Courtesy of iDE)

Who is Vulnerable? Women gathering wild plants and fruit as a food source. _Wild_Fruit_and_Animal_Skins.jpg

Who is Vulnerable? Mat making in Senegal Blacksmith supports farmers by crafting tools and implements for fields and livestock. Source: Peace Corps Senegal

What is Vulnerable? Mixed species herd composition of cattle and goats, which are more heat tolerant during drought Single species herd of cattle, which are not very heat tolerant during severe drought

What is Vulnerable? Rice crop that is dying due to drought or lack of water. Thriving heat tolerant, high yielding irrigated rice crop variety.

What is Vulnerable? Native coffee variety requiring shade

What is Vulnerable? Intercropped Agricultural Systems

What is Vulnerable? House on stilts in a low lying area with area for housing poultry underneath Mud hut near farmer’s field jpg

Photo of elevated borehole well with hand pump What is Vulnerable? Photo of open hand dug well

Wooden Bridge What is Vulnerable?

Discuss in small groups: What have you observed in your training community? Who is vulnerable? How are they vulnerable? What is vulnerable? Why? What adaptive capacity have you observed? What have you seen?