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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Air, Climate Change and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 38642

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Dr. Chiranjeewee Khadka

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Guest Editor

Department of Landscape Carbon Storage, Global Change Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic
Interests: forest ecosystem; climate change adaptation; biodiversity indicators and integrated assessment; sustainable forest management and criteria and indicators (C&I); multi-criteria decision making, assessment, and mapping; trade-off analysis and decision support systems; forest planning and management; participatory planning and methods; socio-economic and policy analysis

Prof. Dr. Pavel Cudlin

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Guest Editor

Department of Landscape Carbon Storage, Global Change Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Interests: root and mycorrhizal ecology; impacts of environmental change on forest ecosystems; changes in land use and carbon budget in the landscape; biodiversity role in ecosystem functioning and ecosystem service provision; adaptation measures to environmental change in forest-agriculture landscape
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Adaptation strategies for global change address a wide range of interactions between people and the changing world, including global climate change, socio-ecological aspects of sustainability challenges, deforestation and forest degradation, desertification, land-use change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem functions and services.

This Special Issue provides a forum to review, analyze, and stimulate the development, testing, and implementation of adaptation strategies at regional, national, and global scales. A primary goal of this Special Issue is to compile contributions that address human well-being and natural health effects related to climate change, including analysis and modelling of ecosystem services, socio-ecological research and sustainable governance of ecosystems, assessment of the vulnerability of human society and ecosystems, assessment of the adaptive capacity of human society, and the design of politically acceptable adaptation measures. Manuscripts should provide and present substantial information and analysis on adaptation strategies and initiatives that address efforts to reduce the risks, as well as the human and natural health consequences of global climate change. Analysis of the planning, design, and implementation of specific climate change adaptation measures of future impact scenarios, and enhancing knowledge and improving the data and information based on climate change impacts are both welcomed. Research is highly encouraged that is conducted in partnership with affected communities and stakeholders of climate change impacts, risks, and vulnerabilities, which enables planners and decisions-makers to make the right decisions and offer examples of effective and best strategies to integrate and prevent health effects and foster sustainability. Paper are welcomed on climate change adaptation strategies papers that use qualitative or quantitative approaches for the preparation and implementation of adaptation strategies for climate change, and that work with rational decision-making with different scenarios based on not only nature-based options and solutions but also those defined by diverse stakeholder groups.

Our potential topics include the following:

Research that reviews, analyzes, and stimulates policy development, testing, and implementation of climate change adaptation strategies at regional, national, and global scales
Best practices to reduce climate change impacts
Community-based adaptation strategies
Assessment of vulnerability and adaptive capacity
Ecosystem mapping and valuations
Socio-ecological research and sustainable governance of ecosystems
Future scenario planning, and nature and community-based solutions
Participatory approaches and GIS modelling of geo-environmental changes

Dr. Chiranjeewee Khadka
Prof. Dr. Pavel Cudlin
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

climate vulnerability assessment
community-based adaptation strategies
community-based research
participatory approaches and mapping
sustainability

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20 pages, 1892 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differential Impact Analysis for Climate Change Adaptation: A Case Study from Nepal

by Chiranjeewee Khadka, Anju Upadhyaya, Magda Edwards-Jonášová, Nabin Dhungana, Sony Baral and Pavel Cudlin

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 9825; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14169825 - 9 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 11842

Abstract

Following a case study, community adaptation plans are a bottom-up approach that focus on increasing climate-vulnerable communities’ engagement in local adaptation planning and policy design, prioritization, and implementation in Nepal. This paper explains how Community-Based Adaptation Action Plan (CAPA) groups are being studied to assess the climate vulnerability of the local socio-ecosystem and to develop community-level adaptation measures. However, there is insufficient research to differentiate local vulnerabilities caused by climate change. This paper, therefore, examines climate change vulnerability with respect to community vulnerability and potential adaptation measures to increase community resilience and adaptive capacity through CAPAs. The study compares differences by gender, caste/ethnicity, and wealth in relation to specific climate-related hazards (exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity) of communities. The study draws on secondary sources of information along with field observations, 73 household interviews, 13 key-informant interviews, consultations, and 9 interactive meetings in 3 districts of Nepal. Differential impact analysis refers to the exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity of local socio-ecological systems. In addition, multivariate analysis was conducted using the Canoco program to analyze the role of actors with respect to climate vulnerability. The results conclude that the degree of vulnerability varies widely at the household level and is strongly influenced by socio-economic characteristics such as gender, caste/ethnicity, and wealth. Immediate and focused attention is needed to improve access to government resources for vulnerable households, requiring positive support from decision makers. Equally important is improving the chain of communication, which includes information, skills, knowledge, capacity, and institutional arrangements. Analysis of the differential vulnerability and the adaptive capacity of a vulnerable community is more appropriate for the design of local adaptation plans. Therefore, the study suggests that engagement of local partners, including local authorities, in addressing vulnerability and adaptation is required to confront the social process, new institutional arrangements, local adaptation, and capacity-building with technical solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change)

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20 pages, 1332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis and Prediction of the Coupling and Coordinated Development of Green Finance–Environmental Protection in China

by Shanshan Li, Gaoweijia Wang, Li Yang, Jichao Geng and Junqi Zhu

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9777; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159777 - 8 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1826

Abstract

Green finance is an important tool to help China accelerate the process of environmental protection, but the level of coupling and coordinated development between it and environmental protection has not yet been explored. This study measures the coupling and coordinated level of the green finance–environmental protection system (GE system) in 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2020 and uses the improved GM (1,1) model based on background value optimization to predict the future development trend of the coupling and coordinated level of the green finance–environmental protection system. The results show that: (1) the national average coupling and coordinated level of the green finance–environmental protection system has been in mild disharmony from 2011 to 2020 all the time, and only Guangdong Province and Zhejiang Province among them have reached the coordination level. (2) The coupling and coordinated level of the green finance–environmental protection system based on regional differences has a large gap, ranking in order: Eastern region > Central region > Western region > Northeast region, where the first-ranked Eastern region leads the rise, while the last-ranked Northeast region even shows a decreasing trend year by year. (3) The national average coupling and coordinated level will reach the coordination level in 2077, which fails to get ahead of the “2060 carbon neutrality” goal. Additionally, from the regional division, the Eastern region will be the first to reach the coordination level (2040), the Central region will reach the coordination level in 2043, the Western region is difficult to reach the coordination level, and the Northeast region shows the deterioration of coupling and coordinated degree, and the regional differences are still obvious. This study aims to reduce regional disparities, improve the coupling and coordinated development level of the green finance–environmental protection system nationwide, and implement the process of green development in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change)

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21 pages, 2011 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Livelihoods in Rural Areas under the Shock of Climate Change: Evidence from China Labor-Force Dynamic Survey

by Yating Peng, Bo Liu and Mengliang Zhou

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7262; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127262 - 14 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2556

Abstract

The threat of climate change to the sustainability of farmers’ livelihoods is becoming more significant. Research on the impact of climate change on the sustainability of farmers’ livelihoods could provide a scientific basis for enhancing farmers’ adaptability to climate change, reducing farmers’ livelihood vulnerability, and promoting the formulation of governmental adaptation strategies. Although studies have assessed the impact of climate change on the sustainability of farmers’ livelihoods, their analysis units have been aggregated. Therefore, this study was grouped based on geographical location (north and south regions), and then an additional grouping was conducted according to the internal economic factors of each region. Using data from China’s labor-force dynamic survey as our sample, this study measured the sustainable livelihood in agricultural households. This research provided a method to quantify the sustainability of farmers’ livelihoods based on measurements of poverty vulnerability. Additionally, using the annual average temperature as the core explanatory variable to describe climate change, this study evaluated the impact and heterogeneity of climate change on the sustainability of farmers’ livelihoods and replaced the annual average temperature with the normalized vegetation index to conduct a robustness test. The empirical study showed that the average annual temperature significantly decreased the sustainability of farmers’ livelihoods. The average annual temperature change had a greater impact on farmers in the southern provinces as compared to those in the north. Southern coastal regions, eastern coastal regions, the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and the northeast regions were the key areas of concern. Finally, considering the current risk vulnerability of farmers, we concluded that crop breeding should be oriented to the trend of climate change, farmers’ risk prevention awareness should be increased, financial tools should be enhanced to mitigate the impact of meteorological disasters, an appropriate sustainability developmental evaluation index should be implemented, and the construction of agrometeorological disaster prevention and mitigation infrastructure should be advanced. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change)

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17 pages, 1096 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Where Does an Individual’s Willingness to Act on Alleviating the Climate Crisis in Korea Arise from?

by Seol A. Kwon

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6664; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116664 - 30 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2528

Abstract

Climate change is the result of anthropogenic activities and will lead to widespread and rapid changes on Earth in the following decades. The climate change crisis has led to economic, social, and cultural crises worldwide. This study analyzes the factors impacting the voluntary actions of individuals to mitigate the climate change crisis. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire survey from 650 Korean adults. Statistical analysis was performed using the statistical program IBM SPSS Statistics 25. The results show that the factors affecting an individual’s willingness to act on climate change mitigation were gender, social class, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived obstacles, environmental attitude, and social exclusion. In particular, the results show that social exclusion had a moderating effect on the severity of the willingness to act on climate change mitigation. Regarding the moderating effect of social exclusion, significance was determined for gender, social class, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived obstacles, environmental attitude, and social exclusion (R² = 0.617). The government should thus make efforts to reduce social exclusion in order to strengthen individuals’ willingness to act on climate change mitigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change)

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21 pages, 1666 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Indigenous Kinabatangan Perspectives on Climate Change Impacts and Adaptations: Factors Influencing Their Support and Participation

by Marcela Pimid, Mohammad Rusdi Mohd Nasir, Joanna Scian, A. Ghafar Ahmad, Aini Hasanah Abdul Mutalib and Jimli Perijin

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6459; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116459 - 25 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2900

Abstract

Indigenous perspectives on the effects of climate change are frequently elicited through surveys and interviews, and the responses are compared to meteorological data. However, there remains a limited approach to examining the underlying predictors that best determine Indigenous support for adaptation strategies. This study utilizes partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to identify the main indicators of Indigenous support for coping with unfavorable climate impacts. Using a case study and a purposive sampling approach, a survey of 328 Indigenous peoples was conducted in rural Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysia. Results showed that communities’ attitudes had a large effect on the Indigenous support for adaptation (f² = 0.380), followed by the communities’ awarenesses (f² = 0.063), rapid onset events (f² = 0.051), and climate impacts on tourism (f² = 0.016). Communities prioritize the impacts of climate change on their health, livelihoods, and environmental resources. Nevertheless, they do not draw a causal link between the effects and responses to climate hazards. Coping strategies such as the inclusion of Indigenous livelihoods, a bottom-up approach, and transparent communication are suggested to cultivate Indigenous support for climate change adaptation. Decision-makers can apply these findings to prepare climate change policies and enhance the adaptation strategies of Indigenous communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change)

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16 pages, 1277 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Mixed Methods Study on Community-Based Tourism as an Adaptive Response to Water Crisis in San Andrés Ixtlahuaca, Oaxaca, Mexico

by María del Rosario Reyes-Santiago, Elia Méndez-García and Patricia S. Sánchez-Medina

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5933; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105933 - 13 May 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2181

Abstract

Water scarcity is a threat in San Andrés Ixtlahuaca, Mexico, that imperils the survival of farming households whose food and income depend on rainfed agriculture. This research extends the framework of socioecological systems to tourism to understand how community-based tourism flourishes: not spontaneously but as part of an adaptive response to the water crisis. A research model was constructed based on mixed methods. For the qualitative approach, interviews were conducted with 12 community leaders. Results show that different capabilities have been developed throughout the adaptive cycle: information capabilities at the Ω phase; involvement capabilities at the α phase; self-esteem capabilities at the r phase; and resource use capabilities at the k phase. These capabilities make it possible to face the water crisis, but they also favor the implementation of tourist activity. For the quantitative approach, a questionnaire was applied to 88 community participants directly involved in tourism activities to discover the current state of the tourism-related capabilities, their shaping, and relationships. A partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses raised was used. The activity makes the community resilient because it seeks to conserve and improve community resources through tourism-related capabilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change)

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22 pages, 2929 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Challenges to and Strategies for the Climate Village Program Plus: A Lesson Learned from Indonesia

by Catur Budi Wiati, I Wayan Susi Dharmawan, Niken Sakuntaladewi, Sulistya Ekawati, Tien Wahyuni, Rizki Maharani, Yayan Hadiyan, Yosua Naibaho, Wahyudi Iman Satria, Ngatiman Ngatiman, Abdurachman Abdurachman, Karmilasanti Karmilasanti, Aulia Nur Laksmita, Eddy Mangopo Angi and Chiranjeewee Khadka

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5530; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095530 - 5 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3143

Abstract

The Climate Village Program (CVP) is one of the national flagship programs of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia to support emission reduction and climate resilience. This paper examines the challenges and strategies for implementing the climate village program in the national and sub-national contexts. Data and information derived from discussions, seminars, focus group discussions, and interviews with local government officials in East Kalimantan were used to analyze the social learning of the CVP plus, including those on the policy process and its concept, integration program, and implementation. Sustainable strategies need to be addressed by integrating the CVP plus into the medium-term development plan of the region. The challenges and way forward of the CVP plus could be an excellent lesson for implementation in all provinces of Indonesia to support FOLU (Forest Other Land Use) Net Sinker 2030 and LTS-LCCR (Long-Term Strategy on Low Carbon and Climate Resilience) 2050. Key challenges and strategies for the CVP plus are highlighted in the planning and implementation phases, especially in improving climate resilience. This study also points out the steps of implementation of the CVP, development partners and their roles in relation to climate change and other socio-economic facts that make it difficult to engage real stakeholders in the implementation of the CVP plus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change)

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14 pages, 1007 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Waves of Change: Towards Ecosystem-Based Management to Climate Change Adaptation

by Luciana Yokoyama Xavier, Maila Guilhon, Leandra Regina Gonçalves, Marina Ribeiro Corrêa and Alexander Turra

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031317 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3510

Abstract

Coastal climate change impacts challenge policy and decision makers to adopt more effective adaptation measures. The ecosystem-based management approach can shift adaptation towards a more holistic, integrated and sustainable path. However, as countries work on strategies to adapt to climate change, the questions of if and how such agendas consider and operationalise ecosystem-based management remains. As one of the world’s largest coastal countries, Brazil can have a prominent role in advancing the implementation of ecosystem-based management to coastal zones. By analysing two national Brazilian climate change adaptation institutions, this article evaluates and discusses the country’s advances in promoting climate change adaptations based on ecosystem-based management principles. Our findings show that, although Brazil has incorporated many ecosystem-based management principles to climate change adaptation at the national level, greater attention should be given to operationalizing principles related to acknowledging uncertainties, sustainability, democracy and knowledge production and application. The challenges to implement these principles mirror historical challenges of Brazilian coastal management policies, such as balancing development and conservation, promoting social participation and implementing effective social-ecological assessments and monitoring programs. Policy makers, scientists and communities should be aware of the need to strengthen ecosystem-based management principles in the current adaptation agenda in order to enhance its capacity to foster adaptation and just coastal sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change)

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19 pages, 4284 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Soil and Water Management Practices as a Strategy to Cope with Climate Change Effects in Smallholder Potato Production in the Eastern Highlands of Ethiopia

by Ashenafi Woldeselassie, Nigussie Dechassa, Yibekal Alemayehu, Tamado Tana and Bobe Bedadi

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6420; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116420 - 4 Jun 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3391

Abstract

Low soil fertility and climate change-induced low soil moisture are major problems constraining potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production in the eastern highlands of Ethiopia. Climate events are projected to become more pervasive. Therefore, research was conducted with the objective of analyzing smallholder potato farmers’ adaptation strategies to cope with the issues of low soil fertility and low soil moisture that are exacerbated by climate change. The research involved surveying eight purposively selected peasant associations in four major potato-producing districts in east and west Hararghe zones. The survey employed a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected from 357 households using a standard questionnaire, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, index ranking, and analysis of variance for survey data. The observed climate data for the period of 1988 to 2017 were analyzed. The Mann-Kendall trend test, standard anomaly index, precipitation concentration index, and coefficient of variation were used to analyze the observed climate data. The survey results revealed the farmers, on average, applied 159 kg urea, 165 kg NPS (63 kg P₂O₅, 31 kg N and 12 kg S), and 1.8 ton of farmyard manure per hectare for producing potatoes. Most smallholder farmers (68.91%) used supplemental irrigation for potato production during the main growing season. The method of irrigation the farmers used was overwhelmingly the furrow method (92.72%). Analyzing the climate data showed that the mean annual temperature increased whereas the mean annual rainfall decreased during the 30-year period. It was concluded that climate change is markedly affecting potato production; in response to this, most of the farmers used supplemental irrigation to cope with moisture stress, all of them applied mineral fertilizers, and some of them additionally applied organic fertilizer to alleviate the problems of soil degradation and nutrient depletion. This implies that soil moisture and nutrient stresses are the major problems constraining potato production against which the farmers need policy and institutional supports to consolidate their coping strategies and build resilience against climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change)

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25 pages, 1965 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoicePerspective

An Innovative Approach for Subnational Climate Adaptation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems: The Case Study of a Regional Strategy in Italy

by Alessandra Pollo, Irene Piccini, Jacopo Chiara, Elena Porro, Daniela Chiantore, Fabrizio Gili, Riccardo Alba, Andrea Barbi, Giuseppe Bogliani, Marco Bagliani, Alberto Doretto, Carlo Ruffino, Elisa Malenotti, Agostina Garazzino, Renata Pelosini, Consolata Siniscalco and Simona Bonelli

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6115; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106115 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1912

Abstract

Since climate change impacts are already occurring, urgent adaptive actions are necessary to avoid the worst damages. Regional authorities play an important role in adaptation, but they have few binding guidelines to carry out strategies and plans. Sectoral impacts and adaptive measures strongly differ between regions; therefore, specific results for each territory are needed. Impacts are often not exhaustively reported by literature, dataset and models, thus making it impossible to objectively identify specific adaptive measures. Usual expert elicitation helps to fill this gap but shows some issues. For the Piedmont Strategy, an innovative approach has been proposed, involving experts of private and public bodies (regional authorities, academia, research institutes, parks, associations, NGOs, etc.). They collaborated in two work group, first to identify current and future impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, and secondly to elaborate and prioritize measures. Involving 143 experts of 46 affiliations, it was possible to quickly edit a cross-validated list of impacts (110) and measures (92) with limited costs. Lastly, a public return of results took place. This approach proved to be effective, efficient and influenced the policymakers, overcoming the tendency to enact long-term actions to face climate change. It could be used internationally by subnational authorities also in other sectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change)

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