12 January 2017: The first weeks of 2017 have been dominated by reports of higher global and regional average temperatures, climate change-associated disasters and other negative impacts of climate change. As a result, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate resilience initiatives have also taken center stage. This Update outlines these and other developments in the climate change adaptation arena.

An analysis of European air temperature data from January through December 2016, carried out on the basis of a dataset compiled by a consortium of national weather services and research institutes, demonstrates an estimated increase in the annual mean air temperature of 0.7°C above the 1981-2010 long-term mean. Warm nights and major floods are among the associated impacts highlighted in the analysis, which is an output of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Climate Center (RCC) – Network for Europe (WMO Regional Association VI) published in the Climate Indicator Bulletin. [WMO Press Release] [Climate Indicator Bulletin 2016] [Provisional WMO Statement on the Status of the Global Climate in 2016] [WMO Press Release on Provisional Statement]

A study of climate change-related extinctions has shown that local extinctions have already happened in the warmest parts of geographic ranges of more than 450 plant and animal species. [Climate-Related Local Extinctions Are Already Widespread among Plant and Animal Species] [Publication Landing Page] [Climate-ADAPT Press Release]

Public Awareness, Access to Information Recognized as DRR and Adaptation Cornerstones

In light of numerous reports of negative impacts associated with climate change, climate resilience and DRR efforts have gained prominence.

The 4th International Conference on Public Awareness as a Cornerstone of Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development, held in Yerevan, Armenia, from 13-14 December 2016, ran under the theme ‘Sendai Framework for DRR, Security Culture and New Technologies.’ The Conference aimed to harness hi-tech tools to foster DRR and to raise awareness of the Sendai Framework for DRR, UN climate change adaptation efforts, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. [Conference Website] [UNISDR Press Release on Harnessing Hi-tech] [UNISDR Press Release on Risk Awareness] [Sendai Framework for DRR]

The 2016 African Economic Conference issued a call for timely implementation of climate actions and release of information capable of assisting rural farmers against climate change impacts.

Climate resilience initiatives have also recently taken place in South America and Europe, include: the 21st edition of the Mercocities Summit, held in Santa Fe, Argentina, from 23-25 November 2016; Argentina’s Buenos Aires province joining the ‘Making Cities Resilient’ campaign by the UN Office for DRR (UNISDR); Chile’s businesses forming the latest national chapter of UNISDR’s Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE); and Italy’s businesses and the country’s Civil Protection Department signing a five-year agreement to enhance the resilience of companies and reduce the risk of disasters. [UNISDR Press Release on Mercocities Summit] [Declaración de la XXI Cumbre de Mercociudades] [Mercocities Website] [Mercocities Summit 21st Edition Website] [UNISDR Press Release on Buenos Aires Province Joining ‘Making Cities Resilient’ Campaign] [UNISDR Press Release on Chile’s Businesses Joining ARISE] [Institut Cerdà Press Release on Chile’s Crisis Management and Organizational Resilience Service] [UNISDR Press Release on Italy Boosting Business Resilience]

Access to information, in particular in the farming sector, was explored both in the African and American continents. A call for timely implementation of climate actions and release of information capable of assisting rural farmers against climate change impacts was issued at the 2016 African Economic Conference, held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 5-7 December 2016.

The conference was organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB), in partnership with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). [2016 African Economic Conference Website] [AfDB Press Release]

Bioversity International and partners published an article titled ‘Climate change and crop diversity: farmers’ perceptions and adaptation on the Bolivian Altiplano,’ exploring the role of crop diversity in farmers’ adaptation actions in eight Aymara communities on the northern Bolivian Altiplano. [Climate Change and Crop Diversity: Farmers’ Perceptions and Adaptation on the Bolivian Altiplano] [Publication Landing Page]

Access to climate information is also at the core of climate services, which have been the subject of a number of recent publications.

UNDP released publications addressing the role of climate and weather services in building resilience in Africa, and water security in Sri Lanka. [Building a Value Proposition for Climate and Weather Services] [Ancient Wisdom for a Water-Secure Future]

The WMO and WMO-led Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) issued a report titled ‘Use of Climate Predictions to Manage Risks,’ which aims to ensure that providers of climate prediction products interact more effectively with users. [Use of Climate Predictions to Manage Risks] [WMO Press Release]

A Service for Water Indicators in Climate Change Adaptation (SWICCA) was launched to offer readily available climate-impact data to speed up the workflow in climate-change adaptation of water management across Europe. SWICCA is a Sectoral Information System proof-of-concept project of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). [SWICCA Website] [Climate-ADAPT Press Release]

UN Highlights Climate Change Impacts on Health

Interlinkages among climate change and health were highlighted in an op-ed titled ‘Working as one UN to address the root environmental causes of ill health,’ co-authored by Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Margaret Chan, Executive Director of UN Environment Erik Solheim and WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. [Working as One UN to Address the Root Environmental Causes of Ill Health]

UNFCCC Invites Submissions on ExCom’s Possible Activities

In accordance with a decision by the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UNFCCC, the UNFCCC Secretariat issued a call for submissions of views and relevant inputs on possible activities for the five-year rolling workplan of the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts, by 28 February 2017. [Call for Submissions] [UNFCCC Loss and Damage Webpage] [UNFCCC Submissions Portal] [Decision -/CP.22: Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage Associated with Climate Change]