Uncertain Futures: Adapting development to a changing climate - Softcover

Jonathan Ensor

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1853397202 ISBN 13: 9781853397202

Publisher: Practical Action Publishing, 2011

Synopsis

Adaptation to climate change is a new challenge for development policy makers and practitioners. As future weather patterns become increasingly uncertain, communities in the developing world need to be able to respond and adapt. Uncertain Futures turns the focus of development onto adaptive capacity, through which communities are able to make changes to their lives and livelihoods in response to emerging climate change. The book reflects on unfolding understandings of adaptive capacity and asks: how can local communities access the assets and knowledge they need to cope with climate change? How do their relationships, characterized by power and gender inequalities, prevent them from controlling the resources needed for adaptation? How can interventions move beyond the local and specific to promote networks and governance that support vulnerable communities?

Uncertain Futures argues that as greenhouse gas emissions continue to accumulate, a "business as usual" approach to development practice is increasingly inadequate and the importance of securing adaptive capacity becomes more urgent. Uncertain Futures examines this challenge, and invites readers to rethink development policy and practice in terms of how adaptive capacity can be best supported.

This book should be read by the staff of donor agencies, policy makers, NGO practitioners, academics and students of development studies and the environment.

About this title

Review

"With a possible future of four degrees warming, such radical approaches to development and adaptation are necessary, vital and urgent."--Katrina Brown, Professor of Development Studies

"This book will be an excellent guide for development policy makers, planners and practitioners grappling with incorporating climate change into development."--Saleemul Huq, Senior Fellow, Climate Change Group

"This is a fascinating and timely book. It deals with a set of highly complex issues surrounding the practical dimensions of tackling community-based adaptation."--Emily Boyd, School of Earth and Environment

"Uncertainty Future marries intellectual rigour with lessons from development practice. In doing so, it presents a strong conceptual basis for designing and implementing high-quality development programmes focused on climate change adaptation."--Alan Brouder, Head of Climate Change Adaptation

About the Author

Jonathan Ensor is a Researcher for Practical Action working on the relationship between climate change and international development.

Edition details

• Publisher: Practical Action Publishing
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1853397202
• ISBN 13: 9781853397202
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 120