Climate Variability, Climate Change and Social Vulnerability in the Semi-arid Tropics

Global warming is the ultimate climate change; this book displays climate variability through past experiences.

Jesse C. Ribot (Edited by), Antonio Rocha Magalhães (Edited by), Stahis Panagides (Edited by)

9780521019477, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 13 October 2005

192 pages, 61 b/w illus. 54 maps 34 tables
29.8 x 21.1 x 1.2 cm, 0.489 kg

'Individuals who win even a modest prize in the lottery and are interested in this specialised field will wish to acquire this book; if you're not lucky, urge your research department to obtain a copy for their library.' Peter Rogers, Journal of Meteorology

Climate fluctuations can trigger events that lead to mass migration, hunger and famine. Rather than attributing the blame to nature, the contributors look at the underlying causes of social vulnerability, such as the processes and organisation of society in the semi-arid tropics. Past and present susceptibility to destitution, hunger, and famine in the face of climate variability can teach us about the potential future consequences of climate change. By understanding why individuals, households, nations, and regions are vulnerable, and how they have buffered themselves against climatic and environmental fluctuations, present and future vulnerability can be redressed. Through case studies from across the globe, the authors explore past experiences with climate variability, and the likely effects of, and the possible policy responses to, the types of climatic events that global warming might bring.

Preface
List of acronyms
List of authors
Introduction
Part I. Overview: 1. Climate variation, vulnerability and sustainable development in the semi-arid tropics
Part II. Climate Variation, Climate Change and Society: 2. Climate change and variability in Mexico
3. The impact of climate variation and sustainable development in the Sudano-Sahelian region
4. Impacts of climate change upon semi-arid regions in China and sustainable development in China
Part III. Climate Variability and Vulnerability: Causality and Response: 5. Drought follows the plow: cultivating marginal areas
6. Settlement advance and retreat: a century of experience on the Eyre peninsula of South Australia
7. Reducing the impacts of drought: progress towards risk management
8. Amazonia and the northeast: the Brazilian tropics and sustainable development
Part IV. The International Conference on the Impacts of Climate Variations and Sustainable Development in the Semi-Arid Regions – ICID: 9. The declaration of Fortaleza
10. Working group highlights.

Subject Areas: Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Meteorology & climatology [RBP], Social impact of disasters [JFFC], Society & social sciences [J]