Climate change and hydrological risk in the Pacific: a Humanitarian Engineering perspective

Pacific Island communities have adapted to floods, droughts and cyclones over many generations. Small and low-lying islands are particularly exposed to natural disasters, and many countries have limited access to water resources. Anthropogenic climate change is expected to further increase these env...

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Autores principales:	Fiona Johnson, Philippa Higgins, Clare Stephens
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	IWA Publishing 2021
Materias:	adaptation climate change humanitarian engineering pacific islands Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 Environmental sciences GE1-350
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/ef3c9341599f4de1ab499b93160c9796
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:ef3c9341599f4de1ab499b93160c97962021-11-05T18:47:55ZClimate change and hydrological risk in the Pacific: a Humanitarian Engineering perspective2040-22442408-935410.2166/wcc.2021.277https://doaj.org/article/ef3c9341599f4de1ab499b93160c97962021-05-01T00:00:00Zhttp://jwcc.iwaponline.com/content/12/3/647https://doaj.org/toc/2040-2244https://doaj.org/toc/2408-9354Pacific Island communities have adapted to floods, droughts and cyclones over many generations. Small and low-lying islands are particularly exposed to natural disasters, and many countries have limited access to water resources. Anthropogenic climate change is expected to further increase these environmental pressures. Any associated engineering response needs to consider the cultural, societal and historical context, and prioritise the agency of local communities to determine their preferred outcomes. It follows that Humanitarian Engineering, a discipline centred around strengths-based and context-appropriate solutions, has an important role to play in climate change adaptation. In this review, the interplay between hydroclimatology, geography and water security in the Pacific Islands is described and projected climate shifts summarised to highlight future adaptation challenges. A key source of uncertainty relates to the dynamics of two convergence zones that largely drive weather patterns. A broad overview of societal factors that present challenges and opportunities for Humanitarian Engineers is given. Finally, actions are recommended to inform climate change adaptation given the scientific uncertainty around hydrologic risks, and outline lessons for best practice Humanitarian Engineering in the Pacific. Enhancing data sharing, building resilience to climate variability and integrating traditional knowledge with convention engineering methods should be key areas of focus. HIGHLIGHTS Water resource climate change adaptation options are reviewed using a Humanitarian Engineering lens for the Pacific.; Large uncertainties in future changes to the ITCZ, SPCZ and ENSO have major implications for adaptation in the Pacific.; Hydroclimatology research gaps include the relationship between island geography and changes to rainfall extremes, and changes in evapotranspiration for drought assessments.; Scenario-based approaches to understand system thresholds under climate change are promising, but require access to long-term data records.; Appropriate climate adaptation options need to be developed using a strengths-based approach, considering cultural values, land tenure arrangements and institutional structures.;Fiona JohnsonPhilippa HigginsClare StephensIWA Publishingarticleadaptationclimate changehumanitarian engineeringpacific islandsEnvironmental technology. Sanitary engineeringTD1-1066Environmental sciencesGE1-350ENJournal of Water and Climate Change, Vol 12, Iss 3, Pp 647-678 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	adaptation climate change humanitarian engineering pacific islands Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 Environmental sciences GE1-350
spellingShingle	adaptation climate change humanitarian engineering pacific islands Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 Environmental sciences GE1-350 Fiona Johnson Philippa Higgins Clare Stephens Climate change and hydrological risk in the Pacific: a Humanitarian Engineering perspective
description	Pacific Island communities have adapted to floods, droughts and cyclones over many generations. Small and low-lying islands are particularly exposed to natural disasters, and many countries have limited access to water resources. Anthropogenic climate change is expected to further increase these environmental pressures. Any associated engineering response needs to consider the cultural, societal and historical context, and prioritise the agency of local communities to determine their preferred outcomes. It follows that Humanitarian Engineering, a discipline centred around strengths-based and context-appropriate solutions, has an important role to play in climate change adaptation. In this review, the interplay between hydroclimatology, geography and water security in the Pacific Islands is described and projected climate shifts summarised to highlight future adaptation challenges. A key source of uncertainty relates to the dynamics of two convergence zones that largely drive weather patterns. A broad overview of societal factors that present challenges and opportunities for Humanitarian Engineers is given. Finally, actions are recommended to inform climate change adaptation given the scientific uncertainty around hydrologic risks, and outline lessons for best practice Humanitarian Engineering in the Pacific. Enhancing data sharing, building resilience to climate variability and integrating traditional knowledge with convention engineering methods should be key areas of focus. HIGHLIGHTS Water resource climate change adaptation options are reviewed using a Humanitarian Engineering lens for the Pacific.; Large uncertainties in future changes to the ITCZ, SPCZ and ENSO have major implications for adaptation in the Pacific.; Hydroclimatology research gaps include the relationship between island geography and changes to rainfall extremes, and changes in evapotranspiration for drought assessments.; Scenario-based approaches to understand system thresholds under climate change are promising, but require access to long-term data records.; Appropriate climate adaptation options need to be developed using a strengths-based approach, considering cultural values, land tenure arrangements and institutional structures.;
format	article
author	Fiona Johnson Philippa Higgins Clare Stephens
author_facet	Fiona Johnson Philippa Higgins Clare Stephens
author_sort	Fiona Johnson
title	Climate change and hydrological risk in the Pacific: a Humanitarian Engineering perspective
title_short	Climate change and hydrological risk in the Pacific: a Humanitarian Engineering perspective
title_full	Climate change and hydrological risk in the Pacific: a Humanitarian Engineering perspective
title_fullStr	Climate change and hydrological risk in the Pacific: a Humanitarian Engineering perspective
title_full_unstemmed	Climate change and hydrological risk in the Pacific: a Humanitarian Engineering perspective
title_sort	climate change and hydrological risk in the pacific: a humanitarian engineering perspective
publisher	IWA Publishing
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/ef3c9341599f4de1ab499b93160c9796
work_keys_str_mv	AT fionajohnson climatechangeandhydrologicalriskinthepacificahumanitarianengineeringperspective AT philippahiggins climatechangeandhydrologicalriskinthepacificahumanitarianengineeringperspective AT clarestephens climatechangeandhydrologicalriskinthepacificahumanitarianengineeringperspective
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Climate change and hydrological risk in the Pacific: a Humanitarian Engineering perspective

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