Transcript Stockholm Environment Institute

What’s on the environmental
technology radar?
Scanning the horizon for innovation in
adaptation technologies
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
“Don't forget 'past' practises, and
probably technologies that we have all
forgotten about or ignore.
I don't imagine Granma left much of a
carbon footprint…”
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
Climate change in Europe
Northern: initially higher crop
and forest productivity;
winter flooding, loss of
ecosystems, ground
instability
Central and Eastern: lower
rainfall, heat waves, lower
forest productivity
Southern: higher
temperatures and worsening
droughts
peseta.jrc.ec.europa.eu
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
What is “Adaptation”?
“The adjustment in natural or human
systems in response to actual or expected
climatic stimuli or their effects, which
moderates harm or exploits beneficial
opportunities”
(IPCC TAR, 2001)
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
What is “Adaptation”?
www.wri.org
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
What is “Adaptation”?
Adaptive responses
• Technological – sea defences
• Behavioural – altered food and recreation choices
• Managerial – altered farm practices
• Policy – planning regulations
Risk:
Bias towards “adaptation
by ribbon cutting”
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
Future technologies for adaptation
Traditional:
bed nets, houses on stilts,
traditional cropping patterns
www.shoptraveldoctor.com
Modern:
storm barriers, air conditioning,
vaccines
High tech:
dvice.com
satellite monitoring, seasonal
forecasting, genetically modified
seeds
redgreenandblue.org
Agriculture
Traditional:
zero-grazing techniques, crop rotation,
changing crop varieties, advanced
sowing dates to offset moisture stress
Modern:
drip irrigation, lining water distribution
canals, low till farming, farm
insurance
High tech:
seasonal forecasting, drought and heatresistant crops, advanced biotechnology
(eg more efficient “photosynthetic
machinery”)
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
Coastal
Information and awareness
• Coastal system description (maps, tide
gauges, buoys, remote sensing, surveys).
Planning and design
• Simulation tools (sediment budget
models, economic models).
• Decision tools (cost-benefit analysis).
• Cross-cutting technology (GIS)
Implementation
• Protect: dikes, seawalls
• Retreat: set-back zones, relocation
• Accommodate: emergency plans,
insurance, modification of land use
Monitoring and evaluation
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
Innovation is combining
technologies
Grundfos project example
+
www.ecosac.com.au
+
www.masternewmedia.org
loan-forstudents.com
= better access to clean water
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
Information technology
www.spacetoday.org
www.fnal.gov
www.lumina-media.com
www.floodwarn.co.uk
lifesatrip.files.wordpress.com
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
Innovation is finding co-benefits
Planned adaptation must deal with uncertainty
about future conditions
Best adaptation options are those which also have
other benefits
•
improving livelihoods
•
reducing GHG emissions
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
Adaptation in developing countries
• Already flows of international finance to support
adaptation, and these will increase
• Finance creates a market for innovation and
technologies that can support the efforts of
developing countries to reduce vulnerabilities
• National Adaptation Programmes of Action
(NAPAs)
http://unfccc.int/national_reports/napa/items/2719.php
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
The role of innovation in reducing our
vulnerability to climate change
New technologies
• Improve resource efficiencies
• Reduce costs
• Improve aesthetics
Making existing technologies more
accessible
• Combining technologies
• Creative delivery of finance
Avoiding a bias for “adaptation by
ribbon cutting”
Harnessing co-benefits
Aaron Atteridge | Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
Thank you
Aaron Atteridge
Stockholm Environment Institute
[email protected]