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TOWARDS A CLIMATE SMART WWF
Synthesis of findings and options to increase resilience
28 July 2008
Landsliding in Nepal. Photo: Sandeep Rai (2008)
Rob Wilby1, Kit Vaughan
2, Simon Anderson
3, Louise Nielsen
4 and Claudia Tebaldi
1
1 Independent Climate Change Science Advisor
2 WWF-UK, Panda House, Godalming
3 International Institute for Environment and Development, Edinburgh
4Independent Consultant, Reading
On behalf of
WWF-UK
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Executive Summary
Working Group I of the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that warming of the climate system is unequivocal and,
that most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th
century is very likely due to observed increases in anthropogenic greenhouse gas
concentrations.
The IPCC estimates that approximately 20-30% of plant and animal species are likely to be at
increasingly high risk of extinction as global mean temperatures exceed a warming of 2-3°C
above pre-industrial levels. Under even modest levels of climate change, development and
conservation programmes could fail to realise intended benefits or, worse still,
contribute to increased vulnerability or reduced resilience.
This report is the final deliverable of a Phase I project that has provided: (1) a high-level
review of climate change impacts research and (2) a preliminary “hot spots” analysis of
WWF’s global network of Priority Places; (3) a critique of climate change risk screening and
adaptation frameworks employed by other organisations; (4) a survey of current approaches
and attitudes to climate change adaptation within WWF (5) including a “grass roots”
perspective from WWF-Nepal; and finally (6) an outline of options to strengthen “climate
smart” conservation practice.
This report provides a synthesis of the first five work streams and identifies options to
increase resilience to climate change. To date, WWF has taken a project-based approach to
adaptation. This has enabled some trialling of methods, awareness raising and exchange of
information, but the capacity building has been piece-meal and localised. Ideally, WWF
should be moving towards a programme-based approach in which organisational capacity
development is better coordinated, resourced, and integrated across functions.
Priorities for Phase II include embedding climate “smart” principles in WWF’s monitoring
and reporting, portfolio screening, knowledge and capacity building, decision-support tools
and guidance. Surveys of attitudes and approaches to adaptation, from grass roots up, further
highlight the need for effective communication of anticipated risks, and sharing of
information on how to adapt in practice. The Phase II work plan options comprise:
Work Package I – ADDRESSING NETWORK-WIDE KNOWLEDGE GAPS
Work with partners to fill knowledge gaps on climate change impacts on flagship species and key
eco-regions (such as the Eastern Himalayas, Orinoco River and Yangtze basin).
Harvest country-level knowledge (such as WWF reports, photographic evidence, and grey
literature) on ecosystem change for data sparse regions and/or global Priority Places.
Upgrade WWF reporting systems to better capture and share information on climate change
projects between offices (e.g., HSBC studies in the Amur, Ganga and Yangtze basins).
Extend existing hot-spots analyses of global Priority Places to include risks arising from changes
in sea level, ocean acidity and temperature.
Deploy the above macro-scale risk-screening alongside information on environmental thresholds
and social adaptive capacity to shortlist eco-regions for detailed vulnerability assessment.
Gather field data and local knowledge about the sites and species that are least affected by, or
have been most resilient to, recent extreme weather events.
Use the above diagnostics to shape adaptation practice, as well as to design and manage
protected areas within Priority Places.
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Establish monitoring systems to track ecosystem responses to direct and indirect climate impacts
in Priority Places using “sentinel” environments (e.g., ephemeral water bodies, coastal zone
complexes, southern edge of grassland-scrub, arctic biome, etc).
Work Package II – SUPPORTING COUNTRY-OFFICE ADAPTATION ACTIVITIES
Establish agreed working definitions of climate change adaptation for use in WWF programmes.
Develop a WWF pro forma and supporting guidance for vulnerability assessment.
Provide risk screening tools and guidance for routine assessment of projects on climate change
adaptation and trace-gas sequestration, alongside ecosystem and livelihood criteria.
Develop fact sheets covering basic concepts, terminology and links to further resources.
Build institutional knowledge, through programmes of invited speakers, secondments, and
“hands on” climate change camps dealing explicitly with adaptation issues.
Support South-South capacity building by identifying examples of good practice at the local
scale, that can be generalized to other areas and fed into policy frameworks, investment decisions
and funding institutions.
Incorporate a longer funding cycle into WWF adaptation projects, addressing not only immediate
but longer-term threats, in order to account for the impacts of climate change.
Prioritise work on climate change adaptation in country offices (such as WWF-Nepal) where the
need for training on climate scenario information and tipping point analyses are most pressing.
Strengthen country networks by co-ordinating capacity building initiatives, co-locating or
seconding WWF staff with government, civil society or scientific communities.
Work Package III – ENABLING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
Task a senior executive to lead on adaptation, and support this climate change champion with a
technical advisory board.
Set out clearly defined adaptation objectives and positions in strategies and work plans.
Establish institutional architecture to facilitate organizational learning and change (by specifying
targets, monitoring indicators and reporting progress on anticipatory adaptation).
Appraise senior managers using a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for adaptation.
Equip project managers and programme staff with tools and guidance on climate risk screening.
Embed portfolio screening within programme cycles, from inception and design, through to
implementation and evaluation.
Apply adaptive management principles that result in pathways of adaptation and “low regret”
measures, i.e., those that are robust no matter the climate change outcome.
Convey climate risks anticipated for Priority Places and flagship species.
Establish show-case projects to help make adaptation practice more tangible, coupled with long-
term monitoring to demonstrate effectiveness of adaptation interventions.
Update the portfolio of projects in WWF’s Defending Nature Against Climate Change to help
staff and stakeholders to better understand what adaptation really looks like.
In addition, it is shown that rapid environmental change brings into question the ability of
traditional approaches to conservation (such as restoration ecology) to deliver sustainable
benefits to people and biodiversity. Hence, climate change poses a range of difficult
ideological questions that WWF will need to confront alongside the equally challenging
operational and scientific concerns.
To conclude, climate change is already impacting many ecosystems, sectors and regions, so
adaptation is needed even if stringent cuts in emissions can be achieved. WWF must now
scale up efforts on adaptation to ensure that climate change does not undermine past
achievements or jeopardise future conservation objectives.
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Contents
Page
Executive summary 2
1. Introduction 5
2. Meta-analysis of climate change impacts of ecosystems 6
3. Hot-spots analysis of global priority places 9
4. Hallmarks of adapting organisations 10
5. Attitudes and approaches to climate change adaptation 12
6. Climate change adaptation from the grass roots 14
7. Next steps 16
Acknowledgements 16
Annexes
Climate change quandaries facing conservations organisations
Climate change adaptation pilot project in Langtang Valley, Nepal
Summary of options for Towards a climate smart WWF (Phase II)
17
18
20
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1. Introduction
The Fourth Assessment Report (FAR) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) concluded that warming of the climate system is unequivocal and, that most of the
observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th
century is very likely
due to observed increases in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations.
The IPCC estimates that approximately 20-30% of plant and animal species are likely to be at
increasingly high risk of extinction as global mean temperatures exceed a warming of 2-3°C
above pre-industrial levels. Under even modest levels of climate change, development and
conservation programmes could fail to realise intended benefits or, worse still,
contribute to increased vulnerability or reduced resilience.
Hence climate change presents a visible and imminent threat to global ecosystems. Rapid
environmental change also brings into question the ability of traditional approaches to
conservation (based on maintaining the status quo or restoring systems to former states) to
deliver sustainable benefits to people and biodiversity. Hence, climate change poses a range
of ideological questions to conservation organizations above and beyond the challenging
scientific issues. For example, on assisted migration of species, or on handling trade-offs
between species conservation and renewable energy supply (and the other issues in Annex 1).
Furthermore, protecting investments from climate change will require concerted effort to both
reduce future emissions and adapt to the unavoidable consequences of past emissions.
This 3-month pilot project is an initial step towards scoping the scale of the challenge
presented by climate change to WWF’s operations and options to increase resilience.
The project’s purposeful line of enquiry began with a high level scientific review of climate
change impacts on WWF Priority Places, through to the organisational response, right down
to the “grass roots” level. The work progressed in five steps:
1. Meta-analysis of global climate change impacts on ecosystems, drawing on key
scientific, governmental and non-governmental literature, sifted into WWF’s 35 Priority
Places as set out in the 2008 Global Programme Framework.
2. Analysis of “hot spots” to identify the Priority Places that are most at risk from changes
in regional temperature and precipitation (means and extremes) as projected by the IPCC
FAR climate model ensemble.
3. Appraisal of the hallmarks of adapting organizations, by reviewing the shared
features, lessons learnt, guiding principles, overarching objectives, measures of progress,
and structures for institutional learning.
4. Survey of current approaches and attitudes to climate change adaptation across
WWF, spanning international objective setting to implementation at country- and field-
levels, to identify perceived opportunities and constraints to adaptation.
5. Identification of options to increase resilience to climate change in conservation
practice, by means of grass roots consultations (with WWF-Nepal).
The deliverables provide evidence of present and future climate-related threats to WWF’s
conservation efforts, and a basis for defining a programme of measures to help embed
climate-smart policy and process at different levels of the organisation. This is very timely
given ongoing discussions about the role and scope of WWF’s Climate Adaptation Centre.
The following sections provide a synthesis of the main findings of the project, and specific
recommendations for further work.
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2. Meta-analysis of climate change impacts of ecosystems
2.1 Anticipated climate change impacts will be superimposed upon other drivers of
ecosystem change including habitat destruction, expansion of agriculture, pollution, over-
harvesting and degradation of natural resources, mining, urbanisation and infrastructure
developments. The most widely cited present threats are unsustainable resource use
(primarily forest and marine goods), followed by pollution and expansion of agriculture.
2.2 Some eco-regions are already undergoing rapid change and are highly vulnerable to
projected changes in regional temperature, rainfall and sea level. New evidence suggests that
transitions between ecosystem states can occur within decades once tipping points are
reached1. Mangroves, salt marshes, coral reefs, small islands, sea-ice biome, and tundra,
montane, Mediterranean-type, and high-latitude (terrestrial) ecosystems rank amongst the
most vulnerable. Many appear on WWF’s list of 35 Priority Places as set out in the 2008
Global Programme Framework (Figure 1).
Figure 1 WWF’s 35 Priority Places
2.3 The meta-analysis of global climate change impacts on the ecosystems within WWF’s
Priority Places drew on published research up to, and beyond the IPCC FAR. Over 750
citations were reviewed and captured within an accompanying compendium of present and
future threats (plus supporting literature). Only direct impacts of climate variability and
change were mapped to a ten-category typology of physical and biological responses (Box 1).
However, it is recognised that many indirect impacts could arise from autonomous human
responses to climate change, such as extensification or intensification of agriculture.
1 Lenton, T.M., Held, H., Kriegler, E., Hall, J.W., Lucht, W., Rahmstorf, S. and Schellnhuber, J. 2008. Tipping elements in the Earth’s climate system. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105, 1786-1793.
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Box 1 Typology of physical and biological impacts of climate change driven by modified thermal and
water cycle regimes, sea level rise, CO2 fertilization and disturbance by extreme events. See also Fig.2
Physical Thermal (e.g., species range, growing season, stratification, frost)
Hydrological (e.g., water volume, timing, duration, intensity, cloud level)
Quality (e.g., air and water nutrients, pollutants, dissolved oxygen, acidity, salinity)
Landscape (e.g., permafrost, avalanche, erosion/deposition, sediment supply)
Habitat (e.g., contraction, fragmentation, niche availability)
Biological Disturbance (e.g., pests, disease, fire regime)
Functional (e.g., productivity, carbon and nutrient cycling, trophic status)
Physiological (e.g., stress, growth rate, bleaching, mortality, genetics)
Behavioural (e.g., phenology, migration, dispersal, foraging, mutualism)
Structural (e.g., density, assemblage, invasive species, extinction)
2.4 The main findings of the literature survey are listed in Box 2. In addition, some
studies highlight cross-cutting scientific uncertainties surrounding ecosystem change such as
climate-human roles in disturbance regimes (fire, invasive species, disease, pests, pollution
episodes, etc). There are also problematic policy questions, such as how to establish local
management strategies for “invasives” when both desirable and undesirable species’ ranges
are in a state of flux (see also Annex 1).
Box 2 Summary of published research on climate change impacts on ecosystems
Thematic emphasis on the changing structure (assemblage) of ecosystems in response to hydrological
and/or thermal drivers;
More abundant information on impacts for Northern Hemisphere, extra-topical priority places;
Methodological reliance on climate change analogues and “bottom-up” vulnerability assessments;
Widespread recognition of multiple, co-stressors but seldom an integrated approach;
Evidence of impacts on ecosystems expressed at genetic- to global-scales;
Recognition of rapid ecosystem change (once triggered at critical thresholds or tipping points);
Highly site- and species-specific responses to the same climate stressor(s);
The important role of biota in two-way, trace-gas climate-feedbacks.
2.5 Low confidence in regional climate (especially precipitation) projections has meant
that there are relatively few “top-down” assessments for many of the Priority Places. This
limits the prospects for explicitly linking different human development and emission
pathways to their attendant ecosystem impacts. Some of the most data sparse or under-
researched places include the Amur-Heilong, Orinoco flooded forests, Eastern Himalayas,
and South/East African biomes (Fynbos, Namib, Rift Valley) (Figure 2).
2.6 Recommendation 1: Fill knowledge gaps
Leverage resources and scientific engagement with in situ technical capacity development for
data sparse regions, species and biomes. This would improve global coverage and address
some of the knowledge gaps on climate change impacts for key eco-regions and habitats in
Africa, Asia and South America. The most pressing information gaps are for the Eastern
Himalayas, Orinoco River and Yangtze basin (see section 3.4). This should also include
mining WWF data holdings and improved knowledge exchange between projects.
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Physical impacts:
TH = Thermal
HY = Hydrological
QU = Quality
LA = Landscape
HA = Habitat
Biological impacts:
DI = Disturbance
FU = Functional
PH = Physiological
BE = Behavioural
ST = Structural
Figure 2 Reported climate
change impacts for each
priority place. Ten stars
indicate that an example of
each type of impact listed in
Box 1 has been documented.
Absence of a star can be
interpreted as no information
found, or no impact.
2.7 Integrated assessment of multiple climate and non-climatic impacts presupposes
multi-disciplinary programmes of activity (as opposed to the reductionist approaches that
have been favoured to date). Relatively few examples were found of up-scaling of local
knowledge to enable strategic assessment and planning.
2.8 Recommendation 2: Up-scale adaptation practice
Commission research to diagnose the attributes of sites and species that are least affected by,
or are most resilient to, recent extreme weather events (i.e., “inverse” impact assessments).
These case studies could help shape adaptation practice through improved design and
management of protected areas within Priority Places, as well as build South-South capacity.
2.9 Technical solutions to climate change span genetic- to geo-engineering scales. Side-
effects on ecosystems could emerge from a raft of well-intentioned climate mitigation and
adaptation measures implemented “up-stream”. Yet these risks are seldom recognised.
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2.10 Recommendation 3: Monitor direct and indirect consequences of climate change
Establish monitoring systems to track ecosystem responses to both direct and indirect climate
change impacts within Priority Places. This could be done using “sentinel” habitats of various
scales such as ephemeral water bodies, coastal zone complexes, montane forest refugia,
southern edge of grassland-scrub, the margins of the Arctic biome, or surface layers of the
ocean (dissolved oxygen, CO2 and pH).
2.11 The role of ecosystems in regulating trace-gas sources and sinks is widely recognised.
However, the integrity of these sinks can be threatened by poor land or biomass management,
for example, through interventions that increase fire risk, or soil disturbance.
2.12 Recommendation 4: Realise climate mitigation benefits of conservation
Develop and apply project screening tools for the routine assessment of opportunities for
maximising carbon/methane sink potential through improved soil and land-cover
management as well as minimising risks of climate change impacts on the same ecosystems.
3. Hot-spots analysis of global Priority Places
3.1 The literature review was supplemented by a quantitative assessment of the risks
posed by regional climate change to WWF’s global network. This macro-scale screening is a
preliminary step towards prioritising eco-regions for more detailed vulnerability assessment.
3.2 Output from the ensemble of General Circulation Models (GCMs) used by Working
Group I of the IPCC FAR was used to project changes in average surface temperature and
precipitation and a suite of indicators of extreme climate. Quantities were computed as area
averages for the 35 priority places. Projections span the entire 21st century, focusing on three
periods centred at 2020, 2050 and 2080 under three alternative emission pathways, as defined
by the Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) of IPCC as A2, A1B and B1. The
availability of an ensemble of several GCMs and the three scenarios allows the
characterization, at least to first approximation, of ranges of likely outcomes.
3.3 By ranking and comparing projected changes at the regional scale with average global
changes, the most susceptible places were identified along different dimensions (temperature-
related and precipitation-related changes). The degree of exposure of each place to multiple
climate change stressors was determined and regions were ranked accordingly, in order to
provide a prioritized list.
3.4 Ten regions were identified as being more exposed than the global average to
temperature and precipitation changes that could threaten ecosystems (Figure 3). The regions
cover areas of different continents and latitudes, including the Amazon to the Northern Great
Plains, from the Greater Black Sea Basin to the Miombo Woodlands, from the Chihuahuan
Deserts to the Eastern Himalayas, with the latter emerging by these measures as potentially
the single most vulnerable region. Three of the ten eco-regions were previously identified as
information scarce (Eastern Himalayas, Orinoco River and Yangtze Basin).
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Ten most vulnerable Priority Places:
1. Amazon-Guianas
2. Cerrado-Pantanal
3. Chihuahuan Desert and Freshwater
4. Eastern Himalayas
5. Greater Black Sea Basin
6. Mekong Complex
7. Miombo Woodlands
8. Northern Great Plains
9. Orinoco River and Flooded Forests
10. Yangtze Basin
Figure 3 Priority Places projected to experience most significant changes in means and extremes of
precipitation and temperature by 2080 under SRES A1B emissions. The three most information scarce regions
(see Figure 2) are listed in bold.
3.5 A major caveat of this hot-spot analysis was that changes in ocean temperature and
acidity, as well as sea level were not included in the preliminary assessment. This means that
the findings are biased towards impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. Furthermore, the scenarios-
led (“top down”) approach is best suited to high-level screening and prioritisation, and less so
for detailed vulnerability assessment which necessarily relies on more detailed local data.
3.6 Recommendation 5: Short-list eco-regions for vulnerability assessment
Broaden the preliminary hot-spot analysis of WWF’s global network of Priority Places to
include changes in sea level and ocean properties. Determine which parts of WWF’s portfolio
are particularly exposed to climate risk by favouring those regions that are projected to
experience most rapid change. This risk-screening could help prioritise resources across the
network and/or inform future design of conserved areas.
4. Hallmarks of adapting organisations
4.1 Given that the climate system is already committed to further change as a
consequence of past emissions, scientists and policy makers are now calling for urgent action
on adaptation alongside mitigation efforts. Adaptations to livelihoods and biophysical
systems can take many forms, ranging from changes in behaviour to reduce risk exposure,
through to major investments in new assets to protect vital infrastructure, ecosystem goods
and services.
4.2 A synthesis of existing practice addressed the basic question “what do adapting
organisations look like?” Answers were found by reviewing the shared features, lessons
learnt, guiding principles, overarching objectives and institutional structures of organisations
that are already adapting to climate change. There was no shortage of material to draw upon,
but this is currently focused on a limited number of sectors in developed regions (Box 3).
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Box 3 Hallmarks of adapting organizations
1. Climate change champions are clearly visible, setting goals, advocating and resourcing initiatives on
climate change adaptation;
2. Climate change adaptation objectives are clearly stated in corporate strategies and regularly reviewed
as part of a broader strategic framework;
3. Flexible structures and processes are in place to assist organisational learning, up-skilling of teams, and
mainstreaming of adaptation within codes of practice;
4. Progress in adapting is monitored and reported against clearly defined targets;
5. Comprehensive risk and vulnerability assessments are being undertaken for priority activities and areas
of business;
6. Scientifically-based, workable guidance and training on adaptation is being put in place for operational
staff;
7. Adaptation pathways are being guided by precautionary principles that deliver “low regret”
anticipatory measures in the face of deep uncertainty;
8. Multi-partner networks are in place that are sharing information, pooling resources and taking
concerted action to realise complementary adaptation goals;
9. Effective communication with internal and external audiences is raising awareness of climate risks and
opportunities, realising behavioural changes, and demonstrating adaptation in action.
4.3 The nine hallmarks listed in Box 3 provide a starting point for self-assessment,
recognising that there are typically large variations in adaptive capacity within individual
organizations, depending on local context (such as inertia, culture, hidden values, or resource
availability). It is evident that some elements are either absent or weakly developed across
WWF’s global network. The creation of WWF’s Climate Adaptation Centre will provide an
excellent opportunity to address some of these organizational needs.
4.4 Recommendation 6: Facilitate organizational learning and change
Use the adaptation checklist to assess the current status of WWF against each element. Then:
1. Task a senior executive to lead on adaptation, and support this climate change
champion with a technical advisory board;
2. Set out clearly defined adaptation objectives and positions (with respect to the
“conundrums” listed in Annex 1) in corporate strategies and individual work plans;
3. Put in place institutional architecture to facilitate organizational learning and change
(by specifying targets, monitoring indicators and reporting progress on adaptation);
4. Appraise senior managers using a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for adaptation.
4.5 Although the focus of the synthesis was on the traits of adapting organizations, there
is wider recognition of the need to integrate adaptation activities with work on mitigation (see
Recommendation 4). This is particularly pertinent whenever measures involve energy, water,
soil or vegetation management. Also, given the uncertain, even intractable nature of some
regional climate changes, robust adaptation decisions will have to be taken that yield
beneficial outcomes regardless of the direction, magnitude or rate of climate change.
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4.6 Recommendation 7: Address operational aspects of the adaptation checklist
Equip project managers and programme staff with tools and guidance on climate risk
screening;
Embed portfolio screening within programme cycles, from inception and design,
through to implementation and evaluation;
Apply adaptive management principles that result in pathways of adaptation and “low
regret” measures, i.e., those that make good sense whether or not climate change is a
major concern.
4.7 Effective communications strategies can convey the need for action and improve
conditions for sharing experiences at all levels of an organization. Experience suggests that
effective communication campaigns recognise the diverse nature and needs of the intended
target group(s), encourage behavioural change through affirmative messages and by
highlighting opportunities, make space for two-way learning, and convey messages that
resonate with the concerns of the audience.
4.8 Recommendation 8: Show-case adaptation in practice
Address the communication aspects of the adaptation checklist (see also section 5):
Convey climate risks anticipated for Priority Places;
Establish demonstration field projects and pilot schemes that help make adaptation in
practice more tangible.
Build on the portfolio of projects in WWF’s Defending Nature Against Climate
Change to help staff and stakeholders to better understand what adaptation really
looks like.
5. Attitudes and approaches to climate change adaptation
5.1 A survey was undertaken to sample current approaches and attitudes towards climate
change adaptation within WWF in order to identify perceived risks, opportunities and
constraints to adaptation (Box 4). Additionally, the survey reviewed the current
understanding of the concept of adaptation within the organization as well as practical issues
surrounding the design, implementation, and monitoring of adaptation projects.
5.2 The consultation process was carried out using semi-structured interviews. These
were initially circulated via e-mail to members of staff across the worldwide network.
Participants were identified using a snowball technique whereby senior staff currently
involved in climate change programmes were approached first, and then asked to identify and
encourage other WWF colleagues to contribute.
5.3 Over a three week period in June 2008, 19 members of staff were consulted from ten
regional and country offices across the network (Australia, Beliz, Fiji, Kenya, Nepal,
Netherlands, Peru, Switzerland, UK and US). The majority of interviews were carried out by
telephone meetings, while the rest were collected via e-mail, in order to engage as many
people as possible with differing interests, roles and positions within the WWF network.
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Box 4 Obstacles to and opportunities for adaptation identified by WWF staff
Obstacles Examples
Capacity Technical understanding, guidance, case studies
Cultural Perceptions of climate change risk and uncertainty
Political Will to drive institutional change and mainstreaming
Legal Conflicting local regulation/legislation/policies
Economic Market pressures could lead to maladaption
Financial Research funding favours top-down (rather than bottom up) approaches
Planning Funding cycles shorter than adaptation cycles
Opportunities Examples
Institutional Emphasis on bottom up, integrated approaches, addressing related societal issues
Networks Global connectivity across people and institutions, spanning policy and practice
Knowledge Sharing lessons learnt and good practice between different offices and areas
Financial Potential income streams and fund-raising linked to adaptation
Commitment Recognition that adaptation is a core part of the future global deal
Support Climate change reinforces the importance of WWF’s goals and value of natural systems
5.4 The survey showed that, although there is generally a good level of support for
mainstreaming climate change adaptation within the organization, a large proportion of staff
are unsure of how to adapt and what ‘an adapting organization’ should look like. Equally,
while there was generally a broad understanding of the concept of adaptation and access to a
large body of data on climate change, there was still uncertainty regarding the expected
impacts of climate change at local scales.
5.5 Recommendation 9: Define a common adaptation framework
Establish a clear working definition of climate change adaptation for WWF projects and
programmes. This should support communication and understanding of adaptation impacts
and priorities at the global, regional and local scale. Develop information sheets covering
basic concepts, terminology and links to further resources. These resources should sit
alongside other activities to build institutional knowledge, such as programmes of invited
speakers and climate change camps dealing explicitly with adaptation issues.
5.6 Participants felt that specific tools and guidance on climate change adaptation were
lacking. Respondents were generally keen to learn more about different approaches to
adaptation taking place across the network. There is clearly scope for sharing lessons learnt
from major project such as HSBC work in the Amur, Ganga and Yangtze basins.
5.7 Recommendation 10: Improve knowledge sharing across the network
Draw together a coherent adaptation framework for the WWF network by sharing what
different offices are planning, and how they are implementing and monitoring climate change
adaptation. This should clarify whether/how a new adaptation framework might change the
conservation goals and objectives of WWF in the future and communicate WWF’s
‘responsibility’ and ‘niche’ in climate change adaptation, in relation to different sectors and
levels within the organization.
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5.8 Lack of sufficient resources to support capacity building and awareness raising across
the WWF network is a major obstacle in realizing an effective climate change adaptation
strategy to support and enhance WWF’s current conservation and development goals (see
also Box 4). Without long-term and programme-based support for adaptation, progress will
continue to be uneven and piece-meal.
5.9 Recommendation 11: Move from project- to programme-based working
Source and direct funding and expertise towards building capacity and awareness within
WWF, in order to harness the commitment and potential of the organization to pioneer
climate change adaptation worldwide. Capitalize on South-South capacity building by
identifying examples of good practice at the local scale, which can be generalized to other
areas and fed up into policy frameworks, investment decisions and funding institutions.
Incorporate a longer funding cycle into adaptation projects, addressing not only immediate
but longer-term threats, in order to account for the impacts of climate change.
6. Climate change adaptation from the grass roots
6.1 The meta- and hot-spot analyses highlighted the particular vulnerability of the Eastern
Himalayas to changes in global means and extremes of temperature and precipitation. This
evidence suggests that the region should be high on WWF’s priority list for climate action.
Accordingly, an appreciative inquiry2 approach was used to focus through the lens of the
DFID PPA framework on environmental governance and poverty elimination, the natural
environment, and climate change adaptation in Nepal.
6.2 The field visit to WWF-Nepal considered elements of climate adaptation work that
could be built upon, constraints encountered, and the requirements for institutional and
organisational change. Furthermore, attention focused on the need for improved foresight on
climate impacts to enhance adaptation and optimize livelihood versus conservation trade-offs
so thresholds are planned for and biophysical and socio-economic tipping points avoided.
6.3 Local observations in the high altitude areas of Nepal confirm the reality of
increasingly significant climate change impacts on biodiversity and upon natural resources
based livelihoods. However, these need to be substantiated with more in-depth monitoring
and analysis to ascertain the future implications of habitat and species changes for
ecosystems. There is also a palpable need to explore the inter-relationships between climate
change, adaptation, livelihoods and wellbeing of the poor and biodiversity in greater detail.
6.4 WWF-Nepal staff feel the need to first become better acquainted with climate
adaptation concepts, processes and actions, and second, that community level climate
adaptation projects should be planned and implemented so that learning by doing can happen.
The links between climate adaptation and livelihoods, and with biodiversity conservation are
poorly understood and require to be better conceptualised and assessed. This pattern of
2 Appreciative Inquiry is about the coevolutionary search for the best in people, their organizations, and the relevant world around them. In
its broadest focus, it involves systematic discovery of what gives “life” to a living system when it is most alive, most effective, and most
constructively capable in economic, ecological, and human terms. AI involves, in a central way, the art and practice of asking questions that
strengthen a system’s capacity to apprehend, anticipate, and heighten positive potential. It centrally involves the mobilization of inquiry
through the crafting of the “unconditional positive question”.” http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/
“Appreciative Inquiry is a very easy, powerful and positive way to enable change. You start by looking at what works and how to make this better.” http://www.nickheap.co.uk/articles_by_cat.asp?art_cat_id=27
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uncertainty on adaptation and related climate change issues is apparent across WWF-Nepal
and other organisations in Nepal including government, civil society and academia.
6.5 Adaptation is being hindered by scarcity of people with knowledge, expertise and
experience, by the lack of information on climate impacts etc., by the lack of technical
support from outwith Nepal, the complex sets of adaptation needs due to ecosystem diversity,
difficulties of accessibility and communications, wide cultural diversity and different
peoples’ awareness and mind-set towards climate related issues, and, the previously unstable
political environment.
6.6 Once a climate adaptation component is added to the climate change portfolio the
breadth and completeness of this programme of work should make it a model for
consideration by other WWF national programmes. WWF-Nepal is in a very good situation
to be able to contribute to knowledge on the outcomes of adaptation strategies that weight
societal and ecosystem adaptation needs differently. This could be done either through the
analysis of comparable direct observations or through modelling assessments over time.
6.7 More far-sighted adaptation strategies are required to balance societal and biodiversity
needs and these strategies will need to explicitly address tipping points and thresholds in
ecosystem carrying capacity (Figure 4). It is important that WWF-Nepal’s thinking on, and
investments in, impacts-oriented adaptation combining livelihoods and ecosystems needs is
ready in time for the Nepali NAPA implementation phase (starting 2009).
Figure 4 The trajectory and decisions on adaptation options that incorporate objectives of ecosystems integrity
compared to those that ignore ecosystems aspects. The diagram shows some hypothetical instances of the trade-
offs at the decision points – examples used here are based on circumstances similar to those seen in the
Langtang Valley. The initial trajectory of the pathways (solid line) represents the situation where present climate
variability is observed, biodiversity is managed in ways that preserve the integrity of ecosystems while allowing
sustainable utilization of natural resources. A first climate threshold is reached and the impacts of climate
change become apparent. Adaptation options are then decided upon. The illustration characterizes options into
two possibilities – both are impacts-oriented but one allocates natural resources to maintaining livelihoods
benefits, the other allocates resources to biodiversity conservation and maintains ecosystem integrity as far as
possible. Neither pathway necessarily precludes positive changes on the axis of the non-prioritised objective.
However, the cost of selecting one objective over the other is seen in the relative progress along the axes. The
situation in Langtang Valley can be located at the point of divergence of the pathways around the first climate
change threshold. Core and buffer management policies have sought to balance ecosystem and livelihood
objectives. Climate change impacts are now becoming apparent due to rising temperatures and increasingly
intense rainfall. Adaptation options now need to be decided upon. The social organization set up for core and
buffer zone management means that if information can be made available on climate impacts and adaptation
options decisions can be made on the adaptation pathways to be taken.
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6.8 Recommendation 12: Support climate adaptation in front-line regions
Support WWF-Nepal by enabling planned work on climate adaptation to go ahead in the
Langtang region (as outlined in Annex 2). The proposed strategic plan has several elements
including an exemplar project that would build resilience of people and ecosystems in
vulnerable areas. Outputs would feed directly into the DFID financed PPA with WWF-UK.
The most pressing technical need is for support in climate scenario and tipping point
analyses. These activities would also benefit the implementation of the Nepali National
Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA) and the 2nd
National Communication by Nepal to the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change.
7. Next steps
7.1 This pilot study has drawn together evidence of the scale of the challenge confronting
WWF and partner organisations, and specific steps that could be taken to increase resilience
to climate change at different levels of conservation practice. Options have been identified for
improving surveillance and reporting of impacts; recognising climate change risks at all
levels of the organisation; communicating shared risks and influencing partner organisations;
coordinating responses at country and international levels; filling critical skills gaps; and
applying decision-support tools/guidance based on sound adaptation principles.
7.2 A skeleton outline of options for Phase II of Towards a Climate Smart WWF is
offered in Annex 3. It is hoped that the outcomes of this pilot study will help inform ongoing
discussions about the future role and shape of WWF’s Climate Adaptation Centre. The
project recommendations were generally well-received at a WWF-International workshop in
Gland in July 2008, and it was agreed that the hot-spot analysis and risk-screening elements
should be taken forward.
7.3 Several project deliverables will be submitted for publication in the peer reviewed
scientific literature. In particular, the hot-spot analysis and checklist for adapting
organizations have attracted attention from other NGOs and partners in civil society.
7.4 In the meantime, a seminar programme on climate change adaptation has been
prepared by WWF-UK and discussions are underway about the possible release of some of
the project deliverables as WWF publications.
7.5 IIED and WWF-UK are in discussions with WWF-Nepal about opportunities for
supporting capacity development and climate change impact assessment (as in Annex 2).
7.6 In due course, the work plan options in Annex 3 could be fleshed out and presented to
Senior Management Team as a formal proposal.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank all of the individuals who have participated in this consultation, for their
insightful comments, patience and support in shaping the final synthesis and work plan
recommendations.
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Annex 1 Climate change quandaries facing conservations organisations
Climate change poses a range of ideological questions to conservation organizations above
and beyond the challenging scientific issues. The following list of issues arose through the
course of literature reviews and consultation processes. It is contested that space will be
needed to confront these issues before adaptation objectives can be properly defined.
Box A1.1 Possible topics to discuss at a climate change camp
1. What rules, processes, or protocols should be employed to arbitrate trade-offs between
people and nature?
2. What (if any) place is there for triage if the limit of adaptation is likely to be exceeded
in the near future and, how should the system be managed in the aftermath?
3. What should be the approach to invasive species given the opposing objectives of
maximising connectivity to aid dispersals versus containing unwanted species?
4. What rules should be followed when translocating species or entire ecosystems to aid
survival against climate change? Is “designer nature” justifiable and technically feasible
under these circumstances?
5. How should efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions or to adapt to unavoidable
climate change be traded against indirect environmental impacts on ecosystems?
6. What are the potential risks and benefits of geo-engineering?
7. What is the future role and status of protected areas and surrounding habitats?
8. What are the long-term opportunity costs of conservation activities focused on
networks of priority places?
9. What are the implications of accepting a target of 2°C global mean temperature rise
when this threshold is more than likely to be exceeded?
10. What should be the conservation strategy with regards to the habitats, biodiversity and
ecologies of built environments (given that 50% global population is urbanised)?
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Annex 2 Climate change adaptation pilot project in Langtang Valley, Nepal
The following elements provide an outline strategic plan for climate change adaptation in the
Langtang National Park and Buffer Zone. The project proposal arose from a field visit and
consultations with WWF-Nepal staff. The plan was also informed by a draft CARE/ WWF-
Nepal proposal for a collaborative climate change adaptation pilot project in Langtang
Valley. Furthermore, the plan is relevant to the PPA that WWF-UK has with DFID given the
anticipated benefit to poor people in vulnerable areas, and the scope for multi-stakeholder
networking and advocacy. Four phases are envisaged:
Phase I – REDUCING UNCERTAINTIES AND RAISING AWARENESS ON CLIMATE
CHANGE:
Facilitating capacity development of WWF-Nepal and key partners in: climate change
impacts, science and concepts, livelihoods & biodiversity linkages, climate adaptation
processes & outcomes. This might include reading groups, inter-actions with experts both
in Nepal and outside, short courses etc.
Establishing a ‘learning by doing’ process whereby activities towards climate adaptation
are assessed on a iterative basis collecting the views on success and failure from different
the people involved and affected by the activities. Chances to reflect on the effectiveness
of actions should be incorporated into the scheduled activities
Commissioning and using information from climate models on climate change projections
and downscaled impacts information relevant to the targeted region
Collating historic climate observation information from whatever sources are appropriate
– definitely to include the perceptions of elderly members of the communities in the
targeted region
Initiating additional climate observation procedures – to include setting up weather
stations (preferably in schools where students can learn to monitor weather and thereby
gain an appreciation of climate variability) and accessing data from existing weather
stations in the region – including the high altitude automated stations
Sharing information and collaborating on the interpretation of data - between the project
partners, through the channels of existing social organisations e.g. core zone management
committees, herders groups, buffer zone management committees and forest user groups.
Phase II - ASSESSING IMPACTS AND THE NEEDS FOR ADAPTATION:
Identify and assess the direct & indirect impacts on livelihoods systems and wellbeing of
people across the core and buffer zones using participatory appraisal methods
Identify and assess the direct & indirect impacts on indicator elements of ecosystem
biodiversity using adapted environmental impact assessment methods (guidelines are
being drawn up by the OECD-DAC)
Identify current adaptations by people and the current need for further adaptation
Identify how the ecosystem is adapting
Phase III – BUILDING ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
Provide climate change impacts information and assessments of adaptation to core &
buffer zone management structures
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Train key individuals in target zone in climate change issues and build awareness of wider
community – identify opportunities to emphasise awareness building with school students
Participatory scenario planning – using the climate change impacts and adaptation needs
assessments identify the ‘tipping points’ and ‘thresholds’ in both ecosystem biodiversity
and livelihood and wellbeing systems concentrating on the most vulnerable parts of both
eco- and social systems (using an adapted version of the ecosystems approach)
Identify future adaptation options for ecosystem and natural management, livelihood
activities and wellbeing for both short & longer terms
Pilot and validate adaptation options
Phase IV – ADAPTATION ACTIONS & LEARNING
Demand-led testing of adaptation options by households. The pilots will serve as
demonstrations for households that need to see adaptation processes and outcomes
Interventions by agencies that provide services that confer adaptation e.g. health and
sanitation for emerging diseases, clean energy provision
Participatory monitoring & evaluation (PM&E) of changes in livelihoods, wellbeing and
biodiversity due to adaptation
Feedback of PM&E information into adaptation decision and implementation processes
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Annex 3 Summary of options for Phase II of Towards a climate smart WWF
A3.1 As noted previously, this pilot study is a step towards scoping the scale of the
challenge presented by climate change to WWF’s operations. The project was intended to
raise awareness of anticipated climate threats and opportunities, and to identify options for
building capabilities for adaptation across the organisation.
A3.2 It is evident that WWF has been approaching climate change adaptation in a piece-
meal way. This has a number of risks and benefits (Box A3.1). However, to move from a
project-based, awareness raising mode of activity, to a more strategic and network-wide
responsive mode will require a programme-based approach, underpinned by long-term
resource commitments.
Box A3.1 Risks and benefits associated with different levels of resourcing for climate change adaptation
Options Risks Benefits
Do nothing Loss of credibility, income,
influence, lead; depleting natural
capital; marginalised by other
players; larger costs; actions do not
match rhetoric
Resources released for other
‘pressing’ issues
Project approach Piece-meal adaptation; responding
to shocks rather than reducing
risks; lack of capacity in key skill
sets
Trial some methods, learn lessons,
apply elsewhere; raise awareness
of some issues
Programme approach Opportunity costs; institutional
politics
Lever more resources; assess
greatest risks; build institutional
capacity; co-ordinate delivery;
monitor progress; higher visibility
A3.3 The following work packages cluster the main body recommendations into a Phase II
programme of activities (I) addressing network-wide knowledge gaps; (II) supporting
country-office adaptation activities; and (III) enabling organizational change:
Work Package I – ADDRESSING NETWORK-WIDE KNOWLEDGE GAPS
Address knowledge gaps on climate change impacts for key eco-regions and habitats in particular
for the Eastern Himalayas, Orinoco River and Yangtze basin.
Extend the existing top-down assessment to establish whether WWF’s global network of Priority
Places is exposed to a higher degree of risk from changes in sea level and ocean properties than
the global average.
Diagnose attributes of sites and species that are least affected by, or are most resilient to, recent
extreme weather events to shape adaptation practice, as well as design and manage protected
areas within Priority Places.
Establish monitoring systems to track rapid ecosystem change and transformation beyond tipping
points in Priority Places using “sentinel” environments (e.g., ephemeral water bodies, coastal
zone complexes, southern edge of grassland-scrub, etc).
Work Package II – SUPPORTING COUNTRY-OFFICE ADAPTATION ACTIVITIES
Provide guidance and screening tools that enable routine assessment of projects for climate
change adaptation and trace-gas sequestration, alongside ecosystem and livelihood criteria.
Establish a clear working definition of climate change adaptation under WWF projects and
programmes.
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Develop information sheets covering basic concepts, terminology and links to further resources.
Build institutional knowledge, through programmes of invited speakers and climate change
camps dealing explicitly with adaptation issues.
Draw together a coherent adaptation framework for the WWF network by understanding what
and how different offices are planning, implementing and monitoring for climate change
adaptation.
Source and direct funding and expertise towards building capacity and awareness within WWF,
in order to harness the commitment and potential of the organization to pioneer climate change
adaptation worldwide.
Capitalize on South-South capacity building by identifying examples of good practice at the local
scale, which can be generalized to other areas and fed up into policy frameworks, investment
decisions and funding institutions.
Incorporate a longer funding cycle into adaptation projects, addressing not only immediate but
longer-term threats, in order to account for the impacts of climate change.
Support planned work on climate change adaptation in country offices (such as WWF-Nepal)
where the need for training on climate scenario information and tipping point analyses are most
pressing.
Work Package III – ENABLING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
Task a senior executive to lead on adaptation, and support this climate change champion with a
technical advisory board.
Set out clearly defined adaptation objectives and positions.
Establish institutional architecture to facilitate organizational learning and change; specify
targets, monitoring indicators and report progress on adaptation.
Equip project managers and programme staff with tools and guidance on climate risk screening.
Embed portfolio screening within programme cycles, from inception and design, through to
implementation and evaluation.
Apply options appraisal to identify pathways of adaptation leading to “low regret” measures, i.e.,
those that make good sense whether or not climate change is a major concern.
Convey climate risks anticipated for Priority Places.
Establish demonstration field projects and pilot schemes help make adaptation in practice more
tangible.
Build on the portfolio of projects in WWF’s Defending Nature Against Climate Change to help
staff and stakeholders to better understand what adaptation really looks like.