Risk management and climate adaptation

Managing the risks of climate change is part of a more generalized approach to promoting sustainable development by reducing the vulnerability associated with climate risk. In 2013 the Risk, Poverty and Vulnerability Program (RPV) looked at various aspects of minimizing risk ahead of adverse weather-related impacts, including extreme events.  

Corn in too much rain © jschmutz| iStock

Corn in too much rain

Insurance is key to coping with risk ahead of disasters like drought and floods. IIASA collaborated with the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII) to discuss ideas for regional risk management platforms, including risk insurance pools, to manage climate-related loss and damage.

A new study by RPV in 2013 proposed a new index for measuring Iranian farmers' satisfaction levels with crop insurance. It was based on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and adapted to the specific needs of the context of farming in the Fars province in Iran.  

RPV collaborated on a comprehensive assessment of poverty traps for smallholders in rural Uganda based on one of the largest surveys of its kind. The aim was to determine how households in developing countries cope with adverse weather and how can they be best assisted to avoid poverty traps. 

An analysis by RPV demonstrated that in choosing sound risk management approaches, specific objectives like information, available resources, and the perceptions and needs of stakeholders also need to be considered as transparently as possible. 

Crop insurance, Fars Province, Iran

A Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV) study proposed a new index for measuring farmers' satisfaction levels with crop insurance based on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) as adapted to the specific needs of farming in Fars Province, Iran. More

Confronting poverty traps, stimulating development

Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV) Program research found that selling livestock was the most frequently reported coping strategy for smallholders in rural Uganda following weather disasters. More

Novel insurance options

Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV) researchers presented novel suggestions for regional risk management platforms. Suggestions included risk insurance pools to manage climate loss and damage, which are gaining traction in the Caribbean, Pacific, Africa and recently Europe. More

Transparency and consultation are the key

In analyzing decision-support techniques for disaster-risk management measures, Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV) Program researchers looked at objectives like information, available resources, and the perceptions and needs of stakeholders as a basis for policy decision support.  More

Collaborators

Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII).


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Last edited: 22 May 2014

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Joanne Linnerooth-Bayer

Distinguished Emeritus Research Scholar Equity and Justice Research Group - Population and Just Societies Program

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