Evaluating the Effects of Flooding in Six Communities in Awka Anambra State of Nigeria

This study evaluated the effects of flooding in six Communities of Awka including Agulu, Amaenyi, Ezi-Awka, Amikwo, Ifite and Nkwelle. The questionnaire survey method was adopted in which questionnaire was employed in collecting the data from the respondents which was later collated and analyzed. The postulated hypotheses was tested using T-test and the result showed that there is no significant difference in the effects of flooding in the six communities studied in Awka. The study concluded therefore that the effects of the flooding in the six communities in Awka are the same, and some of the major effects of flooding in the communities in Awka include: road congestion, accident, damage of buildings, destruction of properties, health problems, reduction of aesthetic beauty of the environment, increase in poverty level and death. The study thus recommends that the masses be conscientized about these harmful effects of flooding in the area and their role in fighting flooding through a collaboration with the government and non-governmental organizations or an integrated approach. The awareness of the masses on the dangers facing them will cause them to take up their responsibilities and join forces with the government and non-gorvernmental bodies to contain the menace

REinventing Flood Control

Climate change adaption is becoming more and more crucial within sustainable urban design. Global warming affects an increase of heavy rainfall events in Europe and especially in Germany. Deggendorf, a city in southeast Germany, has experienced a severe flood in 2013 caused by a dike burst. The chosen site in Deggendorf lies next to a dike park and has unused potential to be developed. The thesis discusses the problem of extreme rainwater events and areas behind flood defences not being addressed appropriately within urban design in Germany and argues for the need of integrated flood control within urban development in order to make cities more sustainable and flood resilient in times of climate change

Adaptor of last resort? An economic perspective on the government’s role in adaptation to climate change

Abstract Individuals and societies have always adapted to change, whether catastrophic or slow onset. Over the last two centuries, however, governments have significantly extended their role as ultimate social manager of risk.  It is as yet unclear whether, how, or to what extent governments will add adaptation to climate change to their portfolio of responsibilities.  This report investigates this question on the basis of review and analysis of economic and policy thinking on the issues, and by using a new dataset on the 2011 Brisbane flood. Uncertainties about the future impacts of climate change obviate definitive conclusions about future adaptation actions and insights for specific situations cannot be generalised.  Economic precepts suggest that governments should limit intervention to cases of genuine market failure, such as the provision of information on likely impacts of climate change including at the local level, or to support for people affected by uninsurable events.  But any role as ‘insurer of last resort’ needs to be circumscribed by rigorous social cost-benefit analysis to ensure that government intervention is beneficial, in the context of the need to adapt to climatic changes.  Although the phenomenon of ‘government failure’ is generally ignored in the adaptation literature (and often by policy makers), it too can stymie efficient adaptation.  A standard justification for government intervention is market failure, including misperception of risk by individuals and businesses.  We use Brisbane property prices before and after the January 2011 flood, as well as property-level flood risk information to test the hypothesis that buyers do not accurately perceive the risk of riverine flooding.  The results indicate that buyers do take risk into account, and even discriminate between zones of differing flood risk.  The concepts of ‘government as insurer of last resort’ and ‘government as insurer of first resort’ as alternative forms of intervention in markets are examined with a view to disambiguation.  In contrast to much current thinking in academic and government circles, we conclude that the government should not act as an ‘adaptor of first or last resort’.  Rather, government can best contribute to efficient adaptation by reducing the economic costs and institutional barriers to adaptation faced by individuals and organisations.Comprehensive micro-economic reform, and the promotion of institutional flexibility are potential ‘no regrets’ strategies because they will also promote economic growth and welfare.Please cite as: Dobes, L, Jotzo, F, Doupé, P 2013 Adaptor of last resort? An economic perspective on the Government’s role in adaptation to climate change, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp. 81.Individuals and societies have always adapted to change, whether catastrophic or slow onset. Over the last two centuries, however, governments have significantly extended their role as ultimate social manager of risk.  It is as yet unclear whether, how, or to what extent governments will add adaptation to climate change to their portfolio of responsibilities.  This report investigates this question on the basis of review and analysis of economic and policy thinking on the issues, and by using a new dataset on the 2011 Brisbane flood. Uncertainties about the future impacts of climate change obviate definitive conclusions about future adaptation actions and insights for specific situations cannot be generalised.  Economic precepts suggest that governments should limit intervention to cases of genuine market failure, such as the provision of information on likely impacts of climate change including at the local level, or to support for people affected by uninsurable events.  But any role as ‘insurer of last resort’ needs to be circumscribed by rigorous social cost-benefit analysis to ensure that government intervention is beneficial, in the context of the need to adapt to climatic changes.  Although the phenomenon of ‘government failure’ is generally ignored in the adaptation literature (and often by policy makers), it too can stymie efficient adaptation.  A standard justification for government intervention is market failure, including misperception of risk by individuals and businesses.  We use Brisbane property prices before and after the January 2011 flood, as well as property-level flood risk information to test the hypothesis that buyers do not accurately perceive the risk of riverine flooding.  The results indicate that buyers do take risk into account, and even discriminate between zones of differing flood risk.  The concepts of ‘government as insurer of last resort’ and ‘government as insurer of first resort’ as alternative forms of intervention in markets are examined with a view to disambiguation.  In contrast to much current thinking in academic and government circles, we conclude that the government should not act as an ‘adaptor of first or last resort’. Rather, government can best contribute to efficient adaptation by reducing the economic costs and institutional barriers to adaptation faced by individuals and organisations.Comprehensive micro-economic reform, and the promotion of institutional flexibility are potential ‘no regrets’ strategies because they will also promote economic growth and welfare.Please cite as: Dobes, L, Jotzo, F, Doupé, P 2013 Adaptor of last resort? An economic perspective on the Government’s role in adaptation to climate change, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp. 81.&nbsp

Weather and Climate Information for Tourism

The tourism sector is one of the largest and fastest growing global industries and is a significant contributor to national and local economies around the world. The interface between climate and tourism is multifaceted and complex, as climate represents both a vital resource to be exploited and an important limiting factor that poses risks to be managed by the tourism industry and tourists alike. All tourism destinations and operators are climate-sensitive to a degree and climate is a key influence on travel planning and the travel experience. This chapter provides a synopsis of the capacities and needs for climate services in the tourism sector, including current and emerging applications of climate services by diverse tourism end-users, and a discussion of key knowledge gaps, research and capacity-building needs and partnerships that are required to accelerate the application of climate information to manage risks to climate variability and facilitate successful adaptation to climate change

Faculty Artist Series: Anthony Di Bonaventura, March 27, 1996

This is the concert program of the Faculty Artist Series: Anthony Di Bonaventura performance on Wednesday, March 27, 1996 at 8:00 p.m., at the Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts. Works performed were Sonata in E major, Hob. XVI:31 by Franz Joseph Haydn, Sonata in F-sharp Major, Op. 78 by Ludwig van Beethoven, Première communion de la Vierge and Regard des prophètes, des berges et des Mages from Vingt Regards sur L'Enfant Jésus by Olivier Messiaen, Two Nocturnes, Op. 62 by Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, and Four Transcriptions by Sergei Rachmaninov. Digitization for Boston University Concert Programs was supported by the Boston University Humanities Library Endowed Fund

Weather and Climate Information for Tourism

The tourism sector is one of the largest and fastest growing global industries and is a significant contributor to national and local economies around the world. The interface between climate and tourism is multifaceted and complex, as climate represents both a vital resource to be exploited and an important limiting factor that poses risks to be managed by the tourism industry and tourists alike. All tourism destinations and operators are climate-sensitive to a degree and climate is a key influence on travel planning and the travel experience. This chapter provides a synopsis of the capacities and needs for climate services in the tourism sector, including current and emerging applications of climate services by diverse tourism end-users, and a discussion of key knowledge gaps, research and capacity-building needs and partnerships that are required to accelerate the application of climate information to manage risks to climate variability and facilitate successful adaptation to climate change

Working Paper 89 - Come Rain or Shine - Integrating Climate Risk Management into African Development Bank Operations

Climate change is happening now, and further changes during the next decades are inevitable (IPCC, 2007a). During the last century, the global climate warmed by about 0.7°C. At the same time, there were distinct changes in rainfall patterns, an increase in both frequency and severity of extreme weather events, and a rise in sea levels. The impacts of these changes are already being felt, and will intensify as further changes take place. Another 2–4°C rise is projected for the current century, mostly as a result of greenhouse gases that have already been emitted. This means that, although aggressive mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to prevent longer term, potentially catastrophic changes, most of the changes projected for the coming decades cannot be avoided.Africa is especially vulnerable. This is clear from the effects of current climate variability and weather extremes – such as floods, droughts and storms – which severely affect economic performance (AfDB, 2003; G8, 2005; Stern et al., 2006; IPCC, 2007b). The poor pay the highest price, because their livelihoods are most affected, and they have fewer resources to help them adapt to the changing climate. Box 1 describes some of the areas where climate change will have its most severe impacts in Africa.African policy-makers and stakeholders are beginning to recognize the need to address adaptation to climate change. There is growing awareness of the setbacks to development and poverty reduction that will result from climate change, threatening the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This was articulated in the multi-agency document ‘Poverty and Climate Change’ (AfDB, 2003), and more recently at the African Partnership Forum in May 2007 (APF, 2007). Climate change was placed on the agenda of the AU Heads of State Summit for the first time in January 2007, which resulted in the adoption of a Decision and Declaration on Climate Change and Development in Africa and in the endorsement of the Climate Information for Development – Africa (ClimDev Africa) Stakeholders Report and Implementation Strategy (GCOS, 2006).

Weather and Climate Information for Tourism

The tourism sector is one of the largest and fastest growing global industries and is a significant contributor to national and local economies around the world. The interface between climate and tourism is multifaceted and complex, as climate represents both a vital resource to be exploited and an important limiting factor that poses risks to be managed by the tourism industry and tourists alike. All tourism destinations and operators are climate-sensitive to a degree and climate is a key influence on travel planning and the travel experience. This chapter provides a synopsis of the capacities and needs for climate services in the tourism sector, including current and emerging applications of climate services by diverse tourism end-users, and a discussion of key knowledge gaps, research and capacity-building needs and partnerships that are required to accelerate the application of climate information to manage risks to climate variability and facilitate successful adaptation to climate change

The End Game of Deregulation: Myopic Risk Management and the Next Catastrophe

By using the Kingston Fossil Fuel Plant’s spill into the Emory River as a case study, this article offers several explanations for why the twentieth century dynamic of crisis and reform has disappeared in the early twenty-first century. In Part I, it is argued that regulated industries dominate regulatory debates on Capitol Hill and at the federal agencies to an unprecedented extent. Part II examines what is known about the Kingston spill and the implications of that information for recurrence of such events. Part III explains how the EPA and Congress responded to this disaster, highlighting how politics driven by a deregulatory ideology eventually took over the EPA’s science-based rulemaking process. Part IV offers suggestions for rebuilding regulatory agencies like the EPA and for restoring public trust in government.The Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law, and Busines

Urban Design and Urban Disasters: Lessons for Nigeria

Urban design has been described as being 'about the making of better places for people'; therefore the growing trend of natural and human-induced disasters should be areas of key concern to urban designers and other built environment professionals. Earthquakes, typhoons, landslides, flooding, explosions, and other disasters related to global climate change have increased in frequency and intensity. This paper explores the links between urban design and urban disasters - that is, disasters that directly or indirectly impact the urban realm. It identifies and attempts a categorization of disasters, with reference to their urban character. It reflects on a number of questions, and attempts to find answers to these from the literature and through lessons gleaned from the archival records of past urban disasters. The key questions include: What is the role urban design in urban disasters? Are there ways that urban designers can be trained to meet the increasing need for disaster-preparedness and disaster-mitigation? What lessons can urban designers learn from urban disasters? The conclusion is drawn to inform further research and policy-making in the context of a developing nation like Nigeria