The origins and spread of domestic horses from the Western Eurasian steppes

This is the final version. Available on open access from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordData availability: All collapsed and paired-end sequence data for samples sequenced in this study are available in compressed fastq format through the European Nucleotide Archive under accession number PRJEB44430, together with rescaled and trimmed bam sequence alignments against both the nuclear and mitochondrial horse reference genomes. Previously published ancient data used in this study are available under accession numbers PRJEB7537, PRJEB10098, PRJEB10854, PRJEB22390 and PRJEB31613, and detailed in Supplementary Table 1. The genomes of ten modern horses, publicly available, were also accessed as indicated in their corresponding original publications57,61,85-87.NOTE: see the published version available via the DOI in this record for the full list of authorsDomestication of horses fundamentally transformed long-range mobility and warfare. However, modern domesticated breeds do not descend from the earliest domestic horse lineage associated with archaeological evidence of bridling, milking and corralling at Botai, Central Asia around 3500 BC. Other longstanding candidate regions for horse domestication, such as Iberia and Anatolia, have also recently been challenged. Thus, the genetic, geographic and temporal origins of modern domestic horses have remained unknown. Here we pinpoint the Western Eurasian steppes, especially the lower Volga-Don region, as the homeland of modern domestic horses. Furthermore, we map the population changes accompanying domestication from 273 ancient horse genomes. This reveals that modern domestic horses ultimately replaced almost all other local populations as they expanded rapidly across Eurasia from about 2000 BC, synchronously with equestrian material culture, including Sintashta spoke-wheeled chariots. We find that equestrianism involved strong selection for critical locomotor and behavioural adaptations at the GSDMC and ZFPM1 genes. Our results reject the commonly held association between horseback riding and the massive expansion of Yamnaya steppe pastoralists into Europe around 3000 BC driving the spread of Indo-European languages. This contrasts with the scenario in Asia where Indo-Iranian languages, chariots and horses spread together, following the early second millennium BC Sintashta culture

A survey of existing funding streams related to Loss and Damage : positioning the future L&D fund

Abstract: Part of the Loss & Damage fund\u2019s objectives and purpose should be to promote coherence and complementarity with new and existing funding arrangements in the global financial landscape. Existing funding streams include climate finance, disaster risk reduction, overseas development assistance and humanitarian aid (among others). This Issue Brief provides an overview of this \u2018mosaic of solutions\u2019 and explores gaps and opportunities in the context of the current reform agenda of the global financial architecture

Revisiter la tempête de Xynthia et les inondations côtières en France : explorer les vulnérabilités aux risques des catastrophes et l'attribution de la responsabilité pour les conséquences

The thesis revisits the Xynthia storm disaster in 2010 and proceeding public trial in 2014 to explore i) context-specific conditions of vulnerability to coastal flood risk in the commune La Faute-sur-Mer (Atlantic coast of France) and ii) the process of attributing responsibility for the consequences of the disaster. A case study analysis explores the relationships between dynamic components of vulnerability that are identified and characterized as stemming from various social and institutional arrangements within a multi-level risk governance structure in France. The analysis focuses on governance gaps in poor spatial planning and development decisions in a risk prone area, the challenges of implementing flood risk management policies at the local level, the role of the community (awareness of risk, risk culture and participation in inclusive governance models) and incentives related to the French Cat Nat insurance-reinsurance scheme for disaster risks. At the same time, this first analysis provides an important basis to explore the second research theme on the attribution of responsibility for the consequences of the disaster, in particular the loss of life. This analysis focuses on the public trial that took place in 2014, where local public officials were accused of involuntary homicide for the death of 29 victims that drowned in their homes in La Faute-sur-Mer during the night of the storm. Based on the proceedings of the trial and evolution of the case from 2014 until 2017, the analysis explores the set of challenges to define and attribute responsibility to individuals for the consequences of disasters that involve a natural hazard. These two research themes on (i) vulnerability associated to governance gaps and (ii) attribution of responsibility for the consequences of disasters are enriched by an analytical framework on the institutional and organizational processes that shape vulnerability and risk-responsibility relationships, which is presented in a literature review. Finally, the thesis presents opportunities for further research based on the findings, such as learning from past-to-present vulnerability trends to inform long term risk reduction planning through the adaptation pathways methodology and the importance of integrating risk ownership and aligning responsibilities in these planning tools.La thèse revisite la catastrophe de la tempête de Xynthia de 2010 et le procès public qui a suivi en 2014 pour explorer i) les conditions spécifiques de vulnérabilité au risque d'inondation côtière dans la commune de La Faute-sur-Mer (côte Atlantique de la France) et ii) le processus d'attribution de la responsabilité des conséquences de la catastrophe. Une analyse d'études de cas explore les relations entre les composantes dynamiques de la vulnérabilité identifiées et caractérisées comme provenant de divers dispositifs sociaux et institutionnels au sein d'une structure de gouvernance des risques décentralisée en France. L'analyse se concentre sur les faiblesses de gouvernance dans les décisions d'aménagement et développement du territoire dans une zone à risque, les défis de la mise en œuvre des politiques de gestion des risques d'inondation au niveau local, le rôle de la communauté (sensibilisation, culture du risque et participation à des modèles de gouvernance inclusifs ) et des incitations liées au régime français d'assurance-réassurance "Cat Nat" pour les risques de catastrophes. Dans le même temps, cette première analyse fournit une base importante pour explorer le deuxième thème de recherche sur l'attribution de la responsabilité des conséquences de la catastrophe, en particulier concernant les pertes humaines. Cette analyse se concentre sur le procès public qui a eu lieu en 2014, où les autorités locales ont été accusées d'homicide involontaire pour la mort des 29 habitants qui se sont noyés chez eux à La Faute-sur-Mer pendant la nuit de la tempête. Sur la base du déroulement du procès et de l'évolution de ce cas d'étude entre 2014 à 2017, l'analyse explore l'ensemble des enjeux pour définir et attribuer aux individus la responsabilité des conséquences des catastrophes déclenchées par un aléa naturel. Ces deux thèmes de recherche sur (i) la vulnérabilité associée aux faiblesses de gouvernance des risques et (ii) l'attribution de la responsabilité des conséquences des catastrophes, ceux-ci sont enrichis par un cadre analytique sur les processus institutionnels et organisationnels qui façonnent la vulnérabilité et les relations responsabilités-risques, qui est présenté dans une revue de la littérature. Enfin, la thèse présente des opportunités de recherches basées sur les résultats, telles que l'apprentissage des tendances de vulnérabilité du passé au présent pour informer la planification de la réduction des risques à long terme à travers la méthodologie des "adaptation pathways" et l'importance d'intégrer l'attritubtion du risque et l'alignement des responsabilités dans ces outils de planification

Defining climate vulnerability in the context of Loss & Damage : a scientific, legal and political question

Abstract: COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh ended with a breakthrough decision on Loss and Damage to establish new funding arrangements for assisting developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to respond to loss and damage; and to establish a fund for addressing loss and damage (Decision -/CP.27-/CMA.4). A newly formed Transitional Commitee has to lay the groundwork for the operationalization of new funding arrangements, including mapping existing sources of funding\u2013within and beyond the Convention\u2013referred to by the climate community as a \u201cmosaic of solutions\u201d, and the identification ofnew and additional resources. In addition, key questions are on the table regarding the allocation of funds and recipients and how vulnerability to climate change will be factored into decision-making processes.It is worth recalling evolutions in the scientific, legal, and financial domains on defining and characterizing vulnerability, to better understand implications for Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and find potential avenues forward around this polarized issue

Strengthen climate adaptation globally

International audienc

Learning from risk reduction pilot projects for enhancing long-term adaptation governance: The case of Mauritius Island (Indian Ocean)

International audienceIn Mauritius island in the Indian Ocean, as in most low-lying coastal areas and Small Island Developing States in particular, coastal risks affect community livelihood, economic prosperity and the degradation of natural ecosystems. Risks of coastal erosion and marine flooding result both from climate-related ocean changes and anthropogenic drivers such as inappropriate coastal development and structural protection measures. Poor development planning and lack of coordination between public and private actors have increased the exposure of human assets along the Mauritius coastline. To reduce these risks, the government leads risk reduction activities in coastal zones, functioning on a centralized top-down governance approach. In recent years, this governance framework has been evolving by opening up participatory channels and exploring a long-term adaptation perspective. Progress is driven by inter- national engagements and demonstration projects to embrace soft measures, nature-based options and integrated solutions. We review a selection of pilot projects undertaken by the government that illustrate flexibility in a ‘learning by doing’ model. However, we find that certain governance arrangements do not allow to draw the most from ad hoc projects because they do not feed into a long-term comprehensive plan. We consider the role of evidence and risk assessments, learning processes and coordination mechanisms as key governance mechanisms required for a robust and evolving national coastal risk reduction and adaptation policy framework

Status of global coastal adaptation

The state of progress toward climate adaptation is currently unclear. Here, we apply a structured expert judgement to assess multiple dimensions shaping adaptation (equally weighted: risk knowledge, planning, action, capacities, evidence on risk reduction, long-term pathway strategies). We apply this approach to 61 local coastal case studies clustered into four urban and rural archetypes, to develop a locally-informed perspective on the state of global coastal adaptation. We show with medium confidence that today’s global coastal adaptation is half-way to the full adaptation potential. Urban archetypes generally score higher than rural ones (with a wide spread of local situations), adaptation efforts are unbalanced across the assessment dimensions, and strategizing for long-term pathways remains limited. The results provide a multi-dimensional and locally-grounded assessment of global coastal adaptation, and lay new foundations for international climate negotiations by showing that there is room to refine global adaptation targets and identifying priorities transcending development levels