Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming (1991) / Chapter Skim
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5 ADAPTION
5 ADAPTION
Pages 34-46
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From page 34... ...
Human societies can and do thrive in many different climates, but it is the rate of climate change as much as its magnitude that could pose a threat. Disasters caused by severe weather and degradation of the environment illustrate the kinds of disruptions that could accompany rapid climate change.
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From page 35... ...
Major breakthroughs like irrigation usually consist of innovations in social organization and financing as well as new machinery. Many past innovations in hardware and software have helped people adapt themselves and their activities to climate and variable weather.
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From page 36... ...
The assessment here is an initial appraisal of impacts and adaptive capabilities of affected human and natural systems in the United States; additional effort is necessary for a more complete understanding of these issues. CO2 Fertilization of Green Plants An increasing atmospheric concentration of CO2 would increase agricultural production by enhancing the use of sunlight and slowing transpiration in some plants.
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From page 37... ...
But farming has always been sensitive to the weather, and experience suggests that farmers adapt quickly, especially in comparison to the rate at which greenhouse warming would occur. Countries like the United States, which encompass many climate zones and have active and aggressive agricultural research and development, would probably be able to adapt their farming to climatic changes deriving from greenhouse warming.
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From page 38... ...
At present, the potential for human intervention to ease adaptation in marine ecosystems seems limited. Water Resources Climate change affects natural seasonal and yearly variations in water resources by changing precipitation, evaporation, and runoff.
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From page 39... ...
Settlements and Coastal Structures Direct climatic changes of greatest importance to human settlements are changes in the extremes and seasonal averages of temperature, and in the geographic and seasonal distributions of rainfall. Although these direct climatic changes may be important, the secondary effects of greenhouse warming on the levels of water bodies are much more important.
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From page 40... ...
Migration Historical evidence suggests that migration over long distances, such as occurred in the United States during the Dust Bowl period, is not an automatic response to climate change. Migrations typically follow established routes and cover relatively short distances.
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From page 41... ...
An added meter of height above sea level might add $100,000 to current construction costs. If that additional clearance were not included at the time of construction, and the sea level rose enough to require it after 50 years, the retrofit raising of the bridge might cost $5 million.
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From page 42... ...
Most industries in countries like the United States can thus be expected to adapt as the climate changes. The expected climatic changes are within the range people now experience where they live and to which those who move usually learn to adapt.
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From page 43... ...
Adaptations to climate change would be required in both rich and poor countries to protect crops, substitute new ones, and protect their foundations of soil and water. Although less thoroughly managed than farming and growing a crop with a long life, regeneration and management techniques are available that should enable needed forest products to be sustained.
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From page 44... ...
What is likely are changes in the composition of ecological communities in favor of those species that are able to move rapidly and far and the disappearance of some species that move slowly. Marine plants and animals inhabiting intertidal regions of rocky shores undoubtedly would be affected by rising sea level.
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From page 45... ...
While recognizing that the pace of greenhouse warming will most likely exceed the rate at which species and ecosystems can adapt, the study does not go on to examine the resulting impacts of severe ecosystem disruption on human societies. "Also, the impacts of climate change on economic activities are considered separately, sector by sector (farming, industry, transportation, etc)
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From page 46... ...
The stronger the concern about these various changes, the greater the motivation to slow greenhouse warming. In addition, the panel has not found it possible to rule out or rule in such major disturbances as sudden and major changes in regional climates, ocean currents, atmospheric circulations, or other natural or social phenomena.
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