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2 Objectives of the study under ACCCRN phase I
The environmental issue of climate change poses great challenges facing decision makers at many levels. Shifting weather patterns threatens food production, infrastructure durability and
livelihood sustainability through increased unreliability of precipitation and increased unpredictability of temperature; Storm surges demolish fragile economic activities; rising sea
levels contaminate water bodies and increase the risk of catastrophic flooding; and a warming atmosphere expands the risk of pests and diseases once limited to the tropics to widespread
pole-ward.
Climate change still relies on potential climate patterns. Uncertainties remain in climate change science, especially regarding the operation and interaction of Earth systems over
various timeframes and how subsystems react to feedbacks. But, unpredictability of climate change is part of what it makes it so dangerous Smith 2008. Subsequently, building climate
change scenarios is crucial to encompass the whole range of climatic possible evolutions. Each scenario will be attributed a percentage reflecting its reliability and its propensity to
occur. The linkage between the climate change effects and its impacts, logically demonstrated through the scenarios, will enable the decision makers to get a clear picture of the potential
changes and will guide them to take the necessary steps to adapt to climate change impacts.
The project is working in urban context, where most of the local assets in terms of economic, social and cultural values are concentrated. The vulnerability assessment ADPC will further
conduct on infrastructure and built up environment will give a comprehensive understanding of what is at risk at the micro-scale level in the two selected cities. TEI will further identify
the most accurate stakeholders to carry on climate change adaptation initiatives at the city level. Decision makers can consequently identify and advisedly take decision on the most
accurate mechanisms towards climate change at local adaptation.
2.1 Overall objectives of the project
The primary objective of the ACCCRN Program is to build climate change resilient urban communities with a focus on poor and vulnerable groups by creating robust models and
methodologies for assessing and addressing risk through active engagement and analysis of various cities. India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand are the selected countries by
ACCCRN initiatives to foster urban resilience against changing climate patterns.
Under Phase I, ACCCRN has a broad review for selection of number of cities to •
Understand the vulnerability to climate change in those cities •
Investigate the readiness of those cities to engage with the project on resilience •
Understand the physical. Social, political and economic context of the selected cities In line with the broader objectives of ACCRN, through the Phase I of the Thailand Project, a
screening survey of some of the selected secondary cities in Thailand is carried out to help identifying most promising two cities to be the Pilot cities of the Phase II of the Project.
6 The main objective of the project phase I is to:
1. Develop the potential climate change scenarios and short, medium and long term
impacts to urban built up 2.
Assess previous orand existing adaptation measures on climate change which have been implemented at city level
3. Present data gaps observed in five cities for developing the profile of physical
vulnerability in relation to climate change adaptation 4.
Identify two cities which can be studied in detail to identify options for integrating climate change adaptations in the governance process considering pre identified
indicators for modifications to built environment
Initially, the Rockefeller Foundation has identified five 5 cities in Thailand which have different background on the geographical location, types of main income generation activities,
population structure and other key parameters. The ADPC executed project activities in association with Thai Environmental Institute TEI in the following urban areas in Thailand.
They are
1. Udon Thani Province
- Muang District 2.
Chiang Rai Province - Muang District
3. Phuket Province
- Muang District 4.
Songkhla Province - Hat Yai District
5. Samut Sakhon Province
- Muang District and selected suburban districts
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Figure 2.1. Map of study area
The Rockefeller Foundation under its ACCCRN initiative has requested ADPC and TEI to study jointly and report in the suitability of above cities to be identified as potential Pilot
8 Demonstration Cities under the Phase II. The study area of the selected cities is within Muang
District boundary but in some cases such as Samut Sakhon, Phuket the study area are extended beyond the Muang District limits in order to capture potential climate change
impacts and other variations of physical vulnerability considering the rapid urban expansion. The decision on Pilot Demonstration Cities under the Phase II, will be largely depending on
the availability of data for further studies for delineating the degree of vulnerability to climate change impacts and associate risk which is the focus area of the study carried out by ADPC.
It also based on other criteria such as availability of institutional support for undertaking reforms for building Climate Change resilient urban communities, which are the focus of the
study carried out by TEI.
Although two cities are selected for further activities, studies carried out in other cities will still have a benefit as the study findings will be useful to respective cities as well as to
ACCCRN for future interventions. Adaptation of a long term climate risk reduction strategy and promoting a risk based development agenda for sustainable development is the ultimate
aim. The study will benefit the potential decision making, planning and implementation of short, medium and long term strategies for building climate resilient cities and urban
communities.
2.2 Main objectives of the study by ADPC under phase I
