Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Tropical Andes mountains

Key risks related to climate change

Summary of key hazards, vulnerabilities and risks

Key Vulnerability

Key Risk

Climate Hazards

Warming

ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL

• Heavy reliance of winter tourism economy on steady snow cover • High geographic exposure of agricultural and farming land, homes, property and assets, including physical exposure of rural and urban populations to potentially flooded areas • Ageing energy infrastructure located in downstreamflood-prone areas • Poor landmanagement and spatial planning practices • Limited capacity of local and national public institutions to respond immediately to natural disasters, as well as to adapt to increased floods • Underdeveloped capacity to respond to outbreaks of vector- borne diseases (communities without prior experience are more susceptible). • People already facing other stressors (such as poverty and malnutrition) are particularly susceptibility, especially where population density is high (big cities).

• Lower yield and/or crop failure can lead to economic losses/destruction of livelihoods/ exacerbationof poverty and reduceddevelopment. • Increased risk of food insecurity leading to malnutrition of those communities that are depending on these crops (with the highest risk to the poorest), and subsequent risk of harm or loss of life due to malnutrition. • Potential loss of biodiversity (including endemic species) and degrading of the capacity of ecosystems to provide important ecosystem services (including hydrological). Loss or decrease of wild food options. • Increased mortality and morbidity, illness and increased burden on health-care systems. • (Pan) epidemics.

• Rising mean land temperatures

SOCIAL INSTITUTIONAL

• Increasing

frequency and extension of vector- borne diseases (malardia, dengue, Zika) into higher elevations.

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