Limits to adaptation
Identifying the limits to successful climate change adaptation in the Upper Río Santa and Salkantay catchments in the Peruvian Andes
Background
The Peruvian Andes are rapidly changing with intensifying climate change. Many tropical glaciers are in recession, glacial lakes are forming at an unprecedented speed, many creating a high risk of outburst floods for downstream communities. Simultaneously, increasing temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are contributing to droughts and water scarcity, heavily affecting small-scale farmers.
Mountain communities are used to adapt to changes in the environment. However, limitations in the socio-economic-political system (such as limited resources, conflicts and lack of social and technical support), combined with climatic and ecosystem-based limits (such as lake acidification, glacier retreat and pest infestations) are making it increasingly difficult to sufficiently adapt to climate change.
Our goals
This project aims to identify current and potential adaptation limits in two Peruvian mountain regions, in order to be better prepared for where limits are already reached or approaching, recognize which limits can be avoided and how, and allocate necessary resources to the right areas.
The alternative, to not recognize and identify adaptation limits, will ultimately lead to an increase in intolerable risks and unimaginable losses and damages for communities.
