Foreword
The vast majority of scientists now agree that if global warming exceeds a mean
temperature of 2 °C it will lead to dangerous, irreversible and practically uncontrollable consequences for both nature and mankind. This was thoroughly discussed
during recent COP 21 in Paris. Research shows that there is only a realistic chance
of restricting global warming to 2 °C if a limit is set on the total amount of CO 2
emitted globally between now and 2050 (CO 2 global budget). Continuation of the
current trends of greenhouse gas emissions would mean that humankind will be
confronted with dramatic challenges in future, with the loss of natural resources as
well as impaired security of societies. From a scientific perspective, climate change
is a global risk multiplier. Unabated climate change would substantially add to
existing vulnerabilities of poor and indigenous communities in many parts of the
world, who are inadequately prepared for adapting to unforeseen changes in their
economic, social and environmental context. Evidence of these vulnerabilities is
already visible in India, which has faced extreme weather events over the past ten
years and witnessed a decrease in food grain production.
This publication emerged from two International Conferences held at ISEC in
Bangalore, India: The International Conference on “Climate Change and SocialEcological-Economical Interface-Building: Modelling Approach to Exploring
Potential Adaptation Strategies for Bio-resource Conservation and Livelihood
Development” held during 20–21 May 2015, organized by Centre for Ecological
Economics and Natural Resources (CEENR), Institute for Social and Economic
Change (ISEC) in association with Centre for Environmental System Research
(CESR), University of Kassel, Germany, and the International Conference “Climate
Change and Food Security—the Global and Indian Contexts”, jointly convened by
CEENR, ISEC and the School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, on 18–19
February 2015. The participants in these International Conferences presented and
discussed their broad expertise from many different subject domains. Thereby, the
human resource capacity present in India, Australia, Germany and many other
countries as a collaborative activity were explored. This volume brings in selected
presentations from the International Conferences, which addressed the issues
v
The vast majority of scientists now agree that if global warming exceeds a mean
temperature of 2 °C it will lead to dangerous, irreversible and practically uncontrollable consequences for both nature and mankind. This was thoroughly discussed
during recent COP 21 in Paris. Research shows that there is only a realistic chance
of restricting global warming to 2 °C if a limit is set on the total amount of CO 2
emitted globally between now and 2050 (CO 2 global budget). Continuation of the
current trends of greenhouse gas emissions would mean that humankind will be
confronted with dramatic challenges in future, with the loss of natural resources as
well as impaired security of societies. From a scientific perspective, climate change
is a global risk multiplier. Unabated climate change would substantially add to
existing vulnerabilities of poor and indigenous communities in many parts of the
world, who are inadequately prepared for adapting to unforeseen changes in their
economic, social and environmental context. Evidence of these vulnerabilities is
already visible in India, which has faced extreme weather events over the past ten
years and witnessed a decrease in food grain production.
This publication emerged from two International Conferences held at ISEC in
Bangalore, India: The International Conference on “Climate Change and SocialEcological-Economical Interface-Building: Modelling Approach to Exploring
Potential Adaptation Strategies for Bio-resource Conservation and Livelihood
Development” held during 20–21 May 2015, organized by Centre for Ecological
Economics and Natural Resources (CEENR), Institute for Social and Economic
Change (ISEC) in association with Centre for Environmental System Research
(CESR), University of Kassel, Germany, and the International Conference “Climate
Change and Food Security—the Global and Indian Contexts”, jointly convened by
CEENR, ISEC and the School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, on 18–19
February 2015. The participants in these International Conferences presented and
discussed their broad expertise from many different subject domains. Thereby, the
human resource capacity present in India, Australia, Germany and many other
countries as a collaborative activity were explored. This volume brings in selected
presentations from the International Conferences, which addressed the issues
v