Presenters: Dr. Liette Vasseur, Brock University and Ms. Chantal Gagnon, Coalition-SGSL

Workshop on Coastal communities’ resilience

facing environmental and climate changes

Salle 309Université de Moncton, Campus de ShippaganShippagan, NBJune 15, 2012

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Outline

Objective Introduction to the method – V2R Step by step activities Wrap-up

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Objective

Help communities learn a simple method to help move forward regarding changes in their environment and become resilient.

To improve resilience and/or to reduce vulnerability in coastal communities.

Why is this important? Identifying vulnerabilities provides communities with the

opportunity to plan to avoid or minimise the negative consequences of hazards (disasters).

Conducting resilience assessments provides opportunities to highlight issues, needs and concerns and to work to effect change. Assessments are not an end in themselves.

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V2R: a framework

Vulnerability to resilience Community-centered approach Recognizes the need to build the capacity of

community members and institutions

Tools for the activities– Presentation– Workbook and pens– Glossary– Facilitator per table

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V2R: a framework

Definitions Vulnerability Resilience Coastal Risk Coastal Hazards Uncertainties Governance Adaptive Capacity

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Livelihoods Resilience

V2R: a framework

Hazards and consequences

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Livelihoods Resilience

V2R: a framework

Hazards and consequences

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Livelihoods Resilience

V2R: a framework

Hazards and consequences

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Livelihoods Resilience

V2R: a framework

Hazards and consequences

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V2R: a framework

What is vulnerability? Vulnerability in essence is a measure of the

propensity/susceptibility to suffer loss or damage. Vulnerability can be measured by degrees (more or

less vulnerable). Time and scale matter – you may be vulnerable at

different times in your life. Vulnerability is NOT a permanent state. Vulnerability can be in many areas: ecosystem,

economy, social, status, health, etc. Vulnerability is NOT physical/material only.

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V2R: a framework

What is resilience?

Ability of a community or members or institutions to resist, absorb, cope and recover to the effects of hazards and to adapt in the long term (in a sustainable way).

Property of the whole system and should include all components.

V2R: Step 1 –Vulnerability

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and consequences

Livelihoods

Resilience

The integration of these elements enable you to assess your level of vulnerability and find where there are issues and needs to adapt, improve…

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience

Activity 1 - Hazards and Consequences

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Hazards: any possible events that can have a negative impact on people, infrastructure, ecosystems, communities…

Risk: a degree of exposure to a hazard where there is a potential for loss.

Consequences: impacts or consequences of hazards.

Activity 1 - Hazards and Consequences

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast

Livelihoods Resilience

Activity 1 - Hazards and Consequences

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Workshop workbook– Activity #1: 15 minutes

– Work in small groups– Use the scenario as a base for discussion– Use your experience and knowledge to inform

discussion

Activity 1 - Hazards and Consequences

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience

Activity 2 - Future Uncertainties

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Kids migrate to Shediac

Governance

Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast

Livelihoods Resilience

Activity 2 - Future Uncertainties

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Workshop workbook– Activity #2: 10 minutes

– Work in small groups– Use the scenario as a base for discussion– Use your experience and knowledge to inform

discussion

Activity 2 - Future Uncertainties

Health Break

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience

Activity 3 - Governance

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Kids migrate to Shediac

Elderly parents left by themselves

Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast

Livelihoods Resilience

Activity 3 - Governance

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Workshop workbook– Activity #3: 15 minutes

– Work in small groups– Use the scenario as a base for discussion– Use your experience and knowledge to inform discussion

Activity 3 - Governance

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience

Activity 4 - Livelihood

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Kids migrate to Shediac

Elderly parents left by themselves

Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast

Elderly and poor parents

Resilience

Activity 4 - Livelihood

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Workshop workbook– Activity #4: 15 minutes

– Work in small groups– Use the scenario as a base for discussion– Use your experience and knowledge to inform

discussion

Activity 4 - Livelihood

V2R: Step 1 –VulnerabilityBring it all together

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and consequences

Livelihoods

Resilience

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Combination of skills, assets, networks and institutions, and policies that enable community to continually assess and improve with changing conditions.

Figuring out whether or not you have the capacity to adapt will help you determine your vulnerability level.

The purpose of figuring out the vulnerability level is to move towards actions that will strengthen your resilience.

Adaptive Capacity

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience

Adaptive Capacity

Disaster preparedness

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience

Adaptive Capacity

E.g. climate change, globalization, resource overexploitation, environmental degradation, migration

Long term trends

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience

Adaptive Capacity

Enabling environment

How people can access resources, skills, markets, support and act (not react)

Can be decentralized, participatory, with linkages…

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and consequences Livelihoods Resilience

Diversity and security

Resources (skills, technologies, organizations) and activities to sustain healthy and sustainable people and communities

Adaptive Capacity

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and consequences

Livelihoods

Resilience

The integration of these components from a perspective of determining the capacity to adapt in each enables you to assess your level of vulnerability and find where there are issues and needs to adapt, improve…

Adaptive Capacity

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Kids migrate to Shediac

Elderly parents left by themselves

Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast

Elderly and poor parents

Resilience

Level of vulnerability

These components show that as the couple ages and if the children leave, their level of vulnerability increases - unless local connections and resources are made available to them.

V2R: Step 2 – Resilience

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and stress Livelihoods Resilience

Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience

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In practice resilience is:

Ability to manage risks: understand and reduce risks, strategies based on available skills and resources to face the risk, manage and recover in the short term.

Ability to adapt over long term: pro-activity to maintain sustainable and healthy community.

Ability to secure basic needs and maintain sustainable activities.

Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience

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What you need to determine and discuss– Community involvement– Information– Resources– Knowledge– Management Capacity– Support– Participation

Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience

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Kids migrate to Shediac

Elderly parents left by themselves

Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast

Elderly and poor parents

Resilience

Moving to resilience

These components show that as the couple ages and if the children leave, their level of vulnerability increases - unless local connections and resources are made available to them.

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- Has the community included in its disaster preparedness plan a scenario for its elderly population with no family around?

- Does the elderly couple have access to information about coastal hazards and how to prepare for these?

- Does the community have a simple procedure to explain what type of financial assistance is available for repairing damages caused by hazards?

- Does the disaster preparedness plans include an understanding of how the elderly population may behave after a hazard severely damages their home?

- Does the community have it is disaster preparedness plan a list of volunteers specifically assigned to helping elderly people cope with a hazard?

- Are there grief counselors available in the region to provide psychological support to elderly residents impacted by a hazard?

- Has the elderly population of the town been included in consultations that informed the disaster preparedness plan?

Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience

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Future uncertainty

Governance

Hazards and stress Livelihoods Resilience

Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience

Ability to manage risks

Ability to adapt to changes

Ability to secure sustainable lives and activities (people, institutions and communities)

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Workshop workbook– Activity #5: 15 minutes

– Work in small groups– Use the scenario as a base for discussion– Use your experience and knowledge to inform

discussion

Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience

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Kids migrate to Shediac

Elderly parents left by themselves

Family highly exposed to a hazard on coast

Elderly and poor parents

Move to Shediac

Moving to resilience

These components show that as the couple ages and if the children leave, their level of vulnerability increases - unless local connections and resources are made available to them.

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Details to make the decision on what can be done first:– Social values– Economic choices– Timeliness– Environmental importance

Resilience is dynamic.

Step 2, Activity 5 - Resilience

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Taking it one step at a time

Strengthening resilience is a puzzle.

Start with a simple method. Get others to help you. Keep an open mind – things

change. Stay flexible – multiple

solutions. Choose a consensus

approach to setting priorities.

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References

Nelson, D.R., W.N. Adger and K. Brown. 2007. Adaptation to environmental change: contributions of a resilience framework. Annu. Rev. Environ. Resourc. 32: 395-419.

Pasteur, K. 2011. From vulnerability to resilience. A framework for analysis and action to build community resilience. Practical Action Publishing, Warwickshire, OK. 113 pages.

Buckle, Marsh & Smale, May 2001, Assessing Resilience & Vulnerability: Principles, Strategies & Actions.

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Thank you!

Ville de Shippagan

Coastal Communities Challenges – CURA

Government of Canada