This research group focusses on all aspects of adaptation to climate change at multiple scales, from individual species and system components, to aggregations in ecological or social communities or nation states. The group comprises a wide array of skills originating from a variety of disciplines including: biology, engineering, archaeology, business administration, oceanography, economics, geography and sociology.
The aim of the Adapting to Climate Change theme is threefold:
- to take forward our understanding of human, natural and physical process of adaptation to climate change
- to shape public and policy discourses on adapting to climate change to improve sustainable responses to climate change
- to build the capacity of young researchers in Southampton University in this area
Climate change adaptation involves actions by humans and non-humans anticipating or responding to climatic change - whether anthropogenically driven or not. These actions can enhance or constrain adaptation options today, as well as shape capacity to respond by future generations. This research theme focusses on all aspects of adaptation to climate change.
See the latest video 'Drivery and Challenges for Climate Compatible Development' by Dr Emma Tompkins.
Current climate change adaptation research projects
1. Achieving Triple Wins: Identifying Climate Smart Investment Strategies for the Coastal Zone
2. Linking Adaptation, Mitigation and Development in East Africa in Coastal Forests and Agricultural Systems
3. Research project: Pathways of resilience to future storms
https://southampton.likn.co/geography/research/projects/pathways_of_resilience_to_future_storms.page
Current external engagement activities relating to climate change adaptation
Reducing the risks of Future Disasters
Researchers across the university participated in the UK Government Office of Science Foresight review on ‘Reducing Risks of Future Disasters'. Dr Emma Tompkins, Co-chair of Sustainability Science at Southampton USRG, was part of the Lead Expert Group that shaped the contents of the report, commissioned background research, and produced the final report. Professor Peter M. Atkinson, Professor Michael J. Clark, Dr Hugh G. Lewis, Andrew Murdock and Julia Branson at the University of Southampton were all involved in producing a background research paper on the state of the art in risk mapping.
Contribution to IPCC Assessment Report Five
Professor Robert Nicholls : https://southampton.likn.co/engineering/news/2010/06/28_professor_appointed_to_ipcc.page
Dr Emma Tompkins : is a Lead Author for Chapter 29 on Small Islands ( http://www.ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/AR5_authors.php )
Activities and resources for faculty, post-docs, PGRs and UGs within the climate change adaptation theme
General networking opportunity
All faculty, post-docs and PhD students are invited to the monthly meeting of the 'Human dimensions of Resilience, Adaptation and Vulnerability' DISCUSSION GROUP . We meet in the Geography & Environment coffee room 44/1089 - please sign up to the SSS mailing list to receive emailed invitations which include the confirmed date, time, and location.
All University of Southampton PhD students, post docs and faculty are welcome, but please email [email protected] to let me know if you plan to join us so I can get a larger room if needed.
Background to the group
A small group of UoS researchers (post-doc and PhD) and staff have decided to meet once a month, to discuss the following ideas:
- ecological resilience
- social resilience
- measurement /monitoring of resilience / safe operating spaces
- adaptive capacity
- vulnerability (incl measurement)
- hazards/ disasters / catastrophes related to resilience
- the role of institutions / social capital/ networks/behaviours/ assets and obligations in informing resilience
- intentionality/human agency and the capacity to cause /influence
- neoliberalism and the politics of resilience
- risk and uncertainty
PhD Development activities
There is a monthly PhD group colloquium in Geography & Environment wherein PhD students present and discuss their research as it progresses. All PhD students working on subjects related to the ESRC DTC theme of ‘Energy Environment and Resilience' are welcome to join us. Please email [email protected] to sign up to the group mailing list.
UG modules in Sustainability Science (CIP)
If you are interested in studying sustainability science at Southampton there are a wide range of modules you can access across the campus, including two innovative Curriculum Innovation Programme modules Living with Environmental Change and Global Challenges. For further details, please visit the SSS Teaching pages.
Other University of Southampton sites
Related Research Groups & Bodies
