Identifying needs and enhancing learning about climate change adaptation for water professionals at the post-graduate level

Abstract

Using a participatory learning approach, we report on the delivery and evaluation of a climate change and risk assessment tool to help manage water risks within the agricultural sector. Post-graduate water-professional students from a range of countries, from both developed and emerging economies were involved in using this tool. Our approach included participative learning tools – group discussion, software, and risk matrices. The materials developed met the needs of the students, allowing these students to incorporate their learning and adapt the package of materials for use in their home countries. Analysis of evaluations show that the tools and materials are particularly useful and emphasizes the need for sound learning materials and tools, funding to deliver training, and policy support to accelerate education and adoption of authentic climate change adaptation practices. The expected benefits for water professionals about climate change will be translated into improved socioeconomic and environmental outcomes if adopted.

Keywords:

• climate change
• adaptation
• water planning
• sustainability
• education

Acknowledgments

I acknowledge the comments and feedback from three anonymous referees. Needs analyses from NCCARF networks were amended and adapted to suit the targeted audience. D Lloyd provided many helpful suggestions on the final text. This work evolved from significant collaboration by M Xie, especially on logic flow of the text with the risk matrix, and Tables 2 to 6 inclusive. Colleagues who made helpful contributions with ideas, trials, and materials that helped this work evolve include: A.J. Glauber, A. Faust, N. Yabuki, R. Damania, M. Jacobsen, H. Yu, M. delos Angeles, C. Maguire, K. von Ritter, N. Prasad, F. Zermoglio, A. Gidamis, P. Kutima, A. Herzog, M. Ladki, N. Aliyeva, J. Moses, A. Bucher, N.R. Harshadeep, A. Baietti, A. Bianchi, P. Vandenoever, P. Ryder, R. Dave, H. Gitay, S.T. Nielsen, H. Sugarno and W. Yu.

Notes

1. This search did not include courses where climate change may be embedded as a component or where there are climate change elements within a course