Topic 2 Impact of climate change on personal safety
Self-Directed Learning Activity
| Items | Items |
|---|---|
| Activity Title/Topic: | Self-assessment of the capacity to adapt to climate risks |
| Duration of Activity: | This self-directed learning is planned for a total duration of 90 minutes |
| Learning Outcome: | At the end of this activity, you will be able to recognise the main climate risks to which you are exposed, assess your adaptive capacity level in the face of these risks and be aware of the effect that climate change can have on your vulnerability. |
| Materials Required: | Mandatory: paper and writing material (alternatively, it can be done on a computer). Optional: colouring pens/pencils; internet access (computer, smartphone, tablet). |
| Aim of Activity: | Supporting you to evaluate how you are exposed to climate risks, how well prepared you are against those risks, how your vulnerability could be increased or minimised by climate change and assess your adaptive capacity, i.e., what you can do to better adapt to current and future climate situations. |
Step-by-step instructions:
On a sheet of paper, identify and list the type of climate hazards your current location is exposed to.
For example:
- Heat waves
- Cold jobs
- Heavy rainfall/flooding/flooding
- Water scarcity/drought
- Strong wind
- Sea disturbance
- Coastal flooding
- Landslides
- Forest fires
- Blizzards
Based on what you have already learned and researched about climate change in your region, mark with a symbol how climate change might increase (+), decrease (-), or not significantly change (=) these risks.
For example:
- Heat waves +
- Cold jobs –
- Heavy rainfall/flooding/flooding =
- Water scarcity/drought +
- Strong wind =
- Sea disturbance +
- Coastal flooding +
- Landslides –
- Forest fires +
- Blizzards –
Based on what you know about these subjects or after a brief news research on extreme events in your region, highlight the three types of risks that could be more dangerous for your safety.
For example:
- Heat waves +
- Cold jobs –
- Heavy rainfall/flooding/flooding =
- Water scarcity/drought +
- Strong wind =
- Sea disturbance +
- Coastal flooding +
- Landslides –
- Forest fires +
- Blizzards –
Develop a self-assessment chart of your climate risk adaptation capacity, following these instructions:
- In the columns, place the main climate risks to which you are exposed and have previously identified.
- In the rows, insert your self-assessment criteria of the individual adaptation examples presented in the video:
Information research: following weather forecasts, consulting information brochures, getting to know maps of risk areas, etc.
Preparation: ensuring housing maintenance, store supplies and preparing an emergency kit.
Protection: sealing doors and windows, putting up sandbags, keeping cool during heat waves.
Insurance: taking out insurance to cover different climate risk events.
Civic action: supporting adaptation policies, participating in local assemblies, sign petitions.
Evacuation/migration: complying with evacuation plans, planning to retreat to a safer location and migrate to regions with lower risk.
For example:
Evaluate your preparedness level for each of the criteria. To do it, fill in the table with numbers from 1 to 5, where:
- Not prepared
- Poorly prepared
- Somehow prepared
- Well prepared
- Totally prepared
For example:
Colour each of the cells in the table, matching a colour scale to the numbers. (Note: This step is optional but makes it easier to read your self-assessment matrix)
For example, being:
- Currently, what are the main climate risks that threaten your security?
- What effect will climate change have on these risks: will they increase, stay the same or decrease?
- In general, do you consider that you are well prepared for today’s major climate risks?
- What do you need to better adapt to current climate risks (in terms of information, preparedness, protection, insurance, participation and evacuation)?