Theme: Mainstreaming Climate Information in the Americas

Question for Discussion:
What are examples of information on climate extremes and public health in the Americas?
 
Consider information on

• extreme climate events
• socio-economic factors that contribute to impacts
• possible adaptive strategies that mitigate impacts

This forum theme draws upon the Symposium on Climate and Extreme Events in Asia-Pacific: Enhancing Resilience and Improving Decision-Making (March 19-21, 2003, Bangkok, Thailand. 
http://www2.eastwestcenter.org/climate/extreme/. A new concept of Climate Risk Management is emerging. Its aim is to integrate climate adaptation with comprehensive emergency management programs.

Working Group Two emphasized the mainstreaming of climate information into decision-making to enhance resilience. Their synthesis report considers strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and constraints of various factors affecting communication and information use.

The closing keynote address by Thomas Brennan, UN Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery, stressed that adaptation and sustainable development are mutually reinforcing. Adaptations are likely to be implemented if they are integrated with management and development processes that are already in place. 

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Diagnostics and prediction of climate variability and human health impacts in the tropical Americas