• Energy Research
• Open Access close
• Restricted close
• Open Source close
• 15. Life on land close
• CO close

Abstract. An improved understanding of present-day climate variability and change relies on high-quality data sets from the past 2 millennia. Global efforts to model regional climate modes are in the process of being validated against, and integrated with, records of past vegetation change. For South America, however, the full potential of vegetation records for evaluating and improving climate models has hitherto not been sufficiently acknowledged due to an absence of information on the spatial and temporal coverage of study sites. This paper therefore serves as a guide to high-quality pollen records that capture environmental variability during the last 2 millennia. We identify 60 vegetation (pollen) records from across South America which satisfy geochronological requirements set out for climate modelling, and we discuss their sensitivity to the spatial signature of climate modes throughout the continent. Diverse patterns of vegetation response to climate change are observed, with more similar patterns of change in the lowlands and varying intensity and direction of responses in the highlands. Pollen records display local-scale responses to climate modes; thus, it is necessary to understand how vegetation–climate interactions might diverge under variable settings. We provide a qualitative translation from pollen metrics to climate variables. Additionally, pollen is an excellent indicator of human impact through time. We discuss evidence for human land use in pollen records and provide an overview considered useful for archaeological hypothesis testing and important in distinguishing natural from anthropogenically driven vegetation change. We stress the need for the palynological community to be more familiar with climate variability patterns to correctly attribute the potential causes of observed vegetation dynamics. This manuscript forms part of the wider LOng-Term multi-proxy climate REconstructions and Dynamics in South America – 2k initiative that provides the ideal framework for the integration of the various palaeoclimatic subdisciplines and palaeo-science, thereby jump-starting and fostering multidisciplinary research into environmental change on centennial and millennial timescales.

SUMMARYThis article discusses how decentralisation policies are enacted in the planning and implementation of natural resource management interventions in rural Ethiopia. A key element of decentralisation policy is the emphasis on greater participation by local communities. Drawing on qualitative research conducted with government staff and farmers, this paper illustrates how different actors perceive and implement national policy and how these actions affect the longer‐term sustainability of land management interventions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Extreme events usually cause numerous economic and social losses, especially in vulnerable countries, such as Brazil. Understanding whether the evolution of Earth System Models (ESMs) from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) improves the representation of extreme events and investigating their future change is fundamental because device policies of adaptation and mitigation to climate change generally consider the results of the most recent generation of ESMs. This study analyzes the performance of a subset of 40 ESMs from CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6 in simulating eight extreme precipitation climate indices over Brazil during 1981–2000 and also estimates their projected changes for the middle (2046–2065) and far future (2081–2 100) under the worst-case scenario for each CMIP generation. Results reveal that CDD are the most challenging precipitation index to be simulated, while the best ones were PRCPTOT and R20mm. The model performance shows that CMIP3 has the best skill for Northeast Brazil, CMIP5 for Center-West, and CMIP6 for North, Southeast and South regions. Thus, at least for Brazil, the evolution of the ESMs from CMIP did not reflect a substantial improvement in the representation of precipitation climate extremes over all Brazilian regions. In addition, all the models across CMIP generations have difficulty in simulating the observed trends. This indicate that improvements are still needed in CMIP models. Despite the relative low performance in the historical climate, the climate projections indicate a consensus signal among most of precipitation climate extremes and CMIP generations, which increase its reliability. Overall, the extreme precipitation events are projected to be more severe, frequent, and long-lasting in all Brazilian regions, with the more pronounce changes expected in heavy rainfall and severe droughts in the central northern portion of Brazil and in the southern sector.

Climate disasters affect human security and development, moreso in fragile and conflict-affected contexts where population’ capacities to cope with climate change are compromised. Responses to such crises lie at the nexus of humanitarian assistance, development, and peacebuilding. Yet, there are still too few integrated programmatic responses coordinating peacebuilding and climate actions to ensure a progressive human development. This research develops a multi-scalar model to help actors identify thematic areas to inform synergistic efforts and programs at different scales to better coordinate their actions. Findings suggest that climate action and peacebuilding sectors can coordinate actions around climate and conflict risk assessments, the management of land and water resources, ecosystem restoration, nature-based climate adaptation, climate and conflict smart agriculture, natural resources governance, and sustainable market development. These collaborative efforts have the potential to generate co-benefits, such as increased social cohesion and livelihood creation.

La production animale est une source essentielle de revenus et d'émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES) agricoles en Colombie, au Brésil, en Argentine, au Costa Rica, en Uruguay, au Mexique et au Pérou. Plusieurs options de gestion et technologiques, avec un potentiel d'atténuation du méthane entérique, ont été évaluées et leur mise à l'échelle devrait contribuer à la réalisation des objectifs de réduction des émissions de GES. Pourtant, l'adoption généralisée d'options d'atténuation prometteuses reste limitée, ce qui soulève des questions quant à savoir si les objectifs de réduction des émissions envisagés sont réalisables. À l'aide de données générées localement, nous explorons les potentiels d'atténuation des technologies et des pratiques de gestion actuellement proposées pour atténuer les émissions de méthane entérique, pour les systèmes de production bovine dans les pays d'Amérique latine les plus émetteurs. Nous discutons ensuite des obstacles à l'adoption d'innovations qui réduisent considérablement les émissions de méthane entérique d'origine bovine et des changements majeurs dans les politiques et les pratiques qui sont nécessaires pour relever les ambitions nationales dans les pays à forte émission. En utilisant la science la plus récente et la pensée actuelle, nous fournissons notre point de vue sur une approche inclusive et ré-imaginons comment les secteurs universitaire, de la recherche, des affaires et des politiques publiques peuvent soutenir et encourager les changements nécessaires pour élever le niveau d'ambition et atteindre les objectifs de développement durable en envisageant des actions allant de la ferme à l'échelle nationale. La producción ganadera es una fuente fundamental de ingresos y emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) agrícolas en Colombia, Brasil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Uruguay, México y Perú. Se han evaluado varias opciones de gestión y tecnológicas, con potencial de mitigación de metano entérico, y se prevé que su escalado contribuya al logro de los objetivos de reducción de emisiones de GEI. Sin embargo, la adopción generalizada de opciones de mitigación prometedoras sigue siendo limitada, lo que plantea dudas sobre si los objetivos de reducción de emisiones previstos son alcanzables. Utilizando datos generados localmente, exploramos los potenciales de mitigación de las tecnologías y prácticas de manejo actualmente propuestas para mitigar las emisiones de metano entérico, para los sistemas de producción ganadera en los países de mayor emisión de América Latina. Luego discutimos las barreras para adoptar innovaciones que reduzcan significativamente las emisiones de metano entérico en el ganado y los cambios importantes en las políticas y prácticas que se necesitan para aumentar las ambiciones nacionales en los países con altas emisiones. Utilizando la ciencia más reciente y el pensamiento actual, brindamos nuestra perspectiva sobre un enfoque inclusivo y reimaginamos cómo los sectores académico, de investigación, empresarial y de políticas públicas pueden apoyar e incentivar los cambios necesarios para elevar el nivel de ambición y alcanzar los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible considerando acciones desde la granja hasta la escala nacional. Livestock production is a pivotal source of income and agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Mexico and Peru. Several management and technological options, with enteric methane mitigation potential, have been evaluated and their scaling is anticipated to contribute towards achieving GHG emission reduction targets. Yet, widespread adoption of promising mitigation options remains limited, raising questions as to whether envisaged emission reduction targets are achievable. Using locally generated data, we explore the mitigation potentials of technologies and management practices currently proposed to mitigate enteric methane emissions, for cattle production systems in the higher emitting countries of Latin America. We then discuss barriers for adopting innovations that significantly reduce cattle-based enteric methane emissions and the major shifts in policy and practice that are needed to raise national ambitions in the high emitting countries. Using the latest science and current thinking, we provide our perspective on an inclusive approach and re-imagine how the academic, research, business and public policy sectors can support and incentivize the changes needed to raise the level of ambition and achieve sustainable development goals considering actions all the way from the farm to the national scale. الإنتاج الحيواني هو مصدر محوري للدخل وانبعاثات غازات الدفيئة الزراعية في كولومبيا والبرازيل والأرجنتين وكوستاريكا وأوروغواي والمكسيك وبيرو. تم تقييم العديد من خيارات الإدارة والخيارات التكنولوجية، مع إمكانية تخفيف الميثان المعوي، ومن المتوقع أن يساهم قياسها في تحقيق أهداف خفض انبعاثات غازات الدفيئة. ومع ذلك، لا يزال الاعتماد الواسع النطاق لخيارات التخفيف الواعدة محدودًا، مما يثير تساؤلات حول ما إذا كانت أهداف خفض الانبعاثات المتوخاة قابلة للتحقيق. باستخدام البيانات التي تم إنشاؤها محليًا، نستكشف إمكانات التخفيف من التقنيات وممارسات الإدارة المقترحة حاليًا للتخفيف من انبعاثات الميثان المعوية، لأنظمة إنتاج الماشية في البلدان ذات الانبعاثات الأعلى في أمريكا اللاتينية. ثم نناقش العوائق التي تحول دون اعتماد الابتكارات التي تقلل بشكل كبير من انبعاثات الميثان المعوي القائم على الماشية والتحولات الرئيسية في السياسات والممارسات اللازمة لرفع الطموحات الوطنية في البلدان ذات الانبعاثات العالية. باستخدام أحدث العلوم والتفكير الحالي، نقدم وجهة نظرنا حول نهج شامل ونعيد تصور كيف يمكن للقطاعات الأكاديمية والبحثية وقطاع الأعمال والسياسة العامة دعم وتحفيز التغييرات اللازمة لرفع مستوى الطموح وتحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة مع الأخذ في الاعتبار الإجراءات على طول الطريق من المزرعة إلى النطاق الوطني.

Elements are important functional traits reflecting plant response to climate change. Multiple elements work jointly in plant physiology. Although a large number of studies have focused on the variation and allocation of multiple elements in plants, it remains unclear how these elements co-vary to adapt to environmental change. We proposed a novel concept of the multi-element network including the mutual effects between element concentrations to more effectively explore the alterations in response to long-term nitrogen (N) deposition. Leaf multi-element networks were constructed with 18 elements (i.e., six macronutrients, six micronutrients, and six trace elements) in this study. Multi-element networks were species-specific, being effectively discriminated irrespective of N deposition level. Different sensitive elements and interactions to N addition were found in different species, mainly concentrating on N, Ca, Mg, Mn, Li, Sr, Ba, and their related stoichiometry. Interestingly, high plasticity of multi-element network increased or maintained relative aboveground biomass (species dominance) in community under simulated N deposition, which developed the multi-element network hypothesis. In summary, multi-element networks provide a novel approach for exploring the adaptation strategies of plants and to better predict the change of species dominance under altering nutrient availability or environmental stress associated with future global climate change.