Climate change is one of the major challenges of modern times. Its impacts are manifold and vary from sea level rise (especially relevant to those living in coastal areas), to the increased frequency of extreme events such as cyclones and storm surges, which not only poses problems to property and infrastructure, but also to human health. Climate change is also associated with damages to the physical and natural environment, as well as to biodiversity.
According to the 5th Assessment Report produced by the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), many geographical regions across the world are moderately or highly vulnerable to climate change, whose impacts may be further exacerbated by other human-induced pressures.
The above state of affairs illustrates the need for a better and more holistic understanding of how climate change affects countries and regions on the one hand, but also on how the many problems itcauses may be managed on the other, vis-a-vis a better ability to adapt. There is also a perceived need to showcase successful examples of how to duly address and manage the many social, economic and political problems posed by climate change around the world, in order to replicate and even upscale the successful ones.
It is against this background that the Handbook of Climate Change Management has been produced. It contains papers prepared by scholars, social movements, practitioners and members of governmental agencies, undertaking research and/or executing climate change projects, and working with communities across all geographical regions. The Handbook focuses on "Research, Leadership, Transformation", meaning that it serves the purpose of showcasing the role these key areas play in respect of applied research, field projects and best practices to foster climate change adaptation worldwide.
Walter Leal Filho holds the chairs of Climate Change Management at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany), and Environment and Technology at Manchester Metropolitan University (UK). He directs the Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainability Development and Climate Change Management.” His main research interests are in the fields of sustainable development and climate change, also including aspects of climate change and health. He has over 30 years’ experience on climate change projects and directs the International Climate Change Information and Research Programme.
Johannes M. Luetz is the research chair at Christian Heritage College (CHC), an independent higher education provider in Brisbane, Australia. He has consulted extensively for World Vision International on research projects raising awareness of the growing effects of demographic, environmental, and climate change on vulnerable communities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He was raised in Sierra Leone and Switzerland; cares deeply about poverty reduction, holistic education, justice, and equity; and has researched and published conceptually and empirically in these areas. He is a big-picture thinker and has interdisciplinary research interests at the science-faith and science-policy interface. This interest has resulted in several authored and edited books, including Beyond Belief: Opportunities for Faith-Engaged Approaches to Climate-Change Adaptation in the Pacific Islands (Springer, 2021), Innovating Christian Education Research: Multidisciplinary Perspectives (Springer, 2021), and Planet Prepare (WVI, 2008), among others. He was also involved as an author and section editor on Quality Education: Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Springer, 2020), the largest editorial project on sustainable development ever undertaken, and the world’s most comprehensive publication on the United Nations SDGs – Vol. 4. addresses SDG 4: “Ensureinclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” Dr. Luetz is an adjunct academic in the School of Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney. There he also completed his PhD (environmental policy and management) in human xxxiii climate migration. His PhD research has featured in national news and documentaries (Bolivia, Bangladesh, Maldives). He has spoken at the UNSW Town & Gown annual signature dinner and has been a guest on ABC Radio National The Science Show. His research has attracted grants, prizes, scholarships, awards, and distinctions, including best thesis prize (2006), UNSW UIP Award (2009), UNSW ASPIRE Award (2012), and best paper awards (2017, 2018). Dr. Luetz convenes the Master of Social Science Leadership program at CHC, which through its research and teaching activities on change leadership seeks to give rise to equitable social transformation. Dr. Luetz is also adjunct fellow at the Universityof the Sunshine Coast (USC), deputy editor of Emerald journal IJCCSM, member of the academic board at CHC, and member of the editorial board of Springer Nature journal Discover Sustainability. He maintains an active website at www.luetz.com.
Dr. Desalegn Yayeh Ayal is an Associate Professor of Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Development at the Center for Food Security Studies, College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University. Desalegn holds a PhD degree in Geography. Desalegn serves as the Deputy Editor of International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management. He has published more than 40 publications including books, book chapters, and referred journal articles. He is East Africa vice president for Interconnections for Making Africa Great Empowered and Sustainable Initiative. He is a founder and director of Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) Ethiopian Chapter. He has also presented papers on climate adaptation and related issues at many international and national conferences. His principal areas of research interest include climate change vulnerability, climate change adaptation, climate change mitigation and related issues, indigenous weather forecasting, integrated natural resources rehabilitation and management, livelihoods and food security nexus, among others. He thoroughly understands the link between natural and human induced hazards with sustainable development, and works hard to familiarize with current tools of climate change impact assessment on livelihood and the wider environment. He has been actively involved in climate resilience and integrated natural resources rehabilitation and management research, and development interventions to improve food security.
