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The Role of Ecosystem Services in Increasing the Adaptive Capacity of the Poor

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Climate Change, Justice and Sustainability

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Abstract

Adaptation to climate change can mean different things; it can refer to technical solutions or the changing insurance systems. In this chapter, the significance of biodiversity and ecosystems for human adaptation is assessed, focussing particularly on poor people. The concept of ecosystem services according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (Reid et al., Living beyond our means: Natural assets and human well-being (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Statement from the Board). Island Press, Washington, DC, 2005) is used to analyse the different ecosystem services in different sectors, ranging from agrobiodiversity, through urban cities to coastal systems. As ecosystems still suffer from inadequate economic appreciation, ways to increase the power of ecosystem based adaptations are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (MfN), Invalidenstraße 43, 10115, Berlin, Germany

    Katrin Vohland

  2. Earth System Analysis, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), 60 12 03, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Katrin Vohland, Ariane Walz & Wolfgang Cramer

  3. Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany

    Ariane Walz

  4. Sustainable Solutions, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), 60 12 03, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Alexander Popp

  5. Climate Impacts and Vulnerabilities, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), 60 12 03, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Hermann Lotze-Campen

  6. Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d’Ecologie marine et continentale (IMBE)UMR CNRS 7263 / IRD 237, Bâtiment Villemin, Europole de l’Arbois, 80F-13545, Aix-en-Provence cedex 04, France

    Wolfgang Cramer

Authors
  1. Katrin Vohland
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  2. Ariane Walz
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  3. Alexander Popp
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  4. Hermann Lotze-Campen
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  5. Wolfgang Cramer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katrin Vohland .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Climate Impact Research (PIK), Sustainable Solutions, Potsdam Institute for, Telegrafenberg 31A, Potsdam, 14473, Germany

    Ottmar Edenhofer

  2. Studies, Munich School of Philosophy, Institute for Social & Development, Kaulbachstraße 31a, München, 80539, Germany

    Johannes Wallacher

  3. Climate Impact Research (PIK), Climate Impacts and Vulnerabilities, Potsdam Institute for, Telegrafenberg 31A, Potsdam, 14473, Germany

    Hermann Lotze-Campen

  4. Munich School of Philosophy, Institute for Social and Development Stu, Kaulbachstraße 31a, München, 80539, Germany

    Michael Reder

  5. Climate Impact Research (PIK), Sustainable Solutions, Potsdam Institute for, Telegrafenberg 31A, Potsdam, 14473, Germany

    Brigitte Knopf

  6. Munich School of Philosophy, Institute for Social and Development Stu, Kaulbachstraße 31a, München, 80539, Germany

    Johannes Müller

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Vohland, K., Walz, A., Popp, A., Lotze-Campen, H., Cramer, W. (2012). The Role of Ecosystem Services in Increasing the Adaptive Capacity of the Poor. In: Edenhofer, O., Wallacher, J., Lotze-Campen, H., Reder, M., Knopf, B., Müller, J. (eds) Climate Change, Justice and Sustainability. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4540-7_17

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