A simplified qualitative scale for assessing and communicating climate change impacts

Masters Thesis


Macfarlane, Mark Hugh. 2013. A simplified qualitative scale for assessing and communicating climate change impacts. Masters Thesis Master of Science. University of Southern Queensland.
Title

A simplified qualitative scale for assessing and communicating climate change impacts

TypeMasters Thesis
Authors
AuthorMacfarlane, Mark Hugh
SupervisorRibbe, Joachim
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Qualification NameMaster of Science
Number of Pages101
Year2013
Abstract

This thesis reports that a simple qualitative scale for assessing and communicating climate change impacts can be applied effectively to assess climate change impact to a region. The results presented on this simple scale could improve clarity in communication of climate change to the
public.

The study identifies different approaches to modelling various natural event variables and different climate change indexes. It concludes that there is currently no available simplified scale for assessing and measuring current climate change impacts. The thesis makes a case for the inadequacy of these approaches, as they either do not measure climate change impacts or they are too complex. Accordingly, this research presents a simplified
qualitative scale for assessing and communicating climate change impacts.

The scale was designed on existing scale frameworks contained within the Australian Risk Management Standard and other scaling methods. The scale was distributed to 20 Pacific nations as part of a climate change impact survey. Participants used the scale to assess the impact of climate
change across a number of sub-systems including terrestrial and marine, water, tourism, socio economic, culture, health, food and agriculture and meteorological. The survey successfully elicited assessments of the different
climate change impacts evident across the Pacific Island nation states. The results are presented in graphic and tabular form which provides a readily accessible appreciation of the different impacts of climate change. This in itself demonstrates the merits of constructing a scale. The assessment results indicate that there is currently a moderate to severe impact from climate change across the Pacific region.

Keywordsclimate change; impact; assessing; assessment; measuring; measurement; simplified qualitative scale; climate impacts scale; South Pacific Island States
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020370201. Climate change processes
Byline AffiliationsFaculty of Sciences
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https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q1yx0/a-simplified-qualitative-scale-for-assessing-and-communicating-climate-change-impacts

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Related outputs

A simplified scale for assessing current impact of climate change in the Pacific region
Macfarlane, M.. 2012. "A simplified scale for assessing current impact of climate change in the Pacific region." Climate Adaptation in Action 2012: Sharing Knowledge to Adapt (NCCARF 2012). Melbourne, Australia 26 - 28 Jun 2012 Brisbane, Australia.
A simplified scale for assessing and communicating climate change impacts
Macfarlane, M. H. and Ribbe, J.. 2012. "A simplified scale for assessing and communicating climate change impacts." Lepetit, Julien (ed.) Water and Climate: Policy Implementation Challenges - 2nd Practical Responses to Climate Change Conference 2012. Canberra, Australia 01 - 03 May 2012 Canberra, Australia.