Henning Schroll

Is Climate Change a Reality for Agriculture in Quang Nam Province

The chapter describes changes in agricultural systems in Quang Nam Province since 1990 in an effort to explore if such changes are reflecting strategies of adaptation to climate change. A two-pronged analytical strategy is followed. This explores (a) patterns of correlation between agricultural production, eco-agricultural landscapes, and climate variations, and (b) records stakeholder perceptions of the causal relations between changes in agricultural practices and climate change. It concludes by discussing the concordance and differences found between the two analyses. An overview of agricultural changes was provided through available statistics and interviews and important climate impacts and adaptations were identified and assessed. An energy flow method was used to describe the agricultural situation. From interviews it was found that many Vietnamese authorities and farmers are convinced that climate change is having an impact on farming, forestry and aquaculture today, and consequently, different kinds of adaptations are being introduced. The study shows that farmers in the agricultural field during the last decade have increased productivity and demonstrated a strong ability to adapt farming systems to the impacts experienced from extreme weather events. Forestry adaptation to extreme weather impacts took a long time while aqua culture adaptation occurred rapidly. With regards to correlations of documented patterns of climate variations and changes of agricultural production systems, however, the findings of the study are inconclusive. Long term planning should include concerns of adaptation to climate change and the use of economic incentives.

Environmental problems and environmental regulations in Western Europe, 1980–1989

Environmental problems are a function of the process of economic development and the ability to mitigate the problems through regulation. An historical analysis helps to show how the problems have been solved thus far. The objective of this investigation is to present an overview of environmental problems and the corresponding regulations in Western Europe during the 1980s. Environmental problems for 18 Western European countries were identified from abstracts from a data base on environmental literature. The 1977 findings were systematized on the basis of 20 key words according to source and impact, and a new data base was established. The data showed that the main environmental problems in Western Europe were: energy production/acid rain, nuclear power/waste, air pollution/climate, heavy metals, pesticides, water pollution, solid waste, and unforeseen accidents. Many environmental problems are common to most European countries. Regulatory measures differ significantly. In some countries environmental regulations are largely limited to the implementation of European Economic Community (EEC) directives. We have supplemented the national analyses with an examination of existing and proposed EEC regulations along with interviews with civil servants in the EEC Commission. In the 1980s, EEC environmental regulations were similar to environmental regulations in some member states. It is expected that future EEC regulations will be less reflective of those of individual member states.