Background

After extreme rainfall during Typhoon Morakot caused devastating losses in Taiwan in 2009, NCDR acknowledged the importance of extreme climate studies is critical for disaster prevention. The climate change division was formed to support government sectors on climate change scientific researches and applications. Under the big goal of disaster reduction focusing on disaster risk assessment, analysis and management, the purpose of this team is to develop disaster prevention and adaptation strategies under climate and environmental change. The work of climate change division includes researching on climate change science focusing on future climate projection data production, conducting future impact and adaptation assessment report for long term policy references, and developing key technology and integration tools for extreme climate disaster risk assessment with National Development Council under the structure of National Climate Change Adaptation Policy Framework. The working structure and development goal are demonstrated in Figure 1, and the future development of the team will focus on strengthening environmental change issues on the basis of climate change researches.

Figure 1: Working structure of climate change division

Primary Tasks

1. Disaster Loss Assessment in river basins under climate change
2. Climate risk maps using climate projection data
3. Climate change adaptation tools and policy implementation
4. Implementation of action plan for disaster prevention sector under 「National Climate Change Adaptation Policy Framework」
5. Publication of Climate Change Disaster Risk Assessment Report
6. Drought and Water Resources Assessment and Integrated Application
7. Implementation of Taiwan Climate Change Projection and Information Platform [TCCIP] with various research units for National Science and Technology Council

Future Work

Climate Change Division intends to implement comprehensive climate vulnerability and risk analysis with consideration of environment, climate, hydrology, geology and social economics. The work includes extreme disasters simulation, risk analysis, risk mapping and adaptation tools design. The major research outcomes are integrated with other related applications and policies from government agencies through「The Executive Yuan Program on Applying Science and Technology for Disaster Reduction」and「National Climate Change Adaptation Policy Framework and Action Plans」. The research results are designed to assist government for long term disaster reduction policy and adaptation policy planning and implementation.

In addition to implementation of the Assessment and Adaptation Strategies for Extreme Climate-Related Disaster Risks in NCDR, the climate change division also cooperates with other government agencies, such as Taiwan Climate Change Projection and Information Platform [TCCIP] with various research units of National Science and Technology Council, Agricultural Disaster Adaptation Project with Council of Agriculture, and Drought and Water Resources Research Project with Academia Sinica. The ultimate goal of this division is to effectively decrease disaster risks under climate change through close collaboration with government agencies, academics and implementation sectors.

Long term research and development plan of climate change division is demonstrated in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Long term research and development plan of climate change division

Key Achievements

1. 2015: Established drought monitoring and early warning platform with short term seasonal discharge projection
2. 2014: Conducted climate risk maps in county scale using climate change projection data
3. 2013: Initiated second phase of Taiwan Climate Change Projection and Information Platform（TCCIP-II）(NSTC)
4. 2013: IPCC Assessment Report Fifth Addition（AR5）Summary for Policy Makers
5. 2013: Translated and Published Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report “Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX)”
6. 2012: Implemented action plan for disaster prevention sector under 「National Climate Change Adaptation Policy Framework」
7. 2011: Published Climate Change in Taiwan: Scientific Report 2011
8. 2010: Conducted climate risk maps (current status)
9. 2009: Planned and implemented first phase of Taiwan Climate Change Projection and Information Platform（TCCIP-I）(National Science Council)
10. 2008: Translated and published IPCC Assessment Report Fourth Addition（AR4）Summary for Policy Makers