Friday, 10/15/2021
João
Cerejeira and Rita Sousa, professors at the School of Economics and Management,
University of Minho, and researchers at the Centre for Research in Economics
and Management (NIPE), participated in a multidisciplinary study on the impact
of climate change at a regional level and on the local response to these
problems. The analysis of the surveys carried out shows that it is possible to
verify awareness of climate change. However, it is considered a global problem
and not a problem that requires a local response. Solely economic operators,
namely those involved in sectors such as agriculture, vineyards, and tourism,
expressed greater concern about some of the effects.
The
study was requested by the Intermunicipal Community of Tâmega e Sousa and
describes the development of an adaptation plan regarding climate change,
specifically adapted to the needs of this community, entitled the
Intermunicipal Plan of Adaptation to Climate Change of Tâmega e Sousa.
The
study concluded a lack of information in the region on tools for collecting the
main climate variables, such as rainfall, temperature, or hydrography.
Therefore, the study highlighted the pivotal role of economic agents and
policymakers in maintaining, updating, and disseminating information so that
plans to combat impacts are appropriate to the community's current needs. João
Cerejeira points out that in addition to the projections and analysis carried
out throughout the article "On the development of a regional climate change
adaptation plan: Integrating model-assisted projections and stakeholders'
perceptions," published in the scientific journal Science of The Total
Environment, "the message conveyed is that knowledge at the local level is
ideal for adapting to climate change effectively and for the success of the
plan in place."
The
research team also includes Catarina Gonçalves and Miguel Araújo, with
affiliation to the School of Economics and Management, University of Minho,
researchers from the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), and the
University of Porto (UP). The investigation team also had the cooperation of
the Instituto para o Desenvolvimento Agrário da Região Norte (IDARN), a
non-profit institution dedicated to research in the agriculture and the rural
world 's area.
Gabinete de Comunicação
Escola de Economia e Gestão
Universidade do Minho
Telefone: 253 604541
e-mail: gci@eeg.uminho.pt
