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Mapping the future

Policy applications of climate vulnerability mapping in West Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID4645910
AuthorsAlex De Sherbinin (0000-0002-8875-4864, Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) The Earth Institute at Columbia University PO Box 1000 Palisades NY 10964 USA, corresponding author), Alex Apotsos (0000-0002-7700-1031, Department of Geosciences Williams College Williamstown MA 01267 USA), Jeremy Chevrier (USAID/Senegal, Sahel Regional Office (SRO) Dakar Senegal)
Year2017
Volume183
Issue4
Pages414-425
Publication date2017-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGeographical Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0016-7398 • E-ISSN: 1475-4959
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/geoj.12226
OpenAlexW2753790215
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited28

We describe the development of climate vulnerability maps for three Sahelian countries - Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger - and for coastal West Africa, with a focus on the way the maps were designed to meet decision-making needs and their ultimate influence and use in policy contexts. The paper provides a review of the literature on indicators and maps in the science-policy interface. We then assess the credibility, salience, and legitimacy of the maps as tools for decision-making. Results suggest that vulnerability maps are a useful boundary object for generating discussions among stakeholders with different objectives and technical backgrounds, and that they can provide useful input for targeting development assistance. We conclude with a discussion of the power of maps to capture policy-maker attention, and how this increases the onus on map developers to communicate clearly uncertainties and limitations. The assessment of policy uptake in this paper is admittedly subjective; the article includes a discussion of ways to conduct more objective and rigorous assessments of policy impact so as to better evaluate the value and use of vulnerability mapping in decision-making processes

Boundary object · Cartography · Computer security · Credibility · Economics · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Geography · Legitimacy · Political science · Psychological intervention · Salience (neuroscience · Vulnerability (computing · Vulnerability assessment · Climate change impacts on agriculture · Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration · Computer Science · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance

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    Open Access•R Nelson, Philip Kokic et al.•Environmental Science & Policy•2009

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    Open Access•Elizabeth Mcnie, Elizabeth C McNie•Environmental Science & Policy•2006

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    Open Access•Jochen Hinkel•Global Environmental Change•2010

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Unique citing works5
Citations per year0,63
Citation span2018 - 2025 (8)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 5
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