FCT (DCEA) - Artigos em Revistas Científicas Internacionais com Arbitragem Científica
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Browsing FCT (DCEA) - Artigos em Revistas Científicas Internacionais com Arbitragem Científica by Subject "Adaptation"
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Artificial intelligence and climate change: the potential roles of foundation modelsPublication . Leal Filho, Walter; Kovaleva, Marina; Ng, Artie; Nagy, Gustavo; Luetz, Johannes; Dinis, Maria Alzira PimentaArtificial intelligence (AI) is being developed fast and applied in several areas including education and healthcare with excellent potential for use in fields that require complex analytics, particularly in the case of climate change. Recent developments in AI, such as ChatGPT and OpenAI, machine vision technologies and deep learning, among others, may be deployed in various contexts, including climate change. Of specific interest is the role played by foundation models (FMs), which may help to augment intelligence on climate change and reduce the social risks of adaptation and mitigation initiatives. This article discusses the potential applications of FMs in climate change research and management and illustrates the need for further studies. FMs, built on large unlabelled data sets and enabled by transfer learning, offer versatility in handling complex tasks. Specifically, FMs can aid in climate data analysis, modelling future scenarios, assessing risks, and supporting decision-making processes. Despite their potential, challenges such as data privacy, algorithm bias, and energy consumption require careful consideration. The article emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary efforts to address these challenges and maximize the positive impact of FMs in mitigation and adaptation. AI, including advanced models like FMs, holds significant promise for addressing climate change challenges.
- Local knowledge of climate change adaptation strategies from the vhaVenda and baTonga communities living in the Limpopo and Zambezi River Basins, Southern AfricaPublication . Matandirotya, Newton R.; Leal Filho, Walter; Mahed, Gaathier; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Mathe, PrinceCommunities living within Africa’s river basins remain vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. This study aimed to explore the various local knowledge (LK)-based climate change adaptation strategies used by the vhaVenda and baTonga communities residing in the Limpopo and Zambezi river basins (LRB and ZRB, respectively) in Southern Africa. The study’s novelty lies in its assessment of the LK embedded within these Indigenous Peoples. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 35 community members (60% women), with the findings further complemented by a review and analysis of existing literature. The study revealed that 96% of participants were already familiar with the concept of climate change. Additionally, the findings show that communities in both the LRB and ZRB continue to rely on biotic and abiotic indicators to predict weather, while social networks play a crucial role in coping with periodic shocks such as drought-induced food shortages. The vhaVenda and baTonga communities have demonstrated remarkable innovation in developing techniques that support livelihoods in the challenging environments of the LRB and ZRB. Furthermore, both communities displayed a profound understanding of their local ecosystems, enabling them to create adaptation strategies tailored to their specific geographical and environmental conditions, underscoring the value of these approaches. This study has important implications for climate change adaptation policies in low-resource regions, including Zimbabwe, as it highlights that these communities are already equipped with effective strategies for adapting and surviving in harsh climates.
- A ticket to where? Dwindling snow cover impacts the winter tourism sector as a consequence of climate changePublication . Leal Filho, Walter; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Nagy, Gustavo J.; Fracassi, Umberto; Aina, Yusuf A.Climate change affects human activities, including tourism across various sectors and time frames. The winter tourism industry, dependent on low temperatures, faces significant impacts. This paper reviews the implications of climate change on winter tourism, emphasising challenges for activities like skiing and snowboarding, which rely on consistent snowfall and low temperatures. As the climate changes, these once taken-for-granted conditions are no longer as commonplace. Through a comprehensive review supported by up-to-date satellite imagery, this paper presents evidence suggesting that the reliability of winter snow is decreasing, with findings revealing a progressive reduction in snow levels associated with temperature and precipitation changes in some regions. The analysis underscores the need for concerted efforts by stakeholders who must recognize the reality of diminishing snow availability and work towards understanding the specific changes in snow patterns. This should involve multi-risk and multi-instrument assessments, including ongoing satellite data monitoring to track snow cover changes. The practical implications for sports activities and the tourism industry reliant on snow involve addressing challenges by diversifying offerings. This includes developing alternative winter tourism activities less dependent on snow, such as winter hiking, nature walks, or cultural experiences.