Multi-factor, multi-state, multi-model scenarios: Exploring food and climate futures for Southeast Asia. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mason-D'Croz, Daniel; Vervoort, Joost; Palazzo, Amanda; Islam, Shahnila; Lord, Steven; Helfgott, Ariella; Havlík, Petr; Peou, Rathana; Sassen, Marieke; Veeger, Marieke; van Soesbergen, Arnout; Arnell, Andrew P.; Stuch, Benjamin; Arslan, Aslihan; Lipper, Leslie
• Is Part Of: Environmental modelling & software. Volume 83(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 255
• Page End: 270
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Multi-stakeholder scenarios -- Multi-model ensembles -- Climate change -- Agriculture and food security -- Southeast Asia -- Driver analysis; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Computer simulation -- Periodicals; Digital computer simulation -- Periodicals; Computer software -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Computer Simulation -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Logiciels -- Périodiques; Écologie -- Simulation, Méthodes de -- Périodiques; Simulation par ordinateur -- Périodiques; Logiciels -- Périodiques; Computer software; Digital computer simulation; Ecology -- Computer simulation; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70015118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.05.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-8152

Abstract

Abstract: Decision-makers aiming to improve food security, livelihoods and resilience are faced with an uncertain future. To develop robust policies they need tools to explore the potential effects of uncertain climatic, socioeconomic, and environmental changes. Methods have been developed to use scenarios to present alternative futures to inform policy. Nevertheless, many of these can limit the possibility space with which decision-makers engage. This paper will present a participatory scenario process that maintains a large possibility space through the use of multiple factors and factor-states and a multi-model ensemble to create and quantify four regional scenarios for Southeast Asia. To do this we will explain 1) the process of multi-factor, multi-state building was done in a stakeholder workshop in Vietnam, 2) the scenario quantification and model results from GLOBIOM and IMPACT, two economic models, and 3) how the scenarios have already been applied to diverse policy processes in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Highlights: We developed 4 multi-factor, multi-state socio-economic scenarios for Southeast Asia. Diverse scenarios provide wide possibility space for testing of robust policies. Quantifying scenarios in multiple models is challenging but increases scenario robustness. Using multiple model increases the scenario possibility space.