Southern Africa is predicted to be severely affected by climate change and is considered a priority area for creating an enabling environment for adaptation. As such, scientific investigation exploring the impacts of climate change and variability through the analysis of existing data and the development of state-of-the-art models needs to be given more attention in southern Africa to improve our understanding of impacts and hence improve our ability to adapt. Furthermore, the demand for such scientific products from on-the-ground managers and planners is high but is seldom met. Extension of the South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas into the SADC Region In South Africa, the Department of Science and Technology has funded the creation of an atlas of local risk and vulnerability within a global change context. The objective of the Atlas is to equip decision-makers with information on the impact and risk of climate change and variability in the region within a risk and vulnerability context. Acknowledging that climate and other environmental changes may impact many sectors of Southern African society, the Atlas is intended to act in a complementary manner to other initiatives providing decision-makers with information on the impact and risk associated with climate change.

SADC Risk and Vulnerability Handbook now available The Climate Risk and Vulnerability Handbook for Southern Africa, edited by CSIR researcher Claire Davis, is now available for download. Hard copy versions will be available for purchase from www.kalahari.com. Funded by USAID, with the support of the Department of Science and Technology, the book was compiled with inputs from the CSIR, the Climate Systems Analysis Group at the University of Cape Town and researchers from Kulima Integrated Development Solutions as well as other contributing authors from around the subcontinent. The Handbook is structured according to four key questions dealing with observations of past, current and future climate, the likely impacts of such climate changes in key sectors and how countries in the southern African development community could begin to deal with these risks and potential adverse impacts. The Handbook was designed to be easily accessible with illustrations, maps and information boxes to ensure that key messages are communicated effectively. Case studies drawn from a wide range of activities and organisations operative in the region are used to identify key impacts and to illustrate how climate risks are successfully being managed in southern Africa.