11.8 Key uncertainties and research priorities

Assessment of impacts is hampered because of uncertainty in climate change projections at the local level (e.g., in rainfall, rate of sea-level rise and extreme weather events). Research priorities for these are identified in the IPCC Working Group I Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC, 2007). Other uncertainties stem from an incomplete knowledge of natural and human system dynamics, and limited knowledge of adaptive capacity, constraints and options (Allen Consulting Group, 2005). More needs to be done to assess vulnerability within a risk-assessment framework. Based on the information presented in this Chapter, the main research priorities are assessed to fall into four categories: