Strategic Contributions to Extreme Climate Change: The Innovation Helixes as a Link Among the Short, Medium and Long-Terms

Abstract

Technology innovations have been introduced with a velocity unknown in the past during these last years. For that, the joint efforts of universities, industry and government have been vital. This approach has been called “Triple Helix”. After this elaboration, a strategic approach of a “Quadruple Helix,” has been proposed which also includes the civil society. This approach could be extended to include international organizations and the media in general, whose influences go beyond national borders, although they do have an important national incidence within any country. This document identifies the lessons learnt from the vulnerability of Guatemala and the activities needed to face the effects of extreme climate change. An adaptation strategy is outlined, based on the extended “Quadruple Helix”. However, the actions towards mitigation measures are also to be well kept and efforts have to be made in the short and medium terms in the whole spectrum of climate change. The perspective elaborated here examines these strategic approaches and their application in Guatemala, the vulnerabilities of the country before extreme climate change, the attitudes of the different actors towards these threats, the coordination of strategies that take into account the four helixes approach, and the lessons that might be inferred from its implementation. Lastly, this reflection aims to design an appropriate agenda to face extreme climate changes in the short, medium and long-terms by showing their links throughout time.