Climate Fluctuations, Demography and Development: Insights and Opportunities for Northeast Brazil

The international community has the capacity to predict shifts in seasonal rainfall and temperature for many regions of the tropics. The ability to forecast probable shifts a season to a year ahead is an important scientific breakthrough that offers the potential to help vulnerable tropical regions to cope better with natural variations that greatly affect the livelihoods of populations. Skillful climate forecasts can also help advance environmentally sustainable development over the longer term. Regional climate information systems require more comprehensive and informed development to build the trust that is critical to the use of climate information to inform decision-making in challenging environments. Increased understanding of climate-influence may aid decision opportunities, specifically for the case of Northeast Brazil.