MOLLY E. HELLMUTH
Climate Risk Management Expert • 27 Poillon Dr • Chappaqua, NY 10514 •
[email protected] or [email protected] • +1 917 648 7828
EXPERIENCE
11 November 2011
Independent Consultant (8/11 – present):
§ Deputy Manager and Lead Hydrologist, UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme’s (WWAP)
Water Scenarios Project.
§ Expert Instructor, World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations
University and the African Economic Research Consortium’s online course ‘Climate Change Science and
Modeling of Biophysical and Economic Impacts’.
§ Adjunct, International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), Columbia University
International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), Earth Institute, Columbia University
Palisades, New York
Associate Director, Science Policy Outreach (5/11 – 8/11) and Director, Climate and Society Publication
Secretariat and Associate Research Scientist (8/05 – 5/11):
§ Promote climate risk management in relevant public policy fora by providing the scientific basis,
publications and relevant, timely input for decision-making and policy development.
§ Mobilize resources and build relevant strategic research and development practice partnerships.
§ Serve as Principal Investigator on water resources and climate change adaptation related grants.
§ Direct and manage the Climate and Society publication series, including the development of partner
consortiums, policy interactions, donor and knowledge management strategies.
§ Lead on Climate Change Adaptation in Africa project: mentor African water resources PhD student in
developing water resource model, direct IRI climate inputs, enable integrated model assessment (climate,
water and economy) of adaptation strategies.
§ Focal point for disaster risk management: fostering partnerships, research and funding strategies.
UNEP-RISØ Center on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development (URC)
Roskilde, Denmark
Scientist (2/03 – 7/05):
§ Develop tools, capacity and models to improve understanding of water and agricultural investment
strategies in The Gambia and South Africa in light of climate variability and change.
§ Provide expert contributions to climate change adaptation assessments for development agencies.
International Secretariat for the Dialogue on Water and Climate (IS-DWC)
Wageningen, Netherlands
Water Resources Expert (5/02 – 3/03):
§ Organize, develop and contribute to the DWC’s regional, national and basin level round tables and
workshops; synthesize adaptation strategies for policymakers at the 3rd World Water Forum.
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
Laxenburg, Austria (and stationed in Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique)
Research Scholar, Population Project (1/98 – 12/2001):
§ Develop and model water policy and development scenarios for Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique to
aid in prioritization of investments in light of HIV/AIDS and climate change.
EDUCATION
PhD (2002) and MS (1997), Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering,
University of Colorado, Boulder, USA
BS (1995), Dual Major: French and Water Resources, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental
Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
SKILLS
Translation: Technical-to-Layman, Science-to-Practice; Hydrologic, Economic Modeling; Languages: Fluency in
English; Good French, Basic German and Danish
RECOGNITION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
Distinctions: Young Scientist, International Council for Science (2007); Phi Beta Kappa (1995)
Other: Founder of annual charity (derbypokerchampionship.org) benefitting Health and Climate Foundation,
Blessings in a Backpack and Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre (over $100k raised)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Greene, A.M.; Hellmuth, M.E.; Schulze, R. and Lumsden, T. (Submitted). Stochastic decadal simulations for the
Berg River watershed, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Water Resources Research.
Hellmuth, M.E.; Mason, S.; van Aalst, M.; Vaughn, C. and Choularton, R. 2011. A Better Climate for Disaster Risk
Management. Climate and Society No. 3. International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia
University, New York, USA.
Hellmuth, M.E.; Diarra, D.Z.; Vaughan C. and. Cousin, R. 2011. World Resources Report Case Study. Increasing
Food Security with Agrometeorogical Information: Mali’s National Meteorological Service Helps Farmers Manage
Climate Risk. World Resources Report, Washington DC.
Hellmuth, M.E. 2011. World Resources Report Expert Paper Series. Information Needs for Climate Risk
Management. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC.
Hellmuth, M.E.; Williams, J.; Bhojwani, H. and Baethgen, W. 2010. Climate Risk Management: Monitoring,
Assessment, Early Warning and Response. Issues Paper #4. African Development Forum VII: Acting on Climate
Change for Sustainable Development in Africa.
Daly, M.; Balfour, N.; Hellmuth, M.E.; Mason, S. J.; Kirsch-Wood, J. and van Aalst, M. 2010. Findings of the East
Africa Humanitarian Climate Risk Management Workshop. IRI Technical Report 10-05.
Osgood, D. and Hellmuth, M.E. 2010. Annex- Index Insurance and Climate Risk: Prospects for Development and
Disaster Management. IRI Technical Report 10-10.
Hellmuth, M.E.; Osgood, D.E.; Hess, U.; Moorhead, A. and Bhojwani, H. (eds.) 2009. Index Insurance and Climate
Risk: Prospects for Development and Disaster Management. Climate and Society No. 2. International Research
Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University, New York, USA.
Baroang, K.M.; Hellmuth, M.E. and Block, P. 2009. Identifying Uncertainty and Defining Risk in the Context of the
WWDR-4. United Nations World Water Assessment Program.
Björklund, G.; Connor, R.; Goujon, A.; Hellmuth, M.; Moriarty, P.; Rast, W.; Warner, K. and Winpenny, J. 2009.
Chapter 2: Demographic, Economic and Social Drivers. World Water Development Report. Water in a Changing
World. UN Water.
Connor, R.; Gallopín, G.; Hellmuth, M. and Rast, W. 2009. Chapter 5: Climate Change and Possible Futures. World
Water Development Report. Water in a Changing World. UN Water.
Callaway, J.M.; Louw, D.B. and Hellmuth, M.E. 2008. Chapter 14: Benefits and Costs of Measures for Coping with
Water and Climate Change: Berg River Basin, South Africa. In Ludwig, F.; Kabat, P.; van Schaik, H. and van der
Valk, M. (eds.). Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector. Earthscan Books, London, UK, pp. 191-212.
Callaway, J.M.; Louw, D.B.; Nkomo, J.C.; Hellmuth, M.E. and Sparks, D.A.. 2008. Benefits and Costs of Adapting
Water Management to Climate Change and Demand Growth in the Western Cape of South Africa. In Leary, N.;
Adejuwon, J.; Barros, V.; Burton, I. and Lasco, R. (eds), Adaptation to Climate Change. Earthscan, London, UK.
Njie, M., Gomez, B.E., Hellmuth, M.E., Callaway, J.M., Jallow, B.P., Droogers, P. 2008. Making Economic Sense of
Adaptation in Upland Cereal Production Systems in The Gambia. In Leary, N.; Adejuwon, J.; Barros, V.; Burton, I.
and Lasco, R. (eds), Adaptation to Climate Change. Earthscan, London, UK.
Van Aalst, M.; Hellmuth, M. and Ponzi, D. 2007. Come Rain or Shine: Integrating Climate Risk Management into
African Development Bank Group Operations. Tunis, Tunisia: African Development Bank.
Patt, A.G.; Ogallo, L. and Hellmuth, M.E. 2007. Learning from Ten Years of Climate Outlook Forums in Africa.
Science, Vol. 318. No. 5847. pp. 49 - 50.
Hellmuth, M.E.; Moorhead, A.; Thomson, M.C. and Williams, J. (eds) 2007. Climate Risk Management in Africa:
Learning from Practice. Climate and Society No. 1. International Research Institute for Climate and Society,
Columbia University, New York, USA.
Callaway, J. M.; Louw, D.B.; Nkomo, J. C.; Hellmuth, M.E. and Sparks, D.A. 2006. The Berg River Dynamic Spatial
Equilibrium Model: A New Tool for Assessing the Benefits and Costs of Alternatives for
Coping With Water Demand Growth, Climate Variability, and Climate Change in the Western Cape. AIACC
Working Paper No. 31. International START Secretariat, Washington, DC
Njie, M.; Gomez, B.E.;, Hellmuth, M.E.; Callaway, J.M.; Jallow, B.P. and Droogers, P. 2006. Making Economic
Sense of Adaptation in Upland Cereal Production Systems in The Gambia. AIACC Working Paper No. 37,
International START Secretariat, Washington, District of Columbia.
Hellmuth, M.; Yates, D.; Strzepek, K.; Sanderson, W. 2006. An Integrated Population, Economic, and Water
Resources Model to Address Sustainable Development Questions for Botswana. Water International, Vol. 31. No.
2. pp. 183 -197. International Water Resources Association.
Hansen, J.; Hellmuth, M.E.; Thomson, M.C.; Williams, J. (eds). 2006. A Gap Analysis for the Implementation of
the Global Climate Observing System Programme in Africa. IRI Technical Report No. IRI-TR/06/1.
Hellmuth, M.E. and Kabat, P. 2003. Chapter 2: Impacts. In Kabat, P. and van Schaik, H. Climate Changes the Water
Rules: How Water Managers Can Cope with Today’s Climate Variability and Tomorrow’s Climate Change.
International Secretariat of the Dialogue on Water and Climate, Netherlands.
Hellmuth, M.E. and Kabat, P. 2003. Chapter 3: Assessing Vulnerability. In Kabat, P. and van Schaik, H. Climate
Changes the Water Rules: How Water Managers Can Cope with Today’s Climate Variability and Tomorrow’s
Climate Change. International Secretariat of the Dialogue on Water and Climate, Netherlands.
Kabat, P.; Schulze, R.E.; Hellmuth, M.E.; and Veraart, J.A. (eds). 2002. Coping with Impacts of Climate Variability
and Climate Change in Water Management: A Scoping Paper. DWC-Report no. DWCSSO-01. International
Secretariat of the Dialogue on Water and Climate, Netherlands.
Kabat, P.; Schulze, R.E.; Hellmuth, M.E.; Veraart, J.A.; Lenton, R. 2002. Climate Variability and Change and
Freshwater Management. International Review for Environmental Strategies. Vol 3. No 2. pp. 294-302.
Hellmuth, M.E. 2002. PhD Thesis. A Systems Modeling Approach to Population, Economics and Water Resource
Interactions in Botswana: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Government Investment Options. University of Colorado.
Hellmuth, M.E. 2002. The Mozambique Water Model. In Wils, A. (ed.) Population-Development-Environment in
Mozambique. Background Readings. Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. IR02-049.
Hellmuth, M.E. and Sanderson, W.C. 2001. Southern Africa – Water Stressed by 2021? ACP-EU Courier. No. 189.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/publicat/courier/index_189_en.htm
Sanderson, W.C.; Hellmuth, M.E. and Strzepek, K.M. 2001. Botswana's Future: Modeling Population and
Sustainable Development Challenges in the Era of HIV/AIDS. Executive Summary. Laxenburg, Austria:
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
Wils, A.; Da Costa Gaspar, M.; Hellmuth, M.E.; Ibraimo, M.; Prommer, I.I. 2001. Mozambique's Future: Modeling
Population and Sustainable Development Challenges. Executive Summary. Laxenburg, Austria: International
Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
Sanderson, W.C.; Fuller, B.; Hellmuth, M.E.; Strzepek, K.M.; 2001. Namibia's Future: Modeling Population and
Sustainable Development Challenges in the Era of HIV/AIDS. Executive Summary. Laxenburg, Austria:
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
Hellmuth, M.E. 1998. M.S. Thesis. A Dynamic Systems Analysis of Population/Environment Interactions:
Modeling the Regional Water Resources. University of Colorado.
CONTRACTS, GRANTS AND CONSULTANCIES
United Nations World Water Assessment Programme:
§ Current: UN Water Scenarios Project
§
2007- 2011: World Water Development Reports
United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research
§ Current: Expert Instructor ‘Climate Change Science and Modeling of Biophysical and Economic Impacts’
International Resources Group:
§ 2011: Vulnerability assessment expert for the USAID proposal ‘African and Latin America Resilience to
Climate Change’
United Kingdom Department for International Development:
§ 2008-2011: Climate Change Adaptation in Africa
§ 2007: Climate and Society, No. 1
World Resources Institute:
§
2010-2011: Case Study and Expert Paper Series, World Resources Report
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:
§ 2009-2011: Climate and Society No. 3, Support for Technical Advisor in the Field
Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Center:
§ 2009-2010: Climate and Society No. 3, Support for Technical Advisor in the Field
United Nations World Food Program:
§ 2010: Climate and Society No. 3
§ 2010: Climate Change, Food Security and Vulnerability Indicators
United Nations Development Program:
§ 2009: Climate and Society, No. 2
Oxfam America:
§ 2009: Climate and Society, No. 2
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development:
§ 2008: African Partnership Forum Policy Papers
African Development Bank:
§ 2007, 2008: Development of Bank Strategy for Climate Risk Management
UNESCO:
§ 2001: Thematic Leader World Water Development Report ‘Instream Water Use’
Carnegie Mellon University:
§ 2000: Modeling impact of HIV/AIDS on Water Resources and Economy of Botswana
Stockholm Environmental Institute:
§ 2000: Development of Training Water Resources Module
University of Colorado:
§ 1996, 1997: Teaching and Research Assistant
SELECTED POLICY RELATED EVENTS AND INVITED PRESENTATIONS
March 2011. Paarl, South Africa. Final Stakeholder Workshop for Climate Change Adaptation in Africa Project.
Presented Water Resources Findings: “Managing climate risk for agriculture and water resources development in
South Africa.” Partners: Universities of Cape Town, Free State and Pietermaritzburg (South Africa), UNEP-Risoe
Centre.
December 2010. Cancun, Mexico. UNFCCC COP 16. Side Event Organizer and Session Moderator: “Climate
Services and Disaster Risk Management.” Partners: NOAA, IFRC, WFP, OCHA, RC/RC CC.
April 2010. University of Colorado-Boulder’s 2010 Hydrologic Sciences Research Symposium. Keynote Speaker:
“Adapting the Water Paradigm to a Changing World.”
March 2010. Nairobi, Kenya. East Africa Humanitarian Climate Risk Management Workshop. Partners: OCHA,
Kenya Meteorological Services, IFRC.
December 2009. Copenhagen, Denmark. UNFCCC COP 15. Side Event Organizer and Session Chair: “Climate
Risk Insurance.” Partner: MCII.
November 2009. UN HQ Climate Change Seal the Deal Briefing. Expert Panelist: “Global Action to Seal the Deal
on a New Climate Change Agenda".
September 2009. New York, New York, USA. Munich Climate Insurance Initiative Side Event to the UN Climate
Change Talks. Expert Panelist: “How Risk Reduction and Insurance Strengthen the Adaptation Package in a
Copenhagen Agreement".
August 2009. WMO World Climate Conference 3. Side Session Organizer: “Disaster Risk Management: Challenges
and Opportunities Using Climate Information.” Partners: ACMAD, NOAA, IFRC.
July 2009. Denver, Colorado, USA. NOAA Climate Working Group Climate Information Products and
Applications Program Review. Expert Panelist Water Resources, Presented: “Climate as a Resource for Water
Management”.
July 2009. London, UK. International Institute for Strategic Studies Transatlantic Dialogue on Climate Change and
Security Roundtable Workshop: Conflict and Competition over Changing Water Resources. Expert Panelist Water
Resources, Presented: “Factoring Climate Change into Water Security”.
June 2009. Bonn, Germany. UNFCCC Climate Change Talks, MCII side event on Climate Risk Insurance.
Presented: “Climate and Society Publication 2: Key Findings about Index Based Microinsurance, Risk Reduction
and Adaptation.”
June 2009. Geneva, Switzerland. Global Humanitarian Forum. Publication Launch. Moderator and Organizer:
“Index Insurance and Climate Risk: Prospects for Development and Disaster Management.” Partners: Swiss Re and
MicroEnsure.
March 2009. Rome, Italy. IFAD-WFP Roundtable on Protecting and Promoting Rural Livelihoods. Expert
Contributor: The Potential of Index-Based Insurance.
December 2008. Poznan, Poland. UNFCCC COP 14. Side Event Organizer and Session Chair: “Climate Risk
Insurance.” Partner: MCII.
November 2008. Hyderabad, India. BASIX, WFP and IFAD -hosted Weather Index Insurance Seminar. Expert
Contributor.
October 2008. Brussels, Belgium. World Bank CRMG Meeting of the International Task Force on Commodity Risk
Management. Session Chair: “Outreach and Way Forward.”
October 2008. Palisades, New York, USA. Moderator and Workshop Organizer: “Technical Issues in Index
Insurance”. Partner: CRED.
April 2008. Perugia, Italy. UN World Water Development Report Planning and Strategy Meetings. Integration
Meeting. Expert Contributor on Water and Climate.
June 2008. Geneva, Switzerland. Global Humanitarian Forum. Organized: “Index Insurance Roundtable”. Partner:
Swiss Re.
January 2008. Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen Congress on Climate Change – Global Risks, Challenges and
Decisions. Parallel session No. 42: “Adaptation and Climate Risk Insurance”. Presented: Climate Risk Insurance:
Opportunities for Poverty Reduction and Adaptation.
November 2007. Paris, France. UN World Water Development Report Consultations. Expert Contributor on Water
and Climate.
April 2007. Lindau, Germany. International Council for Science hosted conference on Global Scientific Challenges:
Perspectives from Young Scientists. Presented: “Connecting Science to Policy and Development: Climate Risk
Management in Africa.”
December 2007. Bali, Indonesia. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Convention
(UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) 13. African Development Bank Side Session. Presented: “Towards a
Bank Group Climate Risk Management Strategy: Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Bank Group
Operations.”
December 2007. Bali, Indonesia. UNFCCC COP 13. Development and Climate Days. Presented: “IRI/IFRC: A
Partnership to Save Lives.”
November 2007. Tunis, Tunisia. African Development Bank Consultative Workshop. Organized and Presented:
“Towards a Bank Group Climate Risk Management Strategy: Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Bank
Group Operations.”
January 2007. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 8th African Union Heads of State Summit. Organized Climate and Society
Publication No. 1 Launch: “Climate Risk Management in Africa: Learning from Practice.” Partners: UNECA, AU,
AfDB.
November 2006. Nairobi, Kenya. UNFCCC 12th Conference of the Parties. Side Session Organizer: “Climate Risk
Management for Development in Africa.” Partners GCOS, UNECA, AU, AfDB.
May 2006. London, United Kingdom. The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change hosted the Stern
Review Workshop on Climate Impacts and the Economics of Adaptation. Presented: “Climate Risk Management
for Development: Economic Considerations.”
March 2006. Nairobi, Kenya. International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) workshop on Climate
Adaptation Challenges: Building Capacity for African Based Research. Presented: “Research Needs for Addressing
Climate and Water Resources.”
August 2006. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. CILSS Planning Meeting. Presented: “Gestion du Risque Climatique en
Afrique : Ce que la Pratique nous Enseigne”.
January 2006. New York, New York, USA. Organized: Columbia University-hosted High Level Panel Discussion:
“Climate and Development in Africa”.
January 2005. Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) hosted the International
Workshop on Community Level Adaptation to Climate Change. Presented: “Adapting to Climate Change in the
Water Resources and Agricultural Sectors: The Berg River Case Study”.
March 2004. Kathmandu, Nepal. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and the Himalayan Climate
Centre (HCC) sponsored Conference on Adaptation to Climate Change in Mountain Ecosystems: Bridging
Research and Policy. Presented: “Capacity Building in Analytical Tools for Estimating and Comparing Costs and
Benefits of Adaptation Projects”.
August 2003. Snowmass, Colorado. Energy Modeling Forum (EMF) sponsored Workshop on Climate Change
Impacts and Integrated Assessment (Workshop IX). Presented: “Capacity Building in Analytical Tools for
Estimating and Comparing Costs and Benefits of Adaptation Projects in Africa- An AIACC Project” and “An
Integrated Demographic, Economic and Water Resource Systems Model of Botswana: A Socio-Economic Analysis
of the Impacts of Investments in Water Supply and Sanitation and HIV/AIDS Prevention”.
October 2002. Mexico City, Mexico. Water for the Americas in the 21st Century. Thematic Session: Climate Change
and Environmental Risk Management of Extreme Hydrometeorological Events. Presented: “Water-Related
Disasters in Latin America: The Poorest Pay the Highest Price”.
September 2002. Johannesburg, South Africa. Dialogue on Water and Climate Waterdome Session. Presented:
“Water-Related Natural Disasters: The Poorest Pay the Highest Price”.
July 2002. Sigatoka, Fiji Islands. From Vision to Action: Towards Sustainable Water Resources Management in the
Pacific. High-Level Consultation Meeting. Presented: “The Dialogue on Water and Climate in the Pacific Island
States”.
March 2001. Windhoek, Namibia; Gaborone, Botswana; and Maputo, Mozambique. Science Policy Dialogue on
Sustainable Development Challenges in the Context of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic: Results of an EU-sponsored
Research Project on Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique. Presented: “HIV/AIDS, Water and Sustainable
Development: Results of Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique.”
May 2000. Panang, Malaysia. Asian Population Network Conference. Presented: “Water and Development: Push or
Pull.”