Operationalizing analysis of micro-level climate change vulnerability and adaptive capacity

Abstract

This paper explores vulnerability and adaptive capacity of rural communities in Southern Laos, where households are highly dependent on climate-sensitive natural resources and vulnerable to seasonal weather fluctuations. The speed and magnitude of climate-induced changes may seriously challenge their ability to adapt. Participatory group discussions and 271 household surveys in three villages highlight the current level of vulnerability and adaptive capacity towards climatic variability and risks. This paper visualizes three dimensions of the vulnerability framework at two levels using the Community Climate Vulnerability Index and household climate vulnerability cube. Results show that not only poor households are most at risk from climate change challenges, but also those better-off households highly dependent on specialized agricultural production are locally exposed to climate change risks. The majority of vulnerable households are characterized by low adaptive capacity. Floods and drought regularly put the poor under stress, which has led to various coping mechanisms; but capability of applying long-term adaptive strategies remains low among all households. The outcome of the participatory consultation underlines local community preference for an integrated approach to mainstream climate change adaptation into community natural resource management and livelihood improvement that may lead to better adaptive capacity building.

Keywords:

• vulnerability
• climate change
• adaptive capacity
• micro level
• Southeast Asia

Acknowledgement

The Asian Development Bank's GMS Core Environment Program and Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative supported by the Governments of Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands and the PR China's Poverty Reduction Fund must be thanked for the financial assistance in carrying out this study as part of its Activity on: “Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability, and Adaptation in Agriculture Areas in BCI Pilot Sites”. The authors also appreciate assistance provided by Madame Keobang A of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) in Lao PDR, Mr Sodxay of the Provincial Natural Resources Office in Pakse, Ms Sayfah and Mr Thanongkham of MONRE, Mr Anouxay and Mr Saykham from the National University of Laos. Above all, the villagers and district officials in Pathoumphone must be thanked, who generously gave their time for participatory consultations and household surveys. We would also like to thank Anja Byg, Carsten Smith-Hall, Edmond Dounias, Han van Dijk and two anonymous reviewers for their valuable and insightful comments and suggestions on earlier drafts, and the European Commission for the generous support under the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate (EMJD) Programme Forest and Nature for Society (FONASO).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.