Assessing household livelihood vulnerability to climate change: The case of Northwest Vietnam

ABSTRACT

This study applied livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) and livelihood effect index (LEI) to assess vulnerability from climate variability and change of three agricultural and natural resources dependent commune in northwest Vietnam, a country that is expected to bear some of the most severe impacts of climate change. Based on a survey of 335 farm household data, complemented with secondary data on climate factors, a composite index was calculated and differential vulnerabilities were compared. The results of the analysis suggest that one of the communities, “Pa Vay Su,” was more vulnerable than the others, particularly in relation to housing, knowledge and skills, socio-demographics, health and water security, social networks, and livelihood strategy. “Hien Luong” commune, on the other hand, was more vulnerable in relation to other LVI indicators with the exception of food security, climate variability, and natural disasters. “Moc Chau” community was more vulnerable in relation to water security, social demographic than Hien Luong commune. Overall, the article shows that three different vulnerability assessment indices can be broadly applied in comparable setting in other areas of country and they could usefully establish the basis for a nationally applicable index to identify and prioritize adaptation and mitigation needs.

KEYWORDS:

• climate change
• livelihood vulnerability index
• livelihood effect index
• vulnerability assessment
• northwest Vietnam

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their sincere thanks to the editor of this journal and the anonymous reviewers for their invaluable comments and suggestions that have significantly improved the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by China National Forestry Project “Benefit monitoring, Evaluation and Optimization on the Sloping Land Conversion Program” 201504424; China National Natural Science Fund 71473195.