Climate change: vulnerability and adaptive capacity. Presentation delivered at the "Mekong Environment and Climate Symposium," 26-27 April, 2010.

1. Climate change:
vulnerability &
adaptive capacity
inroads to understanding
Dr. Charles Ehrhart
CARE International
Climate Change Coordinator
ehrhart@careclimatechange.org
www.careclimatechange.org
27th April, 2010
presentation to the Mekong Environment & Climate Symposium
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2. regional impacts
‣ increasing temperatures
‣ changing rainfall patterns
‣ increasing frequency & intensity of
extreme weather
‣ shrinking glaciers
‣ (and, eventually, sea-level rise)
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Climate change presents additional obstacles to ending poverty and achieving social justice. Rising temperatures, increasingly erratic rainfall, and more
frequent and severe floods, cyclones and droughts all have significant consequences for the livelihood security of poor people. Development professionals are
seeing first-hand the effects of a changing climate on their work around the world.

3. climate change in context
‣ negative synergies with other
environmental changes
‣ + rapidly growing populations...
‣ ... with limited room to maneuver
‣ ... dated frames of reference
‣ ... and weak cooperation between key
stakeholders (levels & cross-border)
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4. adaptation
“Adjustment in natural or human
systems in response to actual or
expected climatic stimuli or their effects,
which moderates harm or exploits
beneficial opportunities..”
‣ its a process
‣ must engage wide range of
stakeholders at multiple levels
‣ requires analysis of current and
future impacts
‣ requires an understanding of
vulnerability
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Adaptation is defined as, “Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or
exploits beneficial opportunities.” The adaptation of human systems is a process that requires the engagement of a wide range of stakeholders at multiple levels
and in multiple sectors. It requires analysis of current exposure to climate shocks and stresses, and model-based analysis of future climate impacts. It demands
an understanding of the existing vulnerability of individuals, households, and communities. With this information, adaptation strategies can be designed and
implemented. Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of activities, as well as sharing knowledge and lessons learnt, are critical components of the
process.

5. vulnerability
Exposure
V.
Adaptive
Sensitivity
Capacity
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In order to reduce people’s vulnerability to climate change, we must understand who is vulnerable to its effects and why. Then, we must apply this information to
the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities. CARE’s approach to climate change adaptation is grounded in the knowledge that people must
be empowered to transform and secure their rights and their livelihoods. It also recognizes the critical role that local and national institutions, as well as public
policies, play in shaping people’s adaptive capacity.
Vulnerability to climate change has been defined as, “The degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change,
including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate variation to which a system is exposed, its
sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity.”
Exposure to climate variation is primarily a function of geography. For example, coastal communities will have higher exposure to sea level rise and cyclones,
while communities in semi-arid areas may be most exposed to drought. Sensitivity is the degree to which the community is affected by climatic stresses. A
community dependent on rain-fed agriculture is much more sensitive than one where the main livelihood strategy is labour in a mining facility, for instance.

6. adaptive capacity
Human: Knowledge of climate risks,
cons. agriculture skills, good health
Social: Women’s savings and loans
groups, farmer-based organizations
Physical: Irrigation infrastructure, seed
and grain storage facilities
Natural: Reliable water source,
productive land
Financial: Micro-insurance, diversified
income sources
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In order to reduce vulnerability to climate change, we must focus on building adaptive capacity, particularly of the most vulnerable people; and, in some cases, on
reducing exposure or sensitivity to climate impacts.
Adaptive capacity is defined as, “The ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes) to moderate potential damages, to
take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences.” One of the most important factors shaping the adaptive capacity of individuals,
households and communities is their access to and control over natural, human, social, physical, and financial resources.
Access to and control over the resources necessary for adaptation varies within countries, communities and even households. It is influenced by external
factors such as policies, institutions and power structures. Adaptive capacity can vary over time based on changing conditions, and may differ in relation to
particular hazards.
In general, the world’s poorest people are also the most vulnerable to climate change. This is often because they have limited access to those resources that
would facilitate adaptation. For instance, women are often particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their responsibilities in the home and
their limited access to information, resources and services. Other groups such as pastoralists, persons living with HIV&AIDS and the elderly may also represent
highly vulnerable populations. The CVCA facilitates identification of vulnerable groups and targeting of adaptation strategies depending on the context.

7. adaptation vs. coping
Coping Adaptation
‣ Short-term and immediate ‣ Oriented towards longer term livelihood
security
‣ Oriented towards survival
‣ A continuous process
‣ Not continuous
‣ Results are sustained
‣ Motivated by crisis... reactive
‣ Uses resources efficiently and sustainably
‣ Often degrades resource base
‣ Involves planning
‣ Prompted by lack of alternatives
‣ Combines old & new strategies/knowledge
‣ Focused on finding alternatives
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The terms “adaptation” and “coping” are sometimes used interchangeably, leading to confusion about the similarities and differences in these two important
concepts. The following lists of characteristics are a compilation of brainstorming sessions by groups of development practitioners in Ghana, Niger and Nepal.

8. Community-Based Adaptation (CBA)
‣ analysis of local vulnerability and
adaptive capacity is crucial...
‣ ... as is recognition of differentiation
between and within households
‣ building resilience must be
“community-based” (i.e. “of” and “by”
the people... not just “for”)
‣ growing number of tools and
methodologies for community-level
analysis and action planning
(including CARE’s CVCA tool)
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9. ecosystems in the context of CBA
‣ Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EBA)
≠ Community-based adaptation (CBA)
‣ CBA puts communities at the centre
of adaptation planning and action
‣ the adaptation of ecosystems has a
important role to play in CBA
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10. linking decision-makers at community and higher levels
‣ CBA processes must link with decision-
makers & decision-making processes at
higher levels
‣ adaptation planning and finance must
be participatory, transparent and
accountable (PTA)
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11. resilience
“The ability of a community to resist,
absorb, and recover from the effects of
hazards in a timely and efficient manner,
preserving or restoring its essential basic
structures, functions and identity”
‣ = ability to avoid damage and/or to
bounce back
‣ resilience varies within households
and communities
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Resilience can be defined as, “The ability of a community to resist, absorb, and recover from the effects of hazards in a timely and efficient manner, preserving or
restoring its essential basic structures, functions and identity.”
Resilience is a familiar concept in the context of disaster risk reduction (DRR), and is increasingly being discussed in the realm of adaptation. A resilient
community is well-placed to manage hazards to minimize their effects and/or to recover quickly from any negative impacts, resulting in a similar or improved state
as compared to before the hazard occurred. There are strong linkages between resilience and adaptive capacity; consequently, resilience also varies greatly for
different groups within a community.

12. axes of action
‣ human condition: improving human
development & quality of life
‣ social position: improving social equity
& inclusive societies
‣ enabling environment: creating
inclusive and accountable institutions
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In order to build resilience, it is necessary to:
Improve Human Conditions: Support efforts to ensure that people’s basic needs are met and that they attain livelihood security with regard to such needs.
Improve Social Positions: Support people’s efforts to take control of their lives and fulfill their rights, responsibilities and aspirations. Supporting efforts to end
inequality and discrimination.
Create a Sound Enabling Environment: Support efforts to create a sound enabling environment – public, private, civic and social institutions – that is responsive
to, and inclusive of, constituents and that fosters just and equitable societies.

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http://www.careclimatechange.org
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