Adapting to climate change
Empirical field-based
research
Empirical field-based research
will look at livelihood response and adaptation strategies to provide a place-based
analysis of the critical factors promoting or constraining adaptation. This will
primarily be NR-based and farming assessments, livelihood profiling, mapping of
decision-making, social networking and measures of social resilience (using various
social survey methodologies, including participatory resource base surveys, semi-structured
questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and stakeholder analysis).
The central issues are:
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current adaptive
strategies of institutions and households to risks caused by NR base variability
due to climate changes and land degradation;
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How adaptive
strategies may vary in relation to the magnitude and duration of NR base disturbance,
livelihood diversity, and natural, human and social capital assets
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Whether there
are social and institutional triggers that lead to the onset of adaptive strategies
or criticality (where criticality relates to the extent or rate of environmental
change precluding the continuation of livelihood systems, given feasible adaptations
and societal capabilities to respond. These triggers may be cumulative (linking
to thresholds) or event-based (linking to disaster management) and might include
whether external interventions are in some cases necessary to prompt adaptation
or whether institutional arrangements or the actions of individuals are essential
for their occurrence)
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The dynamics
and composition of institutional and individual resilience and vulnerability to
these NR changes, including thresholds of change above which the capacity of institutions
to adapt is diminished (e.g. via capital transfers or exploiting new opportunities)
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Whether local
level autonomous adaptation is in practice a process that reinforces current inequalities
in access and entitlements to natural resources thereby maintaining or even exacerbating
the vulnerability of marginalised sections of society
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The role
of justice and equity issues operating across the gradient and specifically aiming
at identify dimensions of social differentiation and vulnerability to climate
change, such that issues of equity and justice in processes and patterns of response
to climate change can be assessed.
Copyright
© 2004-2012 ADAPTIVE, School of Geography and the Environment,
University of Oxford. Original website design and information provided by Dr H. Osbahr
 
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