ghana climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment

Indicator DescriptionDistance fromdrinking waterThe percentage of totalhouseholds within adistrict that travel ≥30minutes for drinkingwaterDistance fromfood marketThe percentage of totalhouseholds within adistrict that travel ≥30minutes to reach a foodmarketFemale-headedhouseholdsThe percentage of totalhouseholds within adistrict that are headedby a femaleIlliteracy The percentage of thedistrict’s total population> 15 years of age that isilliterate. Illiteracy isdefined as the inability toData source andyearImpact onvulnerabilityCWIQ II High percentageincreasesvulnerabilityCWIQ II High percentageincreasesvulnerabilityCWIQ II High percentageincreasesvulnerability2000 Census High percentageincreasesvulnerabilityRelevance for climate change socialvulnerabilityThe non-availability of clean water is indicative ofpoor overall physical infrastructure and poorsanitation (Adger et al., 2004). Additionally,households forced to travel ≥30 minutes to fetchwater are also severely constrained by the timecommitment and less likely to have extra time to puttowards adaptation activities that might strengthentheir well being in times of crisis. Climate-inducedchange in water availability may cause households totravel even farther for drinking water, increasinghousehold stress.Households that must travel ≥30 minutes to reach afood market are much more isolated and likely morevulnerable. Limited access to commercialinfrastructure limits opportunities to sell excessproduce or livestock or engage in otherentrepreneurial activities in times of crisis (Adger etal., 2004). Isolation also makes it difficult for aiddistribution programs to provide relief in responseto disasters like droughts, floods or famines. Lessconnection to outside villages indicates a smallerdomestic social support network for families to fallback on in times of need.Households headed by females often have a moredifficult time recovering from environmentaldisasters due to employment limitations, lowerwages, and family care responsibilities (USC, 2000;Eriksen et al., 2007). In Ghana, women depend moreon agricultural work and have limited access tocapital and property, making it increasingly difficultfor female headed households to diversify in the faceof needed adaptation or otherwise compete forresources.Education is associated with poverty andmarginalization – the least educated and lowerskilled members of a society are likely to be themost vulnerable to climate hazards in terms oflivelihoods and geographical location, dependingOther studies usingthis (or somethingsimilar) as anindicator of climatechange socialvulnerabilityGlobal EnvironmentalRisk, 2001Brooks et al., 2005Haan et al., 2001Adger et al., 2004Global EnvironmentalRisk, 2001Brooks et al., 2005Haan et al., 2001Eriksen et al., 2007Adger et al., 2004Social Vulnerability forEnvironmentalHazards, 2000 (USC)Global EnvironmentalRisk, 2001Brooks et al., 2005Haan et al., 2001Eriksen et al., 2007Social Vulnerability forEnvironmentalHazards, 2000 (USC)HISGHANA CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTATION ASSESSMENT 121