2. Enhancing Adaptive Capacity and Equity

CLIMATE CHANGE andSustainable Development:Enhancing Adaptive Capacityand EquityJuan M. Pulhin, Ph.D.Professor and UP Scientist IIUniversity of the Philippines Los Baños2009 Advanced Training Workshop in Southeast Asia RegionalClimate Change and Health IssuesTainan, TaiwanNovember 12-21, 21, 2009

Overview of the PresentationDefinition of TermsDeterminants of Adaptive CapacityAdaptive Capacity and EquityLimits and Barriers to Adaptationand Adaptive CapacityStrengthening Adaptive Capacity inSEA

AdaptationDefinitionsAdjustment t in natural orhuman systems in response toactual or expected climaticstimuli or their effectsmay increase resilience andcapacity to copereduces adverse effects andcapitalize on opportunitiesBut mal-adaptation canexacerbate vulnerability

Examples of multilevel adaptive measures for some anticipatedheath outcomes of fglobal climate change (Patz, 1996)

Summary of Key Adaptation Options in theHealth Sector in SEA (ADB 2009)

Places of adaptation in the climatechange issue (Smitet al., 1999)

VulnerabilityDefinitionspropensity of human andecological systems to sufferharm and their ability torespond to stresses imposedas a result of climate changeeffectsSociety’s vulnerability –influenced by its developmentpath, physical exposures, thedistribution of resources, priorstresses and social andgovernment institutions

Determinants of Adaptive CapacityPersonal attributesEducationIncomeKnowledge, etc.Economic developmentProvides greater access toresources and technologyTechnologyTechnological adaptationsnormally developed thru research

Determinants of Adaptive CapacitySocial factorssocial capital, social networksvalues, perceptions, customs,traditions and levels ofcognitionGovernance structurespoliciesinstitutional mechanism andsupport

Factors Affecting Effectiveness of AdaptationStrategies during El Nino (Pulhin et al 2009)Predictors Crop Yield 1 HH Income 2 Farm water 3Access to hospital ‐21Access to road ‐85 1.55 1.64Access to municipal ii office 034 0.34 069 0.69Farm access to house ‐0.86Farm access to marketAwareness on climatevariability 652 6.52 281 2.81Ownership of land 8.36No. of coping mechanisms 507 5.07Organizationalmembership 587 5.87 10.83* 1 Off-farm work; 2 Look for alternative food sources; 3 Get from other sources13

Factors Affecting Effectiveness of AdaptationStrategies during El Nino (Pulhin et al 2009)Predictors Crop Yield 1 HH Income 2 Farm water 3Financial barrier 49.75Socio‐cultural barrier 7.04 38.65Technological barrier 12.9 24.04Institutional barrier ‐14.4Other barriers ‐11.9R Square 0.52 0.39 0.34R 0.72 0.63 058 0.58(Constant) 22.21 40.80 30.03• To a certain extent, the presence of financial, socio-cultural andtechnological barriers may not necessarily limit the effectiveness ofadaptation strategies• Absence of /reduced institutional and other barriers tend to facilitateeffective adaptation14

Adaptive Capacity and EquityAdaptive capacity is uneven acrosscountriesLow AdaptiveCapacity???Champagne Metaphor of Global disparityHigh AdaptiveCapacity

Adaptive capacity and EquityAdaptive capacity isuneven within nationsdue to multiple stressesDistricts in India that rankhighest in terms ofvulnerability to: (a) climatechange and (b) importcompetition associatedwith iheconomicglobalisation, areconsidered to be doubleexposed (depicted withhatching). Adapted fromO’Brien et al. (2004).16

Adaptive Capacity and EquitySocial and economicprocesses determine thedistribution of adaptivecapacitylocal-level adaptivecapacity are contextspecificshaped by socialnetworks and institutionsi iadaptive capacity is alsodifferentiated by age,class, gender, health andsocial status17

Adaptive capacity and EquitySmall farmers in the Philippines are more vulnerableGroups Impacts Degree ofVulnerability(-) ImpactsBetter-off↓ production &Better copingfarmers income; ↔ food,mechanism - lowlivelihood, healthvulnerability↓ production,Poor coping“Little” farmers food, livelihood,mechanism – highhealth; more debtvulnerabilityEmployeesBusiness-persons (smallscale)↑ price ofcommodities↓ in sales“Average” copingmechanism –moderately vul.“Average” copingmechanism –moderately vul.18

LOCATION OF VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND PLACES IN BRGY. D.L.MAGLANOC, CARRANGLANF.C. OTICNORTHTO SAN JOSE PROVINCIAL ROAD TO CONVERSION Pantabangan N.E.MUN. HALLRESIDENTIALRESIDENTIALRESIDENTIALSAN VICENTERESIDENTIALG.S. ROSA ARIOSAN FRANCISCO ST.RESIDENTIALSAN JOAQUINLEGEND :BETTER-OFF FARMERSSAN BALTAZAR ST.“SMALL” FARMERSEMPLOYEESMALBANG CREEKBUSINESSPERSONSVULNERABLE AREAS

“Small farmers” in the Philippines has less effectiveadaptation strategies due to a combination of factorsGroupsBetter-offfarmers“Little”farmersStrategiesStore food and farminputs“5-6” loan; borrowfrom relatives; plantvegetables alongriver/other crops; workin nearby town; seekoverseas employment;engage in other jobsEffectivenessEffectiveSomeeffective;othersnotEmployeesAvail of loan; backyardEffectiveproject (e.g. piggery)Recommen-dationsLivelihood project;coop development;financial asstnce;estab. of GrainAgency accessibleto the poorBusiness- Store food supply and Effective “Price watch” topersons other farm inputsregulate prices(small-scale)

Limits and Barriers to Adaptation &Adaptive CapacityAdaptation ti will not necessarilymake the aggregate impacts ofclimate change negligible ibl orbeneficialIt can’t be assumed that allavailable adaptation measureswill actually be takenHigh adaptive capacity may notautomatically translate intosuccessful adaptations toclimate change21

Limits and Barriers to Adaptation &Adaptive CapacityPhysical and EcologicallLimitsmay have critical thresholdsbeyond which some systemsmay not be able to adapt tochanging g climate conditionsDramatic climatic changesmay lead to transformationsof the physical environmentof a region that limit thepossibilities for adaptation22

Limits and Barriers to Adaptation &Technological LimitsAdaptive Capacitydecision-making underuncertainty may inhibit theadoption or development oftechnological solutions toclimate change adaptationtechnologies not equallyaccessible to all, and cancontribute to inequalitieswithin the community throughdifferential access toresources23

Limits and Barriers to Adaptation &Financial barriersAdaptive CapacityFinancial barriers frominternational to local level limitsimplementation of adaptationmeasuresDeep financial poverty is afactor that constrains the useof seemingly gyinexpensivehealth measures, such asinsecticide-treated bed nets24

Reasons for adaptation and examples ofadaptation barriers of Philippine farmersADAPTATION REASONS BARRIERSPrayingVery effective, normal habit,None, no costGet water from othersourceAsset disposalOff‐farm workConstruction ofirrigation drainage/canaldone in combination with hard involvedworkAvailable in the nearby Costly, laborstreams/ creeks, continuous intensive, pipes aresupply of water especially for prone to theftvegetablesDepends on needs, easily Sold at a very lowdisposed, easy income sourcepriceAdditional income for the Skills dependent,family although may be limited, limitedno/ low cost involvedopportunities,costly/ high pricePrevent soil erosion, conserve Laborious, timesoil, no/ low costs involvedconsuming, capitalintensive

Limits and Barriers to Adaptation &Information andcognitive barriersAdaptive CapacityIndividuals’ interpretation ofinformation is mediated bypersonal and societal valuesand priorities, personalexperience and othercontextual factorsPerceptions of climatechange risks are differing27

Limits and Barriers to Adaptation &Information andcognitive barriersAdaptive CapacityPerceptions of vulnerabilityand adaptive capacity areimportantAppealing to fear and guiltdoes not motivateappropriate adaptivebehaviour28

Limits and Barriers to Adaptation &Social and culturalbarriersIndividuals and groupsmay have different risktolerances as well asdifferent preferencesabout adaptationmeasures, depending ontheir worldviews, valuesand beliefs.Adaptive Capacity29

Strengthening Adaptive Capacityin Southeast Asia (ADB 2009)requires mainstreaming climatechange adaptation in developmentplanning, that is:making it an integral part ofsustainable development, povertyreduction and disaster riskmanagement strategies.

Strengthening Adaptive Capacityin Southeast Asia (ADB 2009)Stepping up efforts to raise publicawareness of climate change and its impact;Undertaking more research to betterunderstand climate change, its impact, andsolutions, especially at local levels;Enhancing policy and planning coordinationacross ministries and different levels ofgovernment for climate change adaptation;

Strengthening Adaptive Capacityin Southeast Asia (ADB 2009)Adopting a more holistic approach tobuilding the adaptive capacity of vulnerablegroups and localities and their resilience toshocks; andDeveloping and adopting more proactive,systematic, and integrated approaches toadaptation in key sectors that are cost-effective and that offer durable and longtermsolutions.

Strengthening Adaptive Capacityin Southeast Asia (ADB 2009)Carefullyconsideringadaptationbarriers and maladaptationthatcan furtherincreasevulnerability andexacerbateinequity33

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