Limited room For manoeuvre - Climate Change Adaptation and Development: Transforming Paradigms and Practices - page 256

table 14.2 Climate change, impact, vulnerability context, livelihood and adaptation strategies and room for manoeuvre in the five case studies

Place Bolivian Andes Colombian Amazon Nicaragua's Carib coast Syrian steppe Central and Southern Tunisia

People Aymara Uinane and Uitoto Miskitu and Garífuna Bedu Bedu

Climate
change a and
general impact

Increasing mean
temperatures, causing
drought and glacier retreat;
variations in seasonality
marked by changes in
patterns and intensity of
rainfall, hailstorms, frosts.

Severe climatic changes
occurring in the Amazon, b
causing drought and
irregularity of seasons,
profoundly affecting
tropical forests.

Increased intensity of
extreme events, especially
hurricanes, endangering
entire ecosystems, and
human lives. Gradual
warming and acidification
of the oceans threaten the
viability of the mangroves
and coral reefs.

Greatest warming in
summer night-time
temperatures, widespread
warming of average
and extreme minimum
temperatures across the
region, increased water
scarcity.

Combined impact of
increasing temperatures,
reduced and variable
precipitation and sea-level
rise (increasing salt-water
intrusion) are projected to
increase water scarcity and
frequency of droughts and
flooding.

Vulnerability
context:
climate
change impact
on livelihood
assets

Losses in production
and profitability due
to: increase in crop and
livestock pests and diseases;
reduced ability to produce
small-scale crops due to
shorter season and fewer
viable locations; loss of
wildlife. People express
resignation to the situation
and fatalism about the
future of life as they know
it.

Previously regular flow
of rivers now out of sync
with seasonal events that
directly affect livelihoods;
unprecedented changes in
the timing of frosts, heavy
rains and drought disrupt
the agricultural cycle.
Traditional knowledge and
practices become obsolete
under the influence of
climate change; severe
social, political and
institutional impact.

Increased intensity of
storms decreases access
to natural resources
(fisheries, forests, arable
land), and destroys
infrastructure and personal
belongings. Greatly
increased vulnerability of
communities relying on
mangroves and coral reefs.

Disturbances in seasonal
rhythms affect the viability
of crop and livestock
production and the
availability of food foraged
from the wild. Longer dry
seasons reduce the length
of time that herds can graze
the land. Loss of social and
cultural assets that are vital
to migration as a livelihood
strategy and to community
resilience.

Seasonal cycle of
arboriculture species is
affected by temperature
peaks. Oases are
particularly vulnerable
to water scarcity and
encroachment by urban
areas and sand dunes.
Feelings of shame and
uncertainty make people
unwilling to ask for loans
as they would have done in
the past.