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Assessing vulnerability: linking livelihoods & climate
Gina Ziervogel, Emma Archer & Anna Taylor
Overview
• Concepts– Vulnerability, risk & hazards– Different vulnerability approaches– Conceptual frameworks of vulnerability– Livelihoods
• Assessing livelihood vulnerability– Hands-on exercise after tea
Vulnerability definition
• Origin: vulnerare – to wound• Definitions
– Your version– Numerous ‘academic’ versions
• Susceptibility to loss/shocks and stresses impact negatively
• Vulnerability is dynamic– Over space and time– Multiple stresses
3 dimensions to vulnerability
• Exposure to stresses, perturbations and shocks• Sensitivity of people, places and ecosystems to
stress/perturbation, And• Resilience of the exposed people, places and
ecosystems– That is their ability to recover from the stress and– To buffer themselves against– And to adapt to future stress and perturbations
(source: Kasperson et al 2003)
Wide range of vulnerabilities…
Vulnerability affects who/what?
• “Vulnerability is a characteristic of all people, ecosystems and regions confronting environmental or socio-economic stresses and although the level of vulnerability varies widely, it is generally higher among poor people”– SEI Poverty & Vulnerability website (
www.sei.se)
Difference between poverty & vulnerability
• Poverty– ‘Well-being’ or people as well as ‘enough’IncomeMeasure of current statusNot hazard specific
• Vulnerability– Focus on social and economic obstacles– Forward-looking (dynamic, how might this vulnerability
evolve into the future? Next week’s scenario exercise)
• “Natural hazards are a part of life. But hazards only become disasters when people’s lives and livelihoods are swept away.” (Kofi Annan 2003)
Vulnerability perspectives
Conceptual frameworks for vulnerability research
Vulnerability space
Systems thinking & resilience…
Livelihood vulnerability
• To climate variability and change
Livelihoods definition
• A livelihood ‘comprises the capabilities, assets (stories, resources, claims and access) and activities required for a means of living;…a livelihood is sustainable which can cope with and recover from stress and shocks, maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets, and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for the next generation’.
• (Chambers & Conway 1992)
The five assets
• Human assets: skills, knowledge and info, ability to work, health– E.g. HH1 – 2 members with accountancy
degrees– HH2 – 2 strong sons who are able to farm
• Natural assets: land, water, wildlife, biodiversity, environment– Resource stocks useful for livelihoods
The five assets
• Financial assets: savings, credit, remittances, pensions– Financial resources that people use to achieve their
livelihood objectives
• Physical assets: transport, shelter, water, energy– Basic infrastructure and producer goods needed to
support livelihoods
• Social assets: networks, groups, trust, access to institutions– Social resources upon which people draw to pursue
their livelihood objectives
Considering Vulnerability in Livelihood Systems
Livelihoods are vulnerability to what?
• A livelihood might be considered vulnerable if after a shock or stress the household members are worse off than before
• It is complex to look at a community and ask how vulnerable they are– The level of vulnerability is different for different
stakeholders
• Different stresses impact different people differently
• Need to ask – vulnerable to what?
Vulnerability to food insecurity
Potential livelihood stressors (contexts, conditions and trends)
• Natural resource depletion– Land, timber, water etc
• Climate– Variability, extremes
• National policy• Economy• Social and cultural change• Health• Conflict
Climate variability & rural risk
• Rural livelihoods can be highly dependant on climate
• Direct impacts– Crop production– Livestock grazing– Water resources
• Indirect impacts– Seasonal work– Household resources– Education– health
Impact of climate variability on livelihood assets
Climate variability & urban risk
• Climate related hazards– Flooding– Erosion– Landslides– Pollution– Fire risk
• Services– Water– Sanitation– Access to food– Transport
• Governance– Limited participation– Integration– Prioritization
Vulnerability profiles
Same hazard
Differential vulnerability
Risk different because livelihood characteristics different
(exposure, sensitivity, resilience)
Climate change & livelihoods
• From a development perspective we need to identify vulnerable groups– Understand how their livelihoods are
vulnerable to current climate variability– Which changes in climate variability are likely
to impact them significantly?
• This helps to identify a starting point for adapting livelihoods to climate change to decrease vulnerability
Buzz group
• How do these concepts relate to your work?
• By reflecting on concepts of vulnerability and livelihoods, how might you view some of your past work/experience differently?