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MODULE 10:MODULE 10:

TARGETING A THEME IN TARGETING A THEME IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL

ASSESSMENT: HUMAN ASSESSMENT: HUMAN VULNERABILITY DUE TO VULNERABILITY DUE TO

ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGECHANGE

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IntroductionIntroduction

This module focuses on the theme of human vulnerability. It provides a comprehensive example for the many ideas discussed here:

It gives some potential indicators of human vulnerability

It uses these indicators to show the importance of providing a forum for public participation in IEA to improve the indicators

It illustrates the importance of demand driven initiatives in IEA for sustainable development

It shows the importance of respecting local ideas (including those of the underprivileged) and culture

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Concepts of human vulnerability Concepts of human vulnerability

Being continuously re-defined but degree of vulnerability commonly looked at a continuum from extremely vulnerable to extremely secure

More vulnerable communities have: Limited choices – relatively low levels of

technology and any exposure to hazard may strain choices

Limited ability to adapt to changing environmental circumstances. Common response to hazards is to expand operations or move to new area which leads to conflict over resources with other communities

Limited political/social/economic power to make own views important: i.e. marginalized in decision making.

Limited control of own destiny. Highly dependent on external intervention and therefore easy to victimize.

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Environmental change intensifies Environmental change intensifies vulnerabilityvulnerability

 For vulnerable communities, environmental change: intensifies human impact on environmental

resources, introduces shortages they cannot adjust to, weakens health due to increased food

insecurity, increases marginalization in decision making

and resource allocation, and increases their potential for conflict as they

migrate in search of new resources.

Consequently, assessing human vulnerability to environmental change is important, to provide early warning to catastrophes, especially in Africa.

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Assessing human vulnerability Assessing human vulnerability

Feedback loops exist in human impact on the environment which should be considered in vulnerability assessment

Changes in environment impact on human welfare human response e.g. change in behaviour reduction of environmental problem

Response fails or is ineffective in more vulnerable communities and problem increases without outside intervention

Community becomes more and more vulnerable to any extreme event, e.g. drought, flood

Increases food insecurity, poverty, economic losses, poor health, potential for conflicts, all of which have been suggested as potential indicators of vulnerability.

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An example of a framework for An example of a framework for assessing human vulnerabilityassessing human vulnerability

Human impact on environment (e.g. deforestation, soil

erosion)

Human vulnerability to environmental change (health,

poverty)

Societal

commitment to the environment e.g. investments

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Some potential indicators for assessing human Some potential indicators for assessing human vulnerability to environmental changevulnerability to environmental change

Environmental causes Examples of Indicators

Health - Urban air and water pollution

- Percentage of people affected by environmental diseases

Economic losses/gains

- Environmental diseases- Soil erosion- Deforestation

- Hours of labour lost due to environmental diseases- Food productivity loss due to soil erosion, etc. - Reduction in yield (e.g. fish) from water bodies

Poverty - Depletion of resource base to meet the basic needs, e.g. food

Percentage of labour force affected by resource depletion

Food security

- Loss of natural vegetation and biological diversity- Soil erosion- Rainfall amount and distribution

- Percentage of natural vegetation cover- Percentage of people directly dependent on land resources- Extent and distribution of degraded land- Rainfall amount and variability

Conflicts - Scarcity of water- Depletion of natural resource base

- Number of people living in areas where water is scarce- Number of people dependent on vegetation resources

Human Vulnerability

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What case studies have shownWhat case studies have shown (see (see Manual)Manual)

Case studies carried out in various communities highly vulnerable to environmental change have shown that in attempting to reduce vulnerability:

IEA must be included in assessing the problems that arise from environmental change. In some cases (e.g. Darfur region of Sudan), publicity has focused on ethnic conflict.

A meaningful forum for discussing the development of indicators and policy formulation is useful.

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nt Encouraging demand for reform to

introduce measures that will reduce vulnerability to come from within the community has enormous benefits

Equitable contribution of input of

ideas including encouraging the socially neglected social groups encourages near total participation in policy formulation, and,

Respect of local ideas and culture encourages the community to feel it owns the policy formulated

What case studies… (cont’d)What case studies… (cont’d)