Women’s Vulnerability to Climate Change: Gender-skewed Implications on Agro-based Livelihoods in Rural Zvishavane, Zimbabwe

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-281
Author(s):  
Patience Chidakwa ◽  
Clifford Mabhena ◽  
Blessing Mucherera ◽  
Joyline Chikuni ◽  
Chipo Mudavanhu
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Climate Change Effects ◽  
Community Processes ◽  
Vulnerability To Climate Change ◽  
District Council ◽  
Technical Extension

Climate change presents a considerable threat to human security, with notable gender disproportions. Women’s vulnerability to climate change has implications on agro-based livelihoods, especially the rural populace. The primary purpose of this study was to assess women’s vulnerability to climate change and the gender-skewed implications on agro-based livelihoods in rural Zvishavane, Zimbabwe. A qualitative approach that used purposive sampling techniques was adopted. Data was collected through 20 in-depth interviews with 11 de jure and 9 de facto small-scale female-headed farmer households. Two focus group discussions with mixed de facto and de jure small-scale female-headed farmer households were also conducted. Five key informant interviews were held with departmental heads of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development; the Agriculture Technical Extension Service Department; the Livestock Production Department; the Runde Rural District Council and the Meteorological Services Department. Gendered effects were noted in terms of increased roles and responsibilities for women. Observations showed that there was an increase in distances travelled by women to fetch water owing to a depleted water table. Climate-induced migration of men due to depleted livelihoods in rural areas has also increased roles and responsibilities for women. The traditional male responsibilities assumed by women included cattle herding and ox-driven ploughing. This study concluded that adaptation strategies towards vulnerability to climate change have to be gender-sensitive and area-specific. This study also recommended that response programmes and policies meant to curb existing gendered vulnerabilities should be informed by evidence because climate-change effects are unique for different geographical areas. Moreover, adaptation activities should be mainstreamed in community processes so as to reduce the burden on women and increase sustainability opportunities.

Vulnerability to climate change and sea-level rise of the 35th biodiversity hotspot, the Forests of East Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. BELLARD ◽  
C. LECLERC ◽  
B. D. HOFFMANN ◽  
F. COURCHAMP
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Climate Change Effects ◽  
Vulnerability To Climate Change ◽  
Wet Tropics ◽  
Agricultural Areas

SUMMARYThere is an urgent need to understand how climate change, including sea-level rise, is likely to threaten biodiversity and cause secondary effects, such as agro-ecosystem alteration and human displacement. The consequences of climate change, and the resulting sea-level rise within the Forests of East Australia biodiversity hotspot, were modelled and assessed for the 2070–2099 period. Climate change effects were predicted to affectc. 100000 km2, and a rise in sea level an area of 860 km2; this could potentially lead to the displacement of 20600 inhabitants. The two threats were projected to mainly affect natural and agricultural areas. The greatest conservation benefits would be obtained by either maintaining or increasing the conservation status of areas in the northern (Wet Tropics) or southern (Sydney Basin) extremities of the hotspot, as they constitute about half of the area predicted to be affected by climate change, and both areas harbour high species richness. Increasing the connectivity of protected areas for Wet Tropics and Sydney Basin species to enable them to move into new habitat areas is also important. This study provides a basis for future research on the effects on local biodiversity and agriculture.

scholarly journals Econometrics Analysis of the Relationship between Climate Change and Economic Growth in Selected West African Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Ebrima K. Ceesay ◽  
Hafeez O. Oladejo ◽  
Prince Abokye ◽  
Ogechi N. Ugbor
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
West African ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Climate Change Effects ◽  
The Government

Linkages between Climate Change, Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction have become increasingly popular in local and international communities. This is due to the fact that we are currently facing pressing issues about climate change and poverty reduction effects in our planet. In this paper an empirical testing of the effects of Climate Change, Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction was carried out. Panel estimation methods of fixed effect, random effect, and panel unit root test-fisher type with trend and constant were applied. From the results, shows that economic growth has a negative and highly significant effect on the growth of poverty in the selected West African countries. Using growth rate of economics as dependent variable, the result shows that growth of poverty is highly significant. The population living in rural areas is significant with growth of poverty and highly significant with growth of food security. The policy recommendation is that the government of the west African countries should put in place strategies to reduce poverty, climate change effects on economics growth by following measures; to have strong institution and avoidance of corruption.Such strategies contain to counter climate change effects and increase the resilience of the economy, society and country in general.

scholarly journals Assessing Local Vulnerability to Climate Change by Using Livelihood Vulnerability Index: A Case Study of Dipang Watershed in Central Himalaya Region of Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-163
Author(s):  
Kapil Dhungana ◽  
Harish Bahadur Chand ◽  
Dinesh Bhandari ◽  
Abhishek Kumar ◽  
Sanjay Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Climate Risks ◽  
Average Temperature ◽  
Vulnerability To Climate Change

The current study uses the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change livelihood vulnerability index (IPCC-LVI) approaches to assess household’s livelihood vulnerability in the Dipang watershed located in the Central Himalayan region of Nepal. Primary data was collected through various participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools such as direct observation, key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs) and household surveys. Similarly, data on climatic variables were collected from the nearby meteorological station over 30 years (1987-2018). The mean annual average temperature increased by 0.036°C while the average rainfall decreased by 2.30 mm. Respondents perceived a similar trend of rising temperatures, decreasing rainfall intensity, dryness in the atmosphere, and dwindling water sources. The overall LVI score (0.416) indicated that the households are vulnerable to climate change. Food (0.642) and natural disasters and climate variability (0.566) were the most vulnerable among all contributing factors. Similarly, the overall LVI-IPCC score (0.104) indicated that the households were moderately vulnerable due to high exposure (0.566), sensitivity (0.448), and low adaptive capacity (0.334). The study findings suggest an urgent need to reduce high exposure to climate risks, improved livelihood strategies, and boost agricultural productivity and health in the watershed area.

Climate Change Adaptation Undertaken by Small-scale Farmers in Nepal: A Reference from Tinau River Basin

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghanashyam Khanal
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Climate Change Effects ◽  
Adaptive Capabilities ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Background: Climate change is an emerging challenge that the global society will have to deal with over the coming decades. The task is particularly daunting to developing societies as they are considered more susceptible to climate change because of their exposures and sensitivities to climate-related extremes, and especially because of their restricted adaptive capabilities to deal with the effects of hazardous events. Objectives: This research attempts to seek evidence of adaptation undertaken as a result of climate change-induced impacts and analyze the factors affecting the capability and strategies of climate change adaptation by small scale farmers in Nepal. Methods: A descriptive cum correlational research design was employed in the study following a quantitative approach. Using a convenience sampling method, primary data for each variable was collected from 67 small scale farmers of Tinau River Basin located in the Western region of Nepal. 5-Point Likert Scale questions were prepared and pilot testing was conducted to collect the responses. Descriptive statistics, Kendall Rank Correlation and Cronbach’s Alpha (α) Test were used while analyzing the data and testing the hypotheses. The inferences were made at 5% and 1% level of significance. Results: The findings indicate that the small scale farmers in the Tinau River Basin are experiencing the varied level of changes in climate. It revealed the existence of some barring factors for adaptation, further, insisting that farmers are prone to suffer from capability losses due to climate change. Conclusion: The study concludes that small scale farmers are prone to suffer from capability losses due to climate change. Climate change effects are hampering their ability to cultivate the land, increasingly damaging their production, and causing lower yields of harvests. Implications:  This study suggests that such influencing factors should be taken into prime consideration (while developing additional intervention) to enhance farmers’ capabilities to better cope with climate change effects; thus improving their adaptation measures for maintaining a flourishing relationship with the changing climate.

scholarly journals A photovoice assessment for illuminating the role of inland fisheries to livelihoods and the local challenges experienced through the lens of fishers in a climate-driven lake of Malawi

AMBIO ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Armstrong Simmance ◽  
Alison Budden Simmance ◽  
Jeppe Kolding ◽  
Kate Schreckenberg ◽  
Emma Tompkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Nutrition Security ◽  
Inland Fisheries ◽  
Rural Environments ◽  
Vulnerability To Climate Change ◽  
Development Goals

AbstractSmall-scale inland capture fisheries provide an important source of nutritious food, employment and income to millions of people in developing countries, particularly in rural environments where limited alternatives exist. However, the sector is one of most under-valued fisheries sectors and is increasingly experiencing environmental change. This study adopts a Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and investigates how important a fluctuating inland fishery is to livelihoods, and how local perceptions on challenges corresponds to global evidence. Through an innovative participatory method; photovoice, the lived experiences and perceptions of fishers are depicted. The findings illuminate the valuable role of the sector to food and nutrition security and the complex nexus with vulnerability to climate change. The study responds to the call for more local level assessments of the impacts of climate change on inland fisheries in data-limited environments, and the value of the sector in underpinning the Sustainable Development Goals.

scholarly journals A Qualitative Analysis of Beekeepers’ Perceptions and Farm Management Adaptations to the Impact of Climate Change on Honey Bees

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Monica Vercelli ◽  
Silvia Novelli ◽  
Paola Ferrazzi ◽  
Giada Lentini ◽  
Chiara Ferracini
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Climate Change Effects ◽  
Sugar Feeding ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Strong Motivation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Varroa Control

(1) Background: Bees are the primary animal pollinators in most ecosystems, and honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are important providers of pollination ecosystem services and products. Climate change is one of the major threats for honey bees. (2) Objectives and methods: Qualitative research using focus group discussions was carried out in northwestern Italy, to investigate the beekeepers’ perceptions of climate change effects, the relevant management adaptations, and the main issues affecting the sector. (3) Results: Beekeepers reported several consequences related to severe weather events (weakening or loss of colonies; scarcity of nectar, pollen, and honeydew; decrease or lack of honey and other bee products; greater infestation by varroa; decline in pollination), making it necessary to provide supplemental sugar feeding, intensive transhumance, more effective and sustainable techniques for varroa control, and increased production of nuclei. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was completed, displaying the factors able to strengthen or weaken the resilience of the beekeeping sector to climate change. (4) Conclusions: Thanks to their strong motivation and collaborative attitude, beekeepers succeed in adopting farm and bee hive adaptation strategies that are able to limit the climatic adverse effects. However, these findings highlight how the institutional and financial support for the beekeeping sector should be strengthened and better targeted.

Climate Change, Perceptions, and Social Heterogeneity in Pharak, Mount Everest Region of Nepal

2014 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pasang Sherpa
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Academic Discipline ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mount Everest ◽  
Institutional Climate ◽  
Climate Change Effects ◽  
Outburst Floods ◽  
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods ◽  
Social Heterogeneity

Based on 15 months of research conducted between 2010 and 2012, this paper examines how climate change is unfolding for Sherpas in Pharak, the southern part of Nepal's Everest region. Sherpas are noticing environmental changes, undergoing socioeconomic transformation, being introduced to climate change, and becoming exposed to multiple forms of environmental knowledge from various sources. Thus, climate change in this research emerges as an issue not contained within a single geographic territory or an academic discipline but as the product of multiple knowledge systems in addition to observable effects on the natural environment. This research reveals the narrowly defined institutional climate change narratives that focus on melting of glaciers and glacial lake outburst floods. I argue that a sustained emphasis on such institutional narratives will obscure the wider range of both short- and long-term climate change effects and thereby limit our understanding of their impacts on the residents of this region. I further argue that in order to understand Sherpa perceptions of climate change, it is necessary to understand the exposure and access of individual Sherpas to various sources of knowledge and resources. This can be achieved by exploring social heterogeneity and understanding how social networks function in this small-scale cultural group.

Impact of Rapid Urbanization and Climate Change on Agricultural Productivity in Africa

2016 ◽  
pp. 416-426
Author(s):  
Mutisya Emmanuel ◽  
Lilian Muasa ◽  
Chiahsin Chen ◽  
Florence Mutisya ◽  
Ram Avtar
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Agricultural Productivity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Vulnerability To Climate Change ◽  
The Impact

Africa continues to experience serious signs of multiple crises in the context of sustainability. These crises include vulnerability to climate change, rapid urbanization, food insecurity, and many others. One crisis, that defines Africa today, is the unprecedented rapid urbanization which continues to pose a big challenge to the diminishing available resources, environmental quality and human well-being. Cities in Africa continue to experience a fast horizontal growth of settlements due to influx of people from rural areas who often settle in the economically lowest segments in urban areas. This horizontal rapid growth has eaten up land set for agriculture around cities and promoted the rapid growth of informal settlements exacerbating the impacts of climate change leading to a negative impact on agricultural production. Policies linking rapid urbanization and climate change with agricultural productivity are need. This paper explores and documents the impact of rapid urbanization on climate change policies and subsequent impact on agriculture in Africa.

scholarly journals Space cannot substitute for time -- an integrated experimental assessment of climate-change effects on litter decomposition

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liesbeth van den Brink ◽  
Rafaella Canessa ◽  
Maaike Bader ◽  
Harald Neidhardt ◽  
Yvonne Oelmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Cycle ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Global Carbon Cycle ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Climate Effects ◽  
Climate Change Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Global Carbon

Litter decomposition, a key component of the global carbon cycle, is greatly affected by climate. Unfortunately, our current understanding of climate-change effects on decomposition stems mainly from space-for-time studies along climate gradients, where biotic and climatic effects on litter decomposition are confounded. Experimental studies separating indirect from direct climate effects are needed that test the validity of the space-for-time approach. Here, we combined large- and small scale reciprocal litter translocations, in situ precipitation manipulation, and a prominent climate gradient for studying drought effects on litter decomposition. Interestingly, all experiments indicated clear positive effects of precipitation on decomposition, but the space-for-time approach indicated the opposite, due to indirect climate effects on litter quality. This indicates that space cannot substitute for time and highlights the need for experimental evidence in litter decomposition studies. Such evidence would improve predictions of models of the global carbon cycle that include interactions between climate and vegetation.

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