Assessing the Adaptive Capacity of Households to Climate Change in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Ute Schmiedel,Belay Simane,Abrham Belay,Demamu Mesfin,John W Recha

doi:10.3390/cli8100106

Abstract

This paper explores the different components of the adaptive capacity of households in the Central Rift Valley (CRV) of Ethiopia and quantifies their relative contributions. The data were derived from a survey of 413 households randomly selected from four Kebeles (the smallest government administrative units) in the CRV. The adaptive capacity of the households was assessed using the Local Adaptive Capacity (LAC) framework and measured in terms of both aggregate and composite indices, with sixty indicators distributed across five major components and subcomponents. The index score for major components shows that intangible variables such as institutions and entitlements, knowledge and information, and innovation contributed to adaptive capacity better than decision–making and governance and asset–base. The composite indices for sub–components showed that the contribution of woodlands to adaptive capacity was positive and superior to other natural assets. Grazing land was the next best contributor, while farmland and water resources made a much lower contribution. The findings of this study are useful to better understand the nature of adaptive capacity and its components at the household level. This study suggests the need for an integrated assessment and enhancement of adaptive capacity with all its components rather than focusing only on asset possession as an indicator of adaptive capacity.

Highlights

The ability to adapt to social and environmental change is central to human wellbeing
The major components of adaptive capacity and their contributions are presented in Figure 4, Thethe major components adaptive capacitycapacity and their contributions presented in Figure 4, while overall structure inofwhich the adaptive of households wasare measured is presented while the overall structure which the sub–components, adaptive capacityand of households measured is presented in Table
Relative were populatedrepresent with scores obtained from thecomponents householdordata usingand various to the aggregate adaptive capacity index

Summary

Introduction

The ability to adapt to social and environmental change is central to human wellbeing. Adaptation to environmental change has been part of human experience throughout history [1,2,3,4]. The scope of challenges posed by environmental disturbances is unprecedented, and more measures are needed to reduce the adverse impacts of the changes in the near and long–term [5,6,7]. Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was published in 1990. Climate 2020, 8, 106 change was on mitigation rather than adaptation [3,6,8]. The scientific research necessary for encouraging climate change adaptation had been largely disregarded [9]

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Conclusion