Autonomous adaptation to riverine flooding in Satkhira District, Bangladesh: implications for adaptation planning

Adrian Fenton,Jouni Paavola,Anne Tallontire

doi:10.1007/s10113-017-1159-8

Adrian Fenton, Jouni Paavola + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1159-8

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Abstract

Systematic understanding of adaptation measures utilised by households in developing countries is needed to identify the constraints they face, and the external interventions or adaptation planning needed to overcome them. Understanding of autonomous household adaptation patterns remains underdeveloped. In particular, little is known regarding whether households are implementing incremental or transformational adaptation measures as well as the implications of this for adaptation planning. We demonstrate the suitability of the risk hazard approach for understanding autonomous household adaptation patterns and discuss the implications for planned adaptation. To achieve this, we use an in-depth village case study from an area of Bangladesh particularly vulnerable to climate change, using qualitative semi-structured household interviews as primary material. We find that the risk hazard approach is ideal for exploring autonomous adaptations because of its capacity for understanding how households respond to livelihood risk, and what resources are required for it to be most effective. However, the risk hazard approach overlooks equity and fairness considerations need to be integrated due to the insufficient emphasis on these concerns.

Highlights

Adaptation to climate change ( ‘adaptation’) has become a critical issue in developing countries
External support should be predicated upon knowledge of what autonomous adaptation is taking place, by whom and how in order to accommodate and influence community needs and priorities which may not be sufficiently informed by long-term considerations (Stern 2006; Smit et al 2000; Scoones 2009; Eriksen et al 2011; Wise et al 2016)
Autonomous adaptations consisted of a mixture of incremental and transformative measures

Summary

Introduction

Adaptation to climate change ( ‘adaptation’) has become a critical issue in developing countries. Autonomous adaptation consists of household perceptions and responses to climate change. It is a continuous process occurring outside of top-down policy support, intervention and constraints, and it typically occurs in response to multiple stimuli rather than to climate stimuli alone (Smit et al 2000). It is poorly understood to what extent adaptations remain incremental or are transformational, resulting in something fundamentally new. This distinction is important, as it is increasingly likely that transformational rather than incremental adaptations will be needed. Adaptation planning will need to identify priority issues and which strategies are most effective (Smith et al 2011)

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