Estimating the Impact of Adaptive Capacity on Vulnerability in Nepal

Abstract

The adaptive capacity of households is an effective instrument for minimizing climate change-induced vulnerability. Varying adaptive capacity across different income and socio-strata of households make different vulnerability impacts. This paper assesses the impacts of adaptation capacity on household susceptibility index and ranks in Nepal employing an explorative method. In the explorative method, the household vulnerability index as a composite index and multiple regression model are analytical methods. The data set is collected from the questionnaire survey of 642 households in the Sotkhola Water Basin Gadhi, Lekhagaon, and Kunathari through a regression model. As a result, a flood disaster is terrible more than a landslide. By cluster, its intensity is deeper in Gadhi than in Kunathari and Lekhagaon in terms of destruction of assets and non-assets. Total income loss magnifies household vulnerability 7 times deeper. The distribution of vulnerability level falls to poor households three times more than rich households in accordance with headcount poverty and food sufficiency poverty measures. The composite index shows adaptive capacity plays a key role in household vulnerability. Therefore, adaptive capacity is an instrument of resilience to household safety and welfare. In the context of poverty alleviation, preparedness, and climate change initiatives, this result will be valuable to improve the adaptive capacity of the socioeconomically vulnerable population for disaster and climate resilience, further development, and future disaster risk management policy implications.