Multidimensional poverty vis-à-vis climate change vulnerability: Empirical evidence from flood-prone rural communities of Charsadda and Nowshera districts in Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan is among the top five countries that have been severely impacted by extreme weather events. Its population, a majority of which is poor, is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. This study aims to examine the correlation between multidimensional poverty and climate change vulnerability in the rural areas of the Nowshera and Charsadda districts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Data were collected from 452 households through a pre-tested questionnaire that assessed poverty and climate change vulnerability. The multidimensional poverty index, based on the United Nations Development Programme and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, was used to determine poverty levels, while the livelihood and climate change vulnerability indices were developed to quantify the level of climate change vulnerability. The results of the study revealed that half of the population in the study area falls below the multidimensional poverty threshold. Nowshera had a higher number of multidimensionally poor people, and the intensity of poverty was greater than in Charsadda. Nowshera was found to be more deprived in all three dimensions of poverty, i.e., education, health, and standard of living. However, in terms of climate change vulnerability, Charsadda lagged behind in the dimensions of livelihood strategies, social networks, socio-demographic profiles, and food. On the other hand, Nowshera was found to be more vulnerable in the dimensions of natural assets, financial assets, and health. Overall, the results showed that Nowshera was more vulnerable to floods compared to Charsadda. The study found a strong positive correlation between the multidimensional poverty index and the climate change vulnerability indices, implying a close relationship between the two concepts.