Maereg P2013-2 - Climate change adaptation (original) (raw)

Climate change is real and is disproportionately affecting poor communities in poorer countries. Climate change drives climate extremes which manifest in the form of extreme droughts in some areas and excessive precipitations in others. The nature of impacts from climate extremes depends not only on the intensities of the extremes themselves but also on exposure and vulnerability of communities. Communities in poor countries are the most exposed to such extremities and are forced to bear a huge burden to adapt to these extremes. As such, adaptation to disasters is not new to these communities in a sense that they have been adapting to extremes even before climate change became a concern. What is now new is the extent of exposure factors exerting an everincreasing pressure on livelihoods of already destitute communities. As if their poverty was not enough, climate change extends the plights beyond previous adaptation capacities. These communities and countries not only have to tackle clime-driven consequences, but also other forms of disaster impacts and poverty in general. How can these communities and countries deal with such intricately related environmental management, disaster risk reduction and overall poverty alleviation challenges all at the same time?

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