Osbahr, H. and Twyman, C. and Adger, W.N. and Thomas, D.S.J. (2008) Effective livelihood adaptation to climate change disturbance: Scale dimensions of practice in Mozambique. Geoforum, 39 (6). pp. 1951-1964.
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Abstract
Natural resource-dependent societies in developing countries are facing increased pressures linked to global climate change. While social-ecological systems evolve to accommodate variability, there is growing evidence that changes in drought, storm and flood extremes are increasing exposure of currently vulnerable populations. In many countries in Africa, these pressures are compounded by disruption to institutions and variability in livelihoods and income. The interactions of both rapid and slow onset livelihood disturbance contribute to enduring poverty and slow processes of rural livelihood renewal across a complex landscape. We explore cross-scale dynamics in coping and adaptation response, drawing on qualitative data from a case study in Mozambique. The research characterises the engagements across multiple institutional scales and the types of agents involved, providing insight into emergent conditions for adaptation to climate change in rural economies. The analysis explores local responses to climate shocks, food security and poverty reduction, through informal institutions, forms of livelihood diversification and collective land-use systems that allow reciprocity, flexibility and the ability to buffer shocks. However, the analysis shows that agricultural initiatives have helped to facilitate effective livelihood renewal, through the reorganisation of social institutions and opportunities for communication, innovation and micro-credit. Although there are challenges to mainstreaming adaptation at different scales, this research shows why it is critical to assess how policies can protect conditions for emergence of livelihood transformation
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | We acknowledge funding from NERC, EPSRC and ESRC through the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and the support received during fieldwork from Save the Children US, the Mozambique Ministry of Agriculture and the National Institute of Disaster Management. Research development benefited from discussions with policy staff at Oxfam GB and researchers at the University of Cape Town. The paper benefited from helpful comments from two anonymous referees. This version remains our sole responsibility. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Adaptation,Climate change,Rural livelihoods, Scale,Disturbance, Mozambique, Africa |
| Author Affiliation: | School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, and Walker Institute for Climate Systems Research, University of Reading, UK |
| Subjects: | Atmosperic Science > Climatology |
| Divisions: | General |
| Depositing User: | Mr Daneti Raju |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Feb 2014 13:41 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Feb 2014 13:41 |
| Official URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2008.07.010 |
| URI: | http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/12492 |
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