Title of the Book: Reducing Poverty, Protecting Livelihoods, and Building Assets in a Changing Climate: Social Implications of Climate Change in Latin America and the Caribbean
ISBN: 0-8213-8238-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-8213-8238-7
SKU: 18238
Author: Edited by Dorte Verner
Publisher: World Bank Publications (June 2010)
Language: English
440 Pages (Paperback)
Foreword: By The World Bank
Introduction:
Climate change is the defining development challenge of our time. More than a global environmental issue, climate change and variability threaten to reverse recent progress in poverty reduction and economic growth. Both now and over the long run, climate change and variability threatens human and social development by restricting the fulfillment of human potential and by disempowering people and communities in reducing their livelihoods options.
Communities across Latin America and the Caribbean are already experiencing adverse consequences from climate change and variability. Poverty, inequality, water access, health, and migration are and will be measurably affected by climate change. Using an innovative research methodology, this study finds quantitative evidence of large variations in impacts across regions. Many already poor regions are becoming poorer; traditional livelihoods are being challenged in unprecedented ways; water scarcity is increasing, particularly in poor arid areas; human health is deteriorating; and climate-induced migration is already taking place and may increase.
Successfully reducing social vulnerability to climate change and variability requires action and commitment at multiple levels. This volume offers key operational recommendations at the government, community, and household levels with particular emphasis placed on enhancing good governance and technical capacity in the public sector, building social capital in local communities, and protecting the asset base of poor households.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. Introduction
Dorte Verner
Assumptions and Analytical Framework Used in the Book • Outline of the Book
Chapter 2. Water Scarcity, Climate Change, and the Poor
Tine Rossing
Current Water Scarcity • Climate Change and Freshwater Resources • Case Studies: Water Scarcity and Decentralized Governance • Policy and Research Perspectives
Chapter 3. Climate Change, Disaster Hot Spots, and Asset Erosion
Tine Rossing and Olivier Rubin
Natural Hazards and Disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean • Impact of Natural Disasters on Household Assets of the Poor • Policy Perspectives
Chapter 4. Agrarian Livelihoods and Climate Change
Jørgen E. Olesen
Rural Poverty and Production Systems • Likely Impacts of Climate Change on Agrarian Societies • Adaptation to Climate Change: Institutional and Policy Perspectives • Research Perspectives
Chapter 5. Coastal Livelihoods and Climate Change
Sara Trab Nielsen
Vulnerability Context of Coastal Communities • Likely Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Coastal Societies: Three Examples • Adaptation to Climate Change: Institutional and Policy Perspectives • Research Perspectives
Chapter 6. Human Health and Climate Change
Lykke Andersen, John Geary, Claus Pörtner, and Dorte Verner
Main Effects of Climate Change on Human Health • Impacts of Poor Health on Livelihood Assets • Natural Disasters and Child Health • Simulations of the Effect of Climate Change on Health • Building Adaptive Capacity: Policy Perspectives
Chapter 7. Migration and Climate Change
Lykke Andersen, Lotte Lund, and Dorte Verner
Migration Patterns • A Typology of Climate Change—Induced Migration • Social Implications of Climate Change—Induced Migration • Quantitative Analysis of Climate-Induced Migration in Bolivia and Mexico
Chapter 8. Conflict and Climate Change
Olivier Rubin
Links between Climate Change and Conflict • Social Perspective on Climate Change in Conflict Analysis • Vulnerability to Climate Change—Induced Conflict • Policy Perspectives
Chapter 9. Simulating the Effects of Climate Change on Poverty and Inequality
Lykke Andersen and Dorte Verner
Contemporary Relationships between Climate and Income in Selected Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean • Simulating the Effects of Projected Future Climate Change at the Municipal Level • Summing Up
Chapter 10. Building Short-Term Coping Capacity and Longer-Term Resilience through Asset-Based Adaptation
Tine Rossing, Olivier Rubin, and Inger Brisson
Social Capital and Livelihood Adaptation and Resilience • A Social Approach to Disaster Analysis: Case Studies • Policy Perspectives
Chapter 11. Conclusion
Sanne Tikjøb and Dorte Verner
The Social Implications of Climate Change • Adaptation: Good Governance, Social Capital, and Local Assets • Perspectives on Future Research
