Assessment of vulnerability and climate risks in WA City Region with special focus on urban-rural linkages

Abstract

Climate change has become a development issue globally, with developing and emerging economies bearing the highest impact. This is due to inadequate resources, poor infrastructure, weak institutions and systems, which are prerequisites for preparedness, mitigation and adaptation efforts. The phenomenon is complicated as resources meant for development is drawn to fight the impact of climate change. Empirical evidence shows that, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America would more likely endure the highest impact. This study assessed vulnerability and climate risks at the local level, particularly threats to livelihood security, internal migration and how urban-rural linkages exacerbate these issues. The study further sought answers to the state of awareness of climate change impact, how poverty and inadequate education are contributing to climate vulnerability in the study region. Further, what institutions are doing, in the form of governance to enhance resilience and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change. The study adopted a mixed approach in the design encompassing both elements of qualitative and quantitative approaches respectively. About 185 households, both in the city and within the hinterland were surveyed for responses. Institutions, which are at play within the study region, whose governance style and structure has implications on climate issues, were interviewed. Women groups were also made an integral part of the study because of their less representation in the household leadership structure within the study location. This was conducted in the form of a Focus Group Discussions. The study revealed that, closed to half of the population were not abreast with issues surrounding climate change. They had less or no information regarding the phenomenon. It further discovered that, smallholder farmers within the hinterland had their livelihoods threatened by climate change impact. This happened through pest and diseases on livestock, erratic rainfall pattern, inadequate arable lands and conflicting use of resources between the urban dwellers and smallholder farmers within the hinterland. One of the resulting consequences has been internal migration. Institutional governance is weak, and woefully inadequate. The author strongly recommends that, government and its development partners must formulate and design appropriate policies, programs, and projects that are founded on proper needs assessment with communities onboard.