Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Differential impacts of climate change on communities in the middle hills region of Nepal

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There is a growing understanding that the impacts of climate change affect different communities within a country, in a variety of ways—not always uniformly. This article reports on research conducted in the middle hills region of Nepal that explored climate change vulnerability in terms of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity across different well-being groups, genders of the head of household and household location. In the study region, dry land farming has increasingly experienced climate-induced changes to farm productivity and natural resources. The experience of vulnerability to decreased livelihood options and natural resource hazards due to a changing climate varied according to household wealth and well-being status, with very poor and poor households more vulnerable than medium and well-off households. The research indicates that the climate change adaptation would benefit by considering: (i) differential impacts of vulnerability mainly based on well-being status of households; (ii) understanding of the local socio-political context and underlying causes of vulnerability and its application; and (iii) identifying vulnerable populations for the units of vulnerability analysis and adaptation planning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams AM, Evans TG, Mohammed R, Farnsworth J (1997) Socioeconomic stratification by wealth ranking- is it valid? World Dev 25(7):1165–1172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adger WN (1999) Social vulnerability to climate change and extremes in coastal Vietnam. World Dev 27(2):249–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adger WN (2006) Vulnerability. Glob Environ Change 16(3):268–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adger WN, Huq S, Brown K, Conway D, Hulme M (2003) Adaptation to climate change in the developing world. Prog Dev Stud 3(3):179–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adger WN, Brooks N, Bentham G, Agnew M, Ereksen S (2004) New indicators of vulnerability and adaptive capacity. Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Norwich

    Google Scholar 

  • Agrawal A, Perrin N (2008) Climate adaptation, local institutions and rural livelihoods. IFRI Working Paper # W081-6 (pp. 350–367), University of Michigan, Michigan

  • Agrawala S, Raksakulthai V, van Aalst M, Larsen P, Smith J, Reynolds J (2003) Development and climate change in Nepal: focus on water resources and hydropower. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Paris

  • Ayers JM, Huq S (2009) The value of linking mitigation and adaptation: a case study of Bangladesh. Environ Manag 43(5):753–764

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates B, Kundzewicz ZW, Wu S, Palutikof J (2008) Clim change and water. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

  • Bennett L, Tamang S, Onta P, Thapa M (2006) Unequal citizens- gender, caste and ethnic exclusion in Nepal. Department for International Development and The World Bank, Kathmandu

  • Blaikie P, Cannon T, Davis I, Wisner B (1994) At risk: natural hazards, people’s vulnerability, and disasters. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown K (2011) Sustainable adaptation: an oxymoron? Clim Dev 3(1):21–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burton I (1997) Vulnerability and adaptive response in the context of climate and climate change. Clim Change 36(1):185–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burton I, Kates RW, White GF (1993) The environment as hazard. Guilford, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers R (1983) Rural development: putting the last first. Longman, United Kingdom

  • Chambers R (1994) Participatory rural appraisal (PRA): analysis of experience. World Dev 22(9):1253–1268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambers R, Conway GR (1992) Sustainable rural livelihoods–practical concepts for the 21st century. Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex

  • Conway D, Schipper ELF (2011) Adaptation to climate change in Africa: challenges and opportunities identified from Ethiopia. Glob Environ Change 21(1):227–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daze A, Ambrose K, Ehrhart C (2009) Climate vulnerability and capacity analysis-handbook. CARE International

  • de Dios HB (2002) Participatory capacities and vulnerabilities assessment: finding the link between disasters and development. Oxfam, UK

  • Dilley M, Boudreau TE (2001) Coming to terms with vulnerability: a critique of the food security definition. Food Policy 26(3):229–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DoF (2011) CFUG Database, 2011. Department of Forests. Government of Nepal, Kathmandu

  • Duncan JMA, Biggs EM, Dash J, Atkinson PM (2013) Spatio-temporal trends in precipitation and their implications for water resources management in climate-sensitive Nepal. Appl Geogr 43:138–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ebi KL, Kovats RS, Menne B (2006) An approach for assessing human health vulnerability and public health interventions to adapt to climate change. Environ Health Perspect 114:1930–1934

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ebi KL, Woodruff R, von Hildebrand A, Corvalan C (2007) Climate change-related health impacts in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas. EcoHealth 4(3):264–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson M, Jianchu X, Shrestha AB, Vaidya R, Sandstrom K (2009) The changing Himalayas: impact of climate change on water resources and livelihoods in the Greater Himalayas. ICIMOD, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Fussel HM (2007) Vulnerability: a generally applicable conceptual framework for climate change research. Glob Environ Change 17(2):155–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaillard JC, Monteil C, Perrillat-Collomb A, Chaudhary S, Chaudhary M, Chaudhary O et al (2013) Participatory 3-dimension mapping: a tool for encouraging multi-caste collaboration to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Appl Geogr 45:158–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gentle P, Maraseni TN (2012) Climate change, poverty and livelihoods: adaptation practices by rural mountain communities in Nepal. Environ Sci Policy 21:24–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gippner O, Dhakal S, Sovacool BK (2012) Microhydro electrification and climate change adaptation in Nepal–socioeconomic lessons from the Rural Energy Development Program (REDP). Mitig and Adapt Strategies for Glob Change 1–21

  • GoN (2010) National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). Ministry of Environment, Government of Nepal, Kathmandu

  • GoN (2011a) Climate Change Policy, 2011. Ministry of Environment, Government of Nepal, Kathmandu

  • GoN (2011b) National framework on local adaptation plans for action. Government of Nepal, Kathmandu

  • GoN (2012a) Economic survey, fiscal year 2011/2012. Government of Nepal, Kathmandu

  • GoN (2012b) National population and housing census 2011 (National Report) (Vol. 01, NPHC 2011). Central Bureau of Statistics, Government of Nepal, Kathmandu

  • Hahn MB, Riederer AM, Foster SO (2009) The livelihood vulnerability index: a pragmatic approach to assessing risks from climate variability and change—a case study in Mozambique. Glob Environ Change 19(1):74–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hedger M, Greeley M, Leavy J (2008) Evaluating climate change: pro-poor perspectives. IDS Bull 39(4):75–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IFRC (2004) World disasters report 2004. International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • IISD (2003) Livelihoods and climate change–combining disaster risk reduction, natural resources management and climate change adaptation to reduce vulnerability and poverty. Information Paper 2, International Institute for Sustainable Development

  • IPCC (2001) Climate change 2001: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2007) Assessment of adaptation practices, options, constraints and capacity. Climate Change 2007–impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of working group II to the fourth assessment report. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

  • Johnson RB, Onwuegbuzie AJ, Turner LA (2007) Toward a definition of mixed methods research. J Mix Methods Res 1(2):112–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King N, Horrocks C (2010) Interviews in qualitative research. Sage Publications, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohler T, Giger M, Hurni H, Ott C, Wiesmann U, Wymann von Dach S et al (2010) Mountains and climate change: a global concern. Mt Res Dev 30(1):53–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macchi M (2011) Framework for climate-based climate vulnerability and capacity assessment in mountain areas. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu

  • Maple Croft (2010) Climate change risk report 2009/10. http://maplecroft.com/about/news/ccvi.html Retrieved 03 April 2013

  • Mertz O, Halsnæs K, Olesen JE, Rasmussen K (2009) Adaptation to climate change in developing countries. Environ Manag 43(5):743–752

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mirza MMQ (2010) Climate change, flooding in South Asia and implications. Reg Environ Change 1–13

  • Mosse D (1994) Authority, gender and knowledge: theoretical reflections on the practice of participatory rural appraisal. Dev Change 25(3):497–526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murshed SM, Gates S (2005) Spatial–horizontal inequality and the Maoist insurgency in Nepal. Rev Dev Econ 9(1):121–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NCVST (2009) Vulnerability through the eyes of vulnerable–climate change induced uncertainties and Nepal’s development predicaments. Climate Vulnerability Study Team (NCVST), Kathmandu

  • O’Brien K, Leichenko R, Kelkar U, Venema H, Aandahl G, Tompkins H et al (2004) Mapping vulnerability to multiple stressors: climate change and globalization in India. Glob Environ Change 14:303–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien K, Eriksen S, Nygaard LP, Schjolden A (2007) Why different interpretations of vulnerability matter in climate change discourses. Clim Policy 7(1):73–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oreskes N (2004) The scientific consensus on climate change. Science 306 (1686)

  • Paavola J, Adger WN (2002) Justice and adaptation to climate change. Tyndall Centre Working Paper, 23

  • Paavola J, Adger WN (2005) Institutional ecological economics. Eco Econ 53(3):353–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pasteur K (2010) From vulnerability to resilience: a framework for analysis and action to build community resilience. Practical Action, UK

  • Pelling M (Ed.) (2003) Natural disasters and development in a globalizing world. Psychology Press, New York

  • Picketts IM, Déry SJ, Curry JA (2013) Incorporating climate change adaptation into local plans. J Environ Plan Manag 2013:1–19

  • Polsky C, Neff R, Yarnal B (2007) Building comparable global change vulnerability assessments: the vulnerability scoping diagram. Glob Environ Change 17:472–485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ribot J (2010) Vulnerability does not fall from the sky: toward multiscale, pro-poor climate policy. In: Means R, Norton A (eds) Social dimensions of climate change: equity and vulnerability in a warming world. The World Bank, Washington, DC, pp 47–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards M, Maharjan M, Kanel K (2003) Economics, poverty and transparency: measuring equity in forest user groups. J For Live 3(1):91–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Saito N (2012) Mainstreaming climate change adaptation in least developed countries in South and Southeast Asia. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change 18:825–849

  • Scoones I (1995) Investigating difference: applications of wealth ranking and household survey approaches among farming households in Southern Zimbabwe. Dev Change 26(1):67–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen A (1999) Development as freedom. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma AR (2010) Impact of community forestry on income distribution: with case studies from Nepal. Lambert Academic Publishing, Sarbrucken

    Google Scholar 

  • Shrestha AB, Wake CP, Mayewski PA, Dibb JE (1999) Maximum temperature trends in the Himalaya and its vicinity: an analysis based on temperature records from Nepal for the period 1971–1994. J Clim 12(9):2775–2786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shrestha AB, Wake CP, Dibb JE, Mayewski PA (2000) Precipitation fluctuations in the Nepal Himalaya and its vicinity and relationship with some large scale climatological parameters. Int J Clim 20(3):317–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith B, Burton I, Klein RJT, Wandel J (2000) An anatomy of adaptation to climate change and variability. Clim Change 45(1):223–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Springate-Baginski O, Blaikie PM (2007) Forests, people and power: the political ecology of reform in South Asia. Earthscan/James & James, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanner T, Mitchell T (2008) Entrenchment or enhancement: could climate change adaptation help to reduce chronic poverty? IDS Bull 39(4):6–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tashakkori A, Teddlie C (2003) Handbook of mixed methods in social & behavioral research. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks

    Google Scholar 

  • Terry G (2009) No climate justice without gender justice: an overview of the issues. Gend Dev 17(1):5–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tubiello FN, Fischer G (2007) Reducing climate change impacts on agriculture: global and regional effects of mitigation, 2000–2080. Technol Forecast Soc Chang 74(7):1030–1056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urothody A, Larsen H (2010) Measuring climate change vulnerability: a comparison of two indexes. Banko Janakari 20(1):9–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent K, Cull T (2010) A household social vulnerability index (HSVI) for evaluating adaptation projects in developing countries. PEGNet conference 2010- policies to foster and sustain equitable development in times of crises, Midrand

  • World Bank (2009) South Asia–shared views on development and climate change. The World Bank, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu J, Shrestha A, Vaidya R, Eriksson M, Hewitt K (2007) The melting Himalays–regional challenges and local impacts of climate change on mountain ecosystems and livelihoods. ICIMOD, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We honour the contribution of people in the research site for their responses, opinions and support during the field visit. We would like to thank Charles Sturt University and Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS) for hosting this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt University, PO Box 789, Albury, NSW, 2640, Australia

    Popular Gentle, Rik Thwaites, Digby Race & Kim Alexander

  2. The Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    Digby Race

  3. Wollongong University, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

    Kim Alexander

Authors
  1. Rik Thwaites
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Digby Race
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kim Alexander
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Popular Gentle.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 60 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gentle, P., Thwaites, R., Race, D. et al. Differential impacts of climate change on communities in the middle hills region of Nepal. Nat Hazards 74, 815–836 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-014-1218-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-014-1218-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation