This paper explores the practical linkages between poverty reduction and adaptation to climate change, identifying the points of interaction between poverty eradication and adaptation interventions. Additionally, it examines the institutional context of integrating climate change adaptation measures in development assistance policies. The authors argue that there are three main ways that development interventions can integrate adaptation measures:
through reducing climate risks to projects
through strengthening recipients’ coping and adaptive capacity in the face of climate change
by targeting the causes of vulnerability
The study suggests that the fact that climate change has been regarded as an environmental issue is a major barrier to adaptation. The findings highlight three important implications for adaptation to climate change in development aid activities:
adaptation is essentially a social development issue in addition to an environmental and technological issue
responding to uncertainty forms an important part of adaptation
climate risks, local capacity to adapt, and causes of vulnerability are all place-specific