Determinants of climate change adaptation strategies in the coastal zone of Bangladesh: implications for adaptation to climate change in developing countries

• Published in: Mitigation and adaptation strategies for global change Vol. 26; no. 7; p. 30
• Main Authors: Kabir, Alamgir, Amin, Md Nurul, Roy, Kushal, Hossain, Md Sarwar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.10.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptation; Agricultural economics; agricultural extension; Atmospheric Sciences; Bangladesh; Climate adaptation; Climate change; Climate change adaptation; Climate Change Management and Policy; Climate policy; Coastal zone; Coastal zones; coasts; Crop management; Developing countries; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Economic analysis; Economics; Environmental impact; Environmental Management; Environmental risk; Farmers; income; Land management; LDCs; Mitigation; Operating costs; Original Article; Production costs; Socioeconomic aspects; Socioeconomics; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Water management; Bangladesh; Socio-economic determinants; Coastal; Agriculture; Adaptation
• ISSN: 1381-2386; 1573-1596
• DOI: 10.1007/s11027-021-09968-z

Considering the growing threats of climate change, in addition to mitigation strategies, it is highly and equally critical to understand the socio-economic determinants of climate adaptation in order to develop climate adaptation policies. This study makes a first attempt to explore the determinants of adaptation to climate change and choices of adaptation strategies at a larger spatial scale of the south-west coastal areas in Bangladesh, which is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world. We employ both qualitative and quantitative approaches in order to examine farmers’ perception of climate risks, determinants and choices of adaptation strategies to climate change in six coastal districts of Bangladesh. Farmers are adapting to these situations using their knowledge and experience. The study reveals that a number of adaptation strategies have been taken to reduce the negative impacts of climate change. These adaptation strategies are categorized into four groups: crop management, water management, land management, and income diversification. Availability of inputs, high production cost, agricultural extension service, and proper adaptation knowledge and experiences were noted as the main non-climatic challenges, as well as different climatic factors in agricultural adaptation strategies. Statistical analysis indicates that the different socio-economic determinants of farmers significantly influence their choices of adaptation to climate change. Farmers adopt these adaptations mostly autonomously rather than on the advice of government. This study could be useful for developing national adaptation policies in Bangladesh and other similar developing countries.