Vulnerability adaptation and development
Josie TeurlingsOur research on this topic investigates climate change in a larger social, economic and political contexts by combining our expertise and insights from development studies research with the new realities of climate change.
This research theme focuses on how multiple stressors interact to affect people’s ability to deal with climate change. Some examples of such interactions are linkages between poverty and vulnerability, access to renewable energy and local livelihoods, sustainable adaptation, and the power struggles related to adaptation processes. We see for example that development processes in the society at large (such as economic and political marginalization, land privatisation, intensification of agriculture for export, market liberalization) may lead to situations in which people are more vulnerable to climatic events. The main thrust of Noragric climate research in this area is international with specific focus on developing countries. Yet, we also investigate similar processes in which multiple stressors and the current development trend influence people’s vulnerability and adaptation in industrialized countries.
Conceptual and empirical studies have focused on the linkages between poverty and vulnerability to climate change as well as how sustainable adaptation can be achieved in policy making and development interventions. The latter themes have been developed to contribute to policy tools, engaging with stakeholders such as NORAD, MFA and NGOs. But, as mentioned above, Noragric also conducts some research in Norway through the NORKLIMA-funded project “Potentials for and limits to adaptation in Norway”.
The focus of Noragric research on this topic is thus on complex development contexts and political processes involved in vulnerability and adaptation (see Eriksen and Selboe, 2011). A main feature of research in developing and developed country contexts alike has been to highlight and investigate the fact that responses to climate change are political; that is, they lead to different outcomes for different groups, and are subject to conflicts of interests, negotiations and (often not very transparent) decisions regarding the prioritisation of particular interests over others (Eriksen et al., 2011).
Current research focuses on how development discourses shape adaptation strategies, and how dominant understandings of the climate change problem can be used to further particular development interests that may in fact reinforce climate change vulnerability among the poor groups – whose voices are seldom heard in policy formulation and decision making processes.
Staff and PhD students working with vulnarability, adaptation and development
Updated: 10.01.12
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Del med en venn:
Department of International Environment and Development Studies
- Noragric
Phone: +47 64 96 52 00
Fax: +47 64 96 52 01
E-mail: noragric@umb.no
Postal address:
Noragric, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
P.O. Box 5003
NO-1432 Aas
Norway
Visiting/delivery address:
Universitetstunet 1 (Tivoli)
NO-1432 Ås
Phone: +47 64 96 52 00
Fax: +47 64 96 52 01
E-mail: noragric@umb.no
Postal address:
Noragric, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
P.O. Box 5003
NO-1432 Aas
Norway
Visiting/delivery address:
Universitetstunet 1 (Tivoli)
NO-1432 Ås