Paper short abstract:

Vulnerability to climate change impacts is shaped by the convergence of factors that can potentially limit or enhance adaptation. Exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity to climate extreme events are explored in this paper as the key variables that shape the nature of climate vulnerability.

Paper long abstract:

Following from the approach of Glitz et al (2017), this paper use a Multidimensional Livelihood Vulnerability Index (MLVI) to assess the nature of climate change vulnerability among 789 households in the savanna (Bawku West District) and transitional (Nkoranza South Municipal) zones of Ghana. Vulnerability was constituted using the definition of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These include exposure to climate variability or extreme weather events, sensitivity to climate variability impacts and adaptive capacity to address the conditions and changes that arise from climate variability impacts. While the analyses point to high levels of vulnerability to climate change impact regarding the incidence and intensity among all households, the vulnerability index of Bawku West District was at least 10 percentage points higher relative to Nkoranza South. Additionally there was a clear indication that adaptive capacities were generally low among households. Large household sizes, low levels of education, low income levels, limited channels of economic diversification and limited access to fertile and productive lands especially for female headed households were important contributing factors. Improving adaptive capacities across the board is important to limit exposure and sensitivity to climate change impacts in order to forestall the collective effects of increased vulnerability to climate change impacts on communities.