Risk Assessment
Perceptions of Climate Change Adaptation and Household Welfare
Integrating water access, climate stress, and household resilience into one programming lens.
Measuring Risk to Build Resilience. Assessments of climate, conflict, and resource risk that help institutions design stronger mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Resilience programming separated irrigation investments from domestic water access. The program needed an integrated vulnerability lens at community scale.
Climate change is reshaping agricultural systems in Ghana, with households facing increasing risks from droughts, floods, and temperature variability. Adaptation strategies such as crop diversification, improved seed use, and soil conservation are promoted to enhance resilience. This study examines household perceptions of climate change adaptation and its impact on welfare. The broader challenge is that adaptation requires both awareness and capacity. Households that perceive adaptation positively are more likely to adopt practices, while those skeptical of climate change remain vulnerable. This research situates perceptions within the broader discourse on climate adaptation and household welfare.
Perceptions of adaptation are a powerful driver of resilience and welfare, shaping household responses to climate change.
Etwire, P., Koomson, I., & Martey, E
2022
Background
Advancing through the data
Climate change is reshaping agricultural systems in Ghana, with households facing increasing risks from droughts, floods, and temperature variability. Adaptation strategies such as crop diversification, improved seed use, and soil conservation are promoted to enhance resilience. This study examines household perceptions of climate change adaptation and its impact on welfare. The broader challenge is that adaptation requires both awareness and capacity. Households that perceive adaptation positively are more likely to adopt practices, while those skeptical of climate change remain vulnerable. This research situates perceptions within the broader discourse on climate adaptation and household welfare.
Research Approach
Household survey data was collected to capture perceptions of climate change and adaptation practices. Econometric models were applied to measure the relationship between perceptions, adoption, and welfare outcomes. Qualitative interviews provided narratives of household experiences with climate change. Comparative analysis was conducted to assess differences between households with positive versus negative perceptions. This dual approach ensured findings were both statistically rigorous and contextually grounded.
Key findings from this study include:
- Positive perceptions of adaptation increased adoption rates.
- Adoption improved household welfare outcomes.
- Skepticism reduced resilience and welfare.
Implications
A strategic lens for organizations and policymakers
Policymakers should design awareness campaigns to improve perceptions.
Organizations can integrate perception-building into adaptation programs.
Businesses can promote climate-smart products by addressing perception barriers.
For organizations, this research informs perception-focused programming. For policymakers, it highlights the importance of awareness campaigns. For businesses, it shows how addressing perceptions can expand markets for climate-smart products.
Perceptions of adaptation are a powerful driver of resilience and welfare, shaping household responses to climate change.
Etwire, P., Koomson, I., & Martey, E, 2022
