Livelihood Vulnerability Assessment to Climate Change at Community Level Using Household Survey: A Case Study from Nam Dinh Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Vietnam was ranked 6th among countries deemed vulnerable to climate change based on Climate Risk Index (CRI) during 1991 - 2010. Damage caused by extreme weather events such as storms, floods for coastal communities in Vietnam increases significantly each year. Objective of this study is to investigate climate change adaptation strategies for livelihoods of coastal communities in Rang Dong town, Nghia Hung district, Nam Dinh province, Vietnam. Sustainable Livelihood Framework of DIFID was used to analyse existing livelihoods and adaptation strategies of coastal residents. Interviews were conducted with 79 households in Rang Dong town focusing on livelihood assets that can help them to adapt to climate change. Results indicate that adaptation capacity of households was at a low level based on availability of their livelihood assets. Financial, physical and human capital still showed much weakness and awareness of residents about climate change was low. Natural capital has been reduced by the impacts of climate change. Additionally, results also revealed that respondents have not taken activities and solutions to reduce impacts of climate change causing for the health, water and actions of livelihoods. On that basis, the research provides some recommendations, which are made for policy makers to improve the ability to cope of coastal residents to the effects of climate change.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n3s1p358