Yiran, GAB and Stringer, LC orcid.org/0000-0003-0017-1654 (2017) Adaptation to climatic hazards in the savannah ecosystem: improving adaptation policy and action. Environmental Management, 60 (4). pp. 665-678. ISSN 0364-152X
Abstract
People in Ghana’s savannah ecosystem have historically experienced a range of climatic hazards that have affected their livelihoods. In view of current climate variability and change, and projected increases in extreme events, adaptation to climate risks is vital. Policies have been put in place to enhance adaptation across sub-Saharan Africa in accordance with international agreements. At the same time, local people, through experience, have learned to adapt. This paper examines current policy actions and their implementation alongside an assessment of barriers to local adaptation. In doing so it links adaptation policy and practice. Policy documents were analysed that covered key livelihood sectors, which were identified as climate sensitive. These included agriculture, water, housing and health policies, as well as the National Climate Change Policy. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were also held with key stakeholders in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Analyses were carried using thematic content analysis. Although policies and actions complement each other, their integration is weak. Financial, institutional, social, and technological barriers hinder successful local implementation of some policy actions, while lack of local involvement in policy formulation also hinders adaptation practice. Integration of local perspectives into policy needs to be strengthened in order to enhance adaptation. Coupled with this is a need to consider adaptation to climate change in development policies and to pursue efforts to reduce or remove the key barriers to implementation at the local level.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 Springer Science+Business Media New York. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Environmental Management. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-017-0901-9. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Adaptation; Policy action; Multiple climatic hazards; Savannah ecosystem |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 02 Jun 2017 11:01 |
Last Modified: | 12 Jun 2018 00:38 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer Verlag |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/s00267-017-0901-9 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:117183 |