The social component of the Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change (EACC) study aims to highlight how vulnerability to climate change is socially differentiated, what elements are needed to strengthen the adaptive capacity of poor people and regions, and how governments can support adaptation that addresses the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable, while maximizing co-benefits with development goals. In addition, the study draws attention to ‘soft’ or institutional and policy measures in adaptation, which are well placed to complement ‘hard’ infrastructure investments. The social component complements the global and sector-specific analyses of the EACC study by bringing the voices of the poor and vulnerable to the analysis to help ensure that climate-resilient adaptation investments best respond to their needs.

To achieve these objectives, this study employed a combination of innovative analytical methods including participatory scenario analysis to reveal local stakeholders’ assessments of robust adaptation pathways in the context of uncertainty. By bringing together local knowledge with expert information, the social component generated new evidence on how vulnerability is socially differentiated; identified the risks and benefits of adaptation options for a range of actors in an integrated and cross-sectoral manner; and highlighted the importance of social accountability and good governance for achieving pro-poor, climate resilient development. The study extends the use of participatory scenario analysis to include a focus on local development planning in national contexts, while the fieldwork results present how current coping strategies and policy emphases may guide development of future adaptation measures.

This body of research aims to inform our diagnosis of climate change; our understanding of vulnerability; the political economy of climate policy and action; the composition of local and national actors and coalitions; and the design, monitoring and review of process and policy instruments. In doing so, it is hoped that results may be used to inform the setting of targets and thresholds and the identification of benchmarks for success in adaptation planning. In particular, this report aims to demonstrate that integrating a social perspective into national efforts to design adaptation strategies will contribute to developing climate action that targets poor and disadvantaged groups at national and sub-national levels.