The economics of adaptation to climate change in least-developed countries
This brief summarises the findings of an preparatory project on the economics of adaptation in least-developed countries (LDCs), carried out by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), in partnership with economists from seven least developed countries (LDCs). It addresses adaptation as a crucial component in order to maintain or restore the pace of development in LDCs from an economic development perspective, which includes generating funds for long-term adaptation to climate change and disaster risk reduction as a long-term target.
Following a preliminary identification of the priorities for adaptation to climate change, the brief presents specific projects to focus on in: (i) Sudan: Increasing resilience of rural communities to poverty; (ii) Bangladesh: Coastal agriculture; (iii) Nepal: Rain-water harvesting and winter season crop diversification for adaptation in agriculture systems; (iv) Malawi: Small-scale adaptation in Southern Malawi; (v) Uganda: Flood and drought mitigation and livelihoods; (vi) Senegal: Biological agriculture in Guede; and (vii) Zambia: Flood and drought mitigation in Southern Zambia. In addition to raising the issues and areas of focus, the project also sought to build the capacity of LDC economists by involving them in policy research and encouraging interaction among LDC economists.