ABSTRACT

Fatema, N.; Ahmed, S., and Hasan, K., 0000. Assessing the adaptive capacity of coastal communities to climate change in Bangladesh.

This study uses econometric methods to examine the local-level adaptation capacity of coastal communities by integrating ecological variables with livelihood assets from the sustainable livelihood framework. A random sample of 384 households from six coastal villages selected based on forest proximity, and reliance on agriculture was surveyed. An ordinary least squares model analyzed the socioeconomic and geographic impacts on five adaptive capacity domains: physical, human, social, financial, and natural resources (accessibility and availability). In addition, principal component analysis explored the relationships among indicators within these domains. The findings indicate that households have high scores in physical and human capital, whereas the diversity of natural and financial capital is low. Overall, village adaptive capacity averaged 0.16 on a 0-to-1 scale. Social capital was significantly negative in five villages, and the availability and accessibility of natural capital were minimal. These results provide insights for policy interventions aimed at enhancing financial capital and improving access to natural resources, ultimately boosting the adaptive capacity of vulnerable coastal households and communities.