Search for publications

Drought-Management Considerations for Climate-Change Adaptation: Focus on the Mekong Region: Cambodia

60 pages

This study from Cambodia follows a study done in Viet Nam, the result of collaboration between Oxfam GB in Viet Nam, Oxfam GB in Cambodia, and the International Environment and Disaster Management (IEDM) laboratory of the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES), Kyoto University, Japan. That study investigates some aspects of the recent droughts in the Mekong region and tries to establish their likely causes and how such incidents could best be mitigated. It contains valuable observations on how communities perceive drought and climate change and on how local governments and NGOs can help to manage climate-related such as drought. It points out that the impacts of drought are in a real sense a reflection of developmental problems, and provides policy options that could be implemented by local communities, governments, and NGOs. A major finding of the study is that whatever the current climate trends, communities are highly vulnerable to the impacts of even small and subtle changes in climate. Drought has been extremely common in Svay Rieng and if temperatures continue to rise, and if the current socio-economic situation persists, this study shows that life will become considerably harder for communities, unless measures can be taken to reduce their vulnerabilities and assist their livelihoods.

KeywordsClimate change adaptation Cambodia