Transformational adaptations to climatic hazards: Insights from mangroves-based coastal fisheries dependent communities of Bangladesh

Despite having potential to tackle climatic impacts, transformational (also known as transformative) adaptation to climate change suffers from limited evidence. To partly fill this gap, this study empirically assesses the transformational adaptation to climatic hazards in two mangrove-dependent coastal fishing communities in Bangladesh: Mathurapur near the Sundarbans, and Batayan near Nijhum Dwip. The study uses data collected by semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews in 2018-2019. Results show that cyclones, floods, salinity intrusion and riverbank erosion adversely affect the communities. The study identifies five groups of transformational adaptation: system-wide (e.g., cyclone shelter), restructuring (e.g., concrete housebuilding and livelihood diversification), path-shifting (e.g., migration), innovative (e.g., technological development) and multi-scale (e.g., reforestation programmes). The study finds that transformational adaptations are more effective to avert the impacts of severe climatic hazards than the conventional ones. Effectiveness of the transformational adaptation can be improved further by reducing uncertainty in climate projections, increasing awareness, building sufficient cyclone shelters, technological innovation, relocating people from hazardous zones, enhancing coastal reforestation programme and providing more fund for the implementation of effective adaptation strategies.

Automated summary

The study empirically assesses transformational adaptation to climatic hazards in two mangrove-dependent coastal fishing communities in Bangladesh, finding that such adaptations are more effective in averting the impacts of severe climatic hazards. To further improve the effectiveness of transformational adaptation, reducing uncertainty in climate projections, increasing awareness, providing more funds, and implementing other measures are necessary.