Can access to natural capital, public programs, and remittances influence private defensive strategies of vulnerable coastal communities against natural disaster? Evidence from the coastal areas of Bangladesh
Description
This paper identifies major factors influencing private adaptation strategies, a form of climate-risk resiliency, of vulnerable coastal communities of Bangladesh against severe cyclonic storm events. Given the existing government sponsored disaster relief and rehabilitation programs, the study explores whether access to natural capital, remittances, income and asset ownership, and other forms of resource accessibility lead to improved outcome for the coastal communities to mitigate risks and cope against major cyclonic storm events. To address the research question, an empirical analysis is performed based on household survey data of more than 600 households spanning three (3) southern coastal districts of Bangladesh that were exposed to two severe cyclonic storm events, 2007 Cyclone Sidr and, 2016 Cyclone Roanu. Findings from the empirical analysis reveal that private adaptation cost on home improvements to reduce risks of facing storm-inflicted damages is influenced by household location relative to government-sponsored climate resilience programs, such as, embankments, vehicular road, primary school, and cyclone shelters, and a natural forest. In addition, access to external finance and non-governmental organization (NGOs), asset ownership, and income, play significant role in shaping household decision to invest in storm-resistant homes. Although remittances have impact on coastal household adaptation behavior, its influence turned out to be somewhat weak. Interestingly, findings from the study also reveals that households living inside polders and close to a natural forest, spend low on storm-resistant home improvements compared to other vulnerable coastal households.
Can access to natural capital, public programs, and remittances influence private defensive strategies of vulnerable coastal communities against natural disaster? Evidence from the coastal areas of Bangladesh
This paper identifies major factors influencing private adaptation strategies, a form of climate-risk resiliency, of vulnerable coastal communities of Bangladesh against severe cyclonic storm events. Given the existing government sponsored disaster relief and rehabilitation programs, the study explores whether access to natural capital, remittances, income and asset ownership, and other forms of resource accessibility lead to improved outcome for the coastal communities to mitigate risks and cope against major cyclonic storm events. To address the research question, an empirical analysis is performed based on household survey data of more than 600 households spanning three (3) southern coastal districts of Bangladesh that were exposed to two severe cyclonic storm events, 2007 Cyclone Sidr and, 2016 Cyclone Roanu. Findings from the empirical analysis reveal that private adaptation cost on home improvements to reduce risks of facing storm-inflicted damages is influenced by household location relative to government-sponsored climate resilience programs, such as, embankments, vehicular road, primary school, and cyclone shelters, and a natural forest. In addition, access to external finance and non-governmental organization (NGOs), asset ownership, and income, play significant role in shaping household decision to invest in storm-resistant homes. Although remittances have impact on coastal household adaptation behavior, its influence turned out to be somewhat weak. Interestingly, findings from the study also reveals that households living inside polders and close to a natural forest, spend low on storm-resistant home improvements compared to other vulnerable coastal households.