Uncertain Futures

Adaptation to climate change is a new challenge for development policy makers and practitioners. As future weather patterns become increasingly uncertain, communities in the developing world need to be able to respond and adapt. Uncertain Futuresturns the focus of development onto adaptive capacity, through which communities are able to make changes to their lives and livelihoods in response to emerging climate change. The book reflects on unfolding understandings of adaptive capacity and asks: how can local communities access the assets and knowledge they need to cope with climate change? How do their relationships, characterized by power and gender inequalities, prevent them from controlling the resources needed for adaptation? How can interventions move beyond the local and specific to promote networks and governance that support vulnerable communities? Uncertain Futuresargues that as greenhouse gas emissions continue to accumulate, a "business as usual" approach to development practice is increasingly inadequate and the importance of securing adaptive capacity becomes more urgent. Uncertain Futuresexamines this challenge, and invites readers to rethink development policy and practice in terms of how adaptive capacity can be best supported. This book should be read by the staff of donor agencies, policy makers, NGO practitioners, academics and students of development studies and the environment.

Jonathan Ensor is a Policy Researcher for Practical Action working on the relationship between climate change and international development.