Climate change adaptation from local communities
Keywords:
climate adaptation, local communities, resilience, local knowledge, participatory governance, climate change.Abstract
Climate change adaptation is a priority for communities exposed to droughts, floods, sea-level rise, heatwaves, biodiversity loss and disruptions to livelihoods. This narrative review aimed to analyse the role of local communities in identifying climate risks, building adaptive capacities and implementing context-specific responses. Recent scientific and institutional publications addressing community-based adaptation, Indigenous and local knowledge, participatory governance, nature-based solutions, climate finance and social inclusion were examined. The evidence showed that the most effective initiatives combine community knowledge with scientific information, strengthen territorial organisations, decentralise decision-making and guarantee predictable resources. The strategies identified included livelihood diversification, community-based water management, ecosystem restoration, local early-warning systems, livelihood protection and participatory planning. Nevertheless, significant barriers remain, including insufficient funding, social inequalities, tokenistic participation, weak institutional coordination and limited community influence over public decisions. The review concludes that local adaptation should not be reduced to consultation processes. Instead, it requires the transfer of capacities, resources and decision-making power so that communities can design, implement and evaluate sustainable, inclusive and territorially relevant responses to climate change.
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References
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CONSIDERACIONES ÉTICAS
El presente estudio se llevó a cabo de conformidad con los principios éticos que rigen la investigación con participantes humanos. Antes de la recolección de los datos, el protocolo de investigación fue revisado y aprobado por el comité de ética institucional correspondiente. Todos los participantes fueron informados de manera clara sobre los objetivos del estudio, los procedimientos, las posibles implicaciones y el carácter voluntario de su participación, otorgando posteriormente su consentimiento informado. Durante todo el proceso de investigación se garantizó la confidencialidad de la información, el anonimato de los participantes y el uso exclusivo de los datos recopilados con fines científicos y académicos.
DECLARACIÓN SOBRE EL USO DE INTELIGENCIA ARTIFICIAL (IA)
Los autores declaran que la herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa ChatGPT fue utilizada exclusivamente para la traducción al idioma inglés y la revisión lingüística del manuscrito. Esta herramienta no contribuyó a la concepción del estudio, el diseño de la investigación, la recolección de datos, el análisis estadístico, la interpretación de los resultados ni a la elaboración de las conclusiones. Los autores asumen la plena responsabilidad por la originalidad, exactitud, integridad y validez científica del contenido presentado en este manuscrito.
