Perceptions of and Resp in Rceptions of and Responses to Climate
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Perceptions of and Responses to Climate Change in Paramaribo, Surinam - Casper de Vries - In Completion of Master of Science (MSc.) Program: Latin American and Caribbean Studies Utrecht University, The Netherlands August 2012 Author: Casper de Vries Contact: [email protected] Academic Year: September 2011-August 2012 Degree: Master of Science (MSc.) Master’s Program: Latin American and Caribbean Studies Utrecht University Faculty of Social Sciences Department of Cultural Anthropology Supervisor: Prof. Dr. C.G. (Kees) Koonings Second Reader: Dr. J. G. (Hans) de Kruijf Cover picture: the Waterside, Paramaribo (own work) Material of this study used should be cited 2 Acknowledgments Three months of designing research, four months fieldwork and three months of writing have led to the result of this Master Thesis. Through all these stages I have been supported by my parents, from the initial stage on they supported me through all the challenges, I am thankful for the options I have been granted. I am grateful for all the respondents in the field who were willing to give their personal insights and stories. Without their enthusiasm and their great kindness and honesty it would not have been possible to present this Thesis. From this place I would also like to thank Kees Koonings, my supervisor who has during these three stages always given me great input from the finest detail to the bigger picture, among others he presented me the ‘channels and dams’ which contributed to the end result of this Thesis. Casper de Vries, Utrecht, August 20, 2012 3 Abstract In this study perceptions on climate changes, causes, consequences and responses of individual inhabitants, small farmers and market sellers and the government in Paramaribo, Surinam are outlined. Three response strategies are distinguished; coping strategies, adaptation strategies and alternative response strategies. The study is structured following perceptions on changes, causes, consequences and responses. An Asset and Vulnerability Framework is used to analyze assets and response strategies. Climate changes are presented as climate change phenomena which include sea level rise, glacial retreat (as a contributor to sea level rise), thermal expansion of ocean water and atmosphere, global temperature increase, floods and storms. Reported and outlined season related changes affecting mainly residential Paramaribo and planters (small farmers) are changing weather patterns such as irregular and intensified rainfall and increased unpredictable periods of drought. Institutional responses identified are integrated coastal management (adaptation strategy), implementing early flood warning systems (coping strategy) and elevating homes, the construction of concrete dams along the major rivers including the Surinam River crossing central Paramaribo, development of drought and water resistant crops and on political legal level implementation of a national action plan climate change and a climate law. Responses on individual level have been identified as relocation (alternative response), livelihood diversification (coping strategy), elevating homes (coping strategy) and from an agricultural perspective; crop diversification, crop improvement, crop price adjustment strategy, implementation of pumps for irrigation, elevated field crop growing and growing drought and water resistant crops. 4 Table of Contents Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................... 3 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................... 5 List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................ 7 List of Figures, Tables and Boxes ........................................................................................... 8 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 9 1. Climate Change in a global context: Theories, Perceptions and Responses ................. 12 1.1 Perceptions on Climate Change ...................................................................................... 12 1.2 Human Induced Causes: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Fossil Fuel Burning and ....... 14 Deforestation 1.3 Consequences of Climate Change outcomes .................................................................. 15 1.3.1 Changing weather patterns: The Sahel a climate sensitive rural region ........................ 15 1.3.2 Livelihood impacts of sea level rise ................................................................................ 16 1.4 Responses .......................................................................................................................... 17 1.4.1. Responses: Adaptation, Coping and Alternative Responses .......................................... 17 1.4.2 Responses to Climate Change in a Social and Political Framework ............................. 18 1.4.3 Different Response Frameworks: Ocucaje and the Low Lying Atolls, Responsive ........ 19 Capability to extreme conditions 1.4.4 Current Adaptation developments ................................................................................... 20 1.5 The Asset Vulnerability Framework .............................................................................. 21 1.6 Climate Change Causes, Consequences and Responses in Surinam ........................... 23 2. Perceptions of Climate Changes and its Causes ............................................................ 25 2.1 Government and Institutional Perceptions on Climate Changes ................................ 27 2.2 Urban Climate Change Perceptions ............................................................................... 27 2.1.1 Climate change phenomena: Changing weather patterns, sea level rise and floods ..... 29 2.3 Urban Perceptions on the Climate Change Causes ....................................................... 30 2.4 Causes of Water Nuisance in coastal Paramaribo North ............................................. 32 2.4.1 Physical conditions: Cause of water nuisance ................................................................ 32 2.4.2 Cutting down mangroves: Cause of water nuisance ....................................................... 34 5 2.4.3 Increased rainfall and the drainage system: Causes for water nuisance ....................... 35 2.4.4 Governmental inaction: Cause for water nuisance ......................................................... 36 3. Perceptions on Climate Change Consequences ............................................................... 38 3.1 Governmental and Institutional Perceptions on the Climate Change Consequences 38 3.2 Urban Perceptions on the Climate Change Consequences ........................................... 39 3.3 Consequences of Water Nuisance: The Surinam River ................................................ 40 4. Responses ............................................................................................................................ 43 4.1: Government Responses to Climate Change ................................................................. 43 4.1.1 Climate Change Measures .............................................................................................. 43 4.1.2 The Directorate Environment .......................................................................................... 45 4.1.3 The NIMOS Awareness Campaign .................................................................................. 50 4.2 Individual Responses ........................................................................................................ 50 4.2.1 Responding by planning adaptive measures and preservation ....................................... 50 4.2.2 People’s perceptions on the responses taken by the government ................................... 51 4.2.3 Responding by building houses free from water nuisance .............................................. 53 5. Farmers and Market seller’s Perceptions on Climate Change ...................................... 55 5.1 Farmers and Market seller’s Assets in a Changing Climate ........................................ 55 5.2 Changes in the Climate affecting Assets ........................................................................ 57 5.3 Consequences & Responses ............................................................................................. 58 5.3.1 Responding to the consequences by being concerned about climate changes ................ 58 5.3.2 Responding by adaptation strategies in crop production ............................................... 60 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 62 List of References ................................................................................................................... 66 Annexes ................................................................................................................................... 72 Annex I List of Respondents ..................................................................................................... 72 Annex II: Topiclist Government Based Organization .............................................................