Exposure to climate shocks, poverty and household well-being

• Published in: Environment and development economics 2024-10, Vol.29 (5), p.426-455
• Main Authors: Becchetti, Leonardo, Mancini, Sara, Savastano, Sara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assets; Climate; Climate adaptation; Climate change; Climate policy; Consumption; Damage prevention; Developing countries; Environmental indicators; Environmental stress; Farmers; Global climate; Households; Hypotheses; Islands; LDCs; Low income groups; Nutritional status; Poverty; Quality of life; Shelters; Shock resistance; Well being
• ISSN: 1355-770X; 1469-4395
• DOI: 10.1017/S1355770X24000160

We evaluate the impact of climate shocks on the well-being of farmer households in a Small Island Developing State in the Pacific, the Solomon Islands. We find that both subjective (self-assessed exposure to climate shocks) and objective (number of past dry spells) indicators of environmental stress significantly reduce the quality of life among households. Household well-being is more severely affected for farmers living in poor dwellings (e.g., those with thatched roofs signaling shelters less resistant to environmental shocks), with below median income or durable assets, living in isolated areas and not being members of agricultural associations. Furthermore, households affected by climate shocks experience a significantly higher proportion of nutritional problems. These findings support the hypothesis of a strong correlation between climate shocks, household well-being and nutritional status, advocating for the relevance of global climate adaptation policies such as loss and damage funds, as well as prevention strategies.