Global patterns of adaptation to climate change by Indigenous Peoples and local communities. A systematic review

• Published in: Current opinion in environmental sustainability 2021-08, Vol.51, p.55-64
• Main Authors: Schlingmann, Anna, Graham, Sonia, Benyei, Petra, Corbera, Esteve, Martinez Sanesteban, Irene, Marelle, Andrea, Soleymani-Fard, Ramin, Reyes-García, Victoria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1877-3435; 1877-3443
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cosust.2021.03.002

•We document 186 different local strategies to adapt to climate change impacts.•Common climate adaptation strategies involve modifying existing livelihood systems.•Livelihood activities pattern local adaptation to climate change impacts.•Local adaptations to climate change impacts differ more within than across climate zones. Indigenous Peoples and local communities have implemented myriad responses to deal with and mitigate climate change impacts. However, little effort has been invested in compiling, aggregating, and systematizing such responses to assess global patterns in local adaptation. Drawing on a systematic review of 119 peer-reviewed publications with 1851 reported local responses to climate change impacts, we show that Indigenous Peoples and local communities across the world apply a diverse portfolio of activities to address climate change impacts. While many responses involve changes to natural resource based livelihoods, about one-third of responses involve other activities (e.g. networking, off-farm work). Globally, local responses to climate change impacts are more likely to be shaped by people’s livelihood than by the climate zone where they live.