THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY FOR THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN

Abstract

On the edge of conflict and socio-economic instability for decades, the Afghan people are even more vulnerable to the intensity of climate change. This study addresses the strong research gap regarding the ways in which environmental transformations promote or dilute social and economic equity among Afghanistan’s most vulnerable populations: women, rural populations, and internally displaced populations. The main goal of the study is to analyze the farther side of such intersection between climate induced stressors, like droughts, floods, and food insecurity and sharpening of inequality in the access to the resources, the livelihoods, and the social mobility. The method of analysis is by utilizing a mixed methodologies of geospatial climate data analysis of household level socioeconomic surveys and qualitative interviews in order to map patterns of impact and resilience. Findings expected to emerge point to the fact that climate change disproportionately has burdened already marginalized groups through a limitation of agricultural productivity, escalations of forced migration and weakening of social cohesion. Despite this, the study concludes that without targeted adaptation strategies and inclusive governance, climate will further exacerbate systemic inequities, impeding attaining long term development goals. Adding to policy discourse, this work provides evidence-based recommendations of climate justice interventions for Afghanistan’s unique sociopolitical context.