Assessment of Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Change: A Case Study at Co Tu Ethnic Communities in Hoa Vang District, Da Nang City

Abstract

In Viet Nam, climate change is becoming more and more obvious, causing many difficulties for people's livelihood, especially for ethnic minorities, who still have limitations in terms of education and responding skills and therefore they have very few livelihood options. The Co Tu people are ethnic minorities living mainly in the mountainous communes of Hoa Vang district, Da Nang City, Viet Nam. The consequences of climate change directly affect the physical and spiritual life of the local inhabitants. The objective of this study is to assess the livelihood vulnerability to climate change for the Co Tu ethnic group in Hoa Vang district, Da Nang City based on the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI). This empirical research has implemented the framework for Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Change proposed by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The results of the study show that the livelihood vulnerability of the Co Tu ethnic group in Da Nang is relatively low, in the Co Tu people in Phu Tuc village have a livelihood vulnerability lower than the Ta Lang and Gian Bi villages. However, some aspects need to be improved such as social network, health, food, and household living conditions. This research contributes to raising awareness against climate change and environmental protection; at the same time, it helps management agencies to have appropriate policies to ensure synchronous development and improve all aspects of the community's life.