ABSTRACT

Climate change impacts threaten farmers’ livelihoods and global food security. Adaptation to climate change can protect both farmers and our food supply. Structurational divergence theory (SD theory) provides a holistic framework to understand the unique contexts of groups impacted by climate change and to reveal constraints and opportunities for adaptation efforts. We apply SD theory to climate change adaptation, focusing on a population of Colombian coffee farmers in Risaralda who are impacted by climate change. Our findings reveal a SD cycle blocking successful adaptation. Climate change impacts exacerbate farmers’ pre-existing financial strain and threaten their livelihoods, yet they lack the information and political and structural support needed to take action. This impedes development and creates a downward spiral of immobilization; the farmers will continue to be unprepared for climate change and practice inconsistent adaptation efforts until structures shift to provide them with the information and resources needed for successful adaptation.

摘要

气候变化的影响威胁着农民的生计和全球粮食安全。适应气候变化可以保护农民和我们的粮食供应。结构分歧理论（SD 理论）提供了一个整体框架，以了解受气候变化影响的群体的独特背景，并揭示适应努力的制约因素和机会。我们将 SD 理论应用于气候变化适应，重点关注 Risaralda 受气候变化影响的哥伦比亚咖啡农人口。我们的研究结果揭示了一个 SD 循环阻碍了成功的适应。气候变化影响加剧了农民原有的财务压力并威胁到他们的生计，但他们缺乏采取行动所需的信息以及政治和结构支持。这会阻碍发展并造成固定的下降螺旋；