Perception of climate change and adaptation strategies in Vietnam: Are there intra-household gender differences?

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to first examine the factors affecting the intra-household perception
of climate change. Second, the study investigates the impact of the perception of climatic stress on the
operators’ and spouses’ intra-household adaptation strategies (farm and household financial strategies).
Design/methodology/approach – The study uses household survey data from Vietnam’s Mekong
Delta. The study uses probit and negative binomial count data approaches to evaluate the empirical model.
Findings – Results confirm the existence of intra-household gender differences in the adaptation strategies.
The authors found that although spouses perceive climatic stress, they are less likely to adapt to such stresses
when it comes farming enterprise, but more likely to adapt to household financial strategies. In contrast, farm
operators, in the presence of climatic stresses, undertake both farm and household finance adaptation strategies.
Practical implications – Investment in climate smart agriculture can help households in managing
climatic stresses.
Originality/value – A farmer in Asia, and Vietnam in particular, faces significant risks from climatic
changes. In Vietnam, agriculture is easily affected by natural disasters and climatic changes. This study
provides insights into the perception of climatic changes by operators and spouses in Vietnam’s Mekong
Delta. Perceived changes in the climate have a greater impact on women because they typically lack the
necessary tools to adapt to climate change. The current findings could be useful in managing climatic risk in
Vietnam’s Mekong Delta and be helpful to policymakers in designing risk management strategies in response
to climatic changes.