Index of vulnerability to the effects of climate change: Choluteca, Honduras

Abstract

Due to its geographical location and socioeconomic characteristics, Honduras is considered one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impacts of climate change; since its location favors the passage of extreme climatic phenomena such as hurricanes and tropical storms that, year after year, strike the country, a situation that weakens its fragile economy by slowing down sustainable development. One of the departments highly affected by climate change is the department of Choluteca, located in the southern part of the country. In this context, this article analyzes the situation of vulnerability of the municipalities of the department of Choluteca in regards to the effects of climate change through the construction of a vulnerability index. It starts from a retrospective view, estimating the municipalities that have been most vulnerable, including the degree of exposure to risk, which confronts the population to climatic events, as well as sensitivity to being affected by a natural disaster and the ability to adapt of both the local government as well as its inhabitants, from a socio-demographic and environmental aspect.

Through the analysis of sociodemographic indicators at the municipal level, the population of the Choluteca municipalities was identified as being most vulnerable to the risk of the effects of climate change, considering that they have been affected by natural disasters, with repercussions on various aspects of life. One of the most sensitive impacts is on the food security of the population, along with the decrease in the level of income of families that, faced with this type of situation, make the decision to migrate internally or internationally, which has consequences in the decline in fertility and the composition of households, among others.