ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how social hierarchies within low-income settlements reinforce household vulnerabilities and limit the ability of most households to cope with, or adapt to, climate change impacts. It describes the livelihood strategies of Dhaka's urban poor, whether and how these enable them to adapt to the current and anticipated impacts of climate change. Three main categories of employment are available to the urban poor in Bangladesh: unskilled labour, small business, and formal sector or skilled work that requires some level of qualifications, skills and experience. Accumulating productive assets is another strategy through which households minimise risk, diversify livelihoods opportunities, increase household resilience and prepare for future crises. Climate change is exacerbating an already complex and vulnerable livelihood context in Bangladesh. Possibilities for climate change adaptation are restricted to the upper levels of the social hierarchy. Dhaka's urban poor have devised a number of strategies for coping with income shortfalls, including buying in small quantities, skipping meals and purchasing foods of lower nutritional value.
