Human Cost of Drought
Pauline McGuirk2014, Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research
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Abstract
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The paper examines the human costs of drought in rural Australia, emphasizing the necessity of understanding regional variations in the impacts of drought. It highlights the importance of local knowledge and case studies in assessing how communities cope with drought, particularly in the context of agricultural dependence and economic viability. Moreover, it discusses the role of social capital in mediating the effects of drought on health and well-being, advocating for integrated approaches that consider local environments, governance frameworks, and community dynamics to enhance resilience in the face of climate change.
Key takeaways
- Research focusing on small rural towns is therefore crucial to our understanding of the human cost of drought as these places represent the context in which the impacts of drought are often the most severe and where government programs addressing drought impacts will usually be targeted.
- As a consequence, the drought impacted on the economic viability of many farms and farming businesses.
- In the towns of Mildura and Donald specifically, drought was experienced in several different ways.
- As previously stated, however, it was not just drought confronting these regions.
- It is important to note, however, that the financial position of many farmers is such that, even when the pressures of drought eased in 2009, the financial stress on farming families and rural communities continue due to low commodity prices and large debt levels.
Related papers
Experiencing “drought and more”: local responses from rural Victoria Australia
Population and Environment Journal, 2012
Uncertainty around long-term droughts and water scarcity has been increasing as the impacts of El Nino cycles are felt globally. Understanding how the effects of these events are manifested on the ground in communities is particularly important if governments and associated agencies are to respond appropriately. Using a qualitative approach, this paper examines the impacts of drought on two rural towns in Victoria, Australia, and explores what lessons can be drawn from local experiences. The research suggests that previous responses to drought by governments have been largely ineffectual and as such, we question whether there is a need to reshape institutional understandings of what adapting to drought might mean. This research, therefore, seeks to further the discussion surrounding drought impacts and the myriad of challenges associated with it by drawing on locally situated knowledge to inform future decision-making in this evolving field of study.
Drought and the future of rural communities: drought impacts and adaptation in regional Victoria, Australia
2010
The National Climate Change Research Facility (NCCARF) is undertaking a program of Synthesis and Integrative Research to synthesise existing and emerging national and international research on climate change impacts and adaptation. The purpose of this program is to provide decision-makers with the information they need to manage the risks of climate change. This report on drought and the future of rural communities in regional Victoria forms part of a series of studies/reports commissioned by NCCARF that look at historical extreme weather events, their impacts and subsequent adaptations. These studies examine particular events primarily extremes and seek to explore prior vulnerabilities and resilience, the character and management of the event, subsequent adaptation and the effects on present-day vulnerability. The reports should inform thinking about adapting to climate change that is, capacity to adapt, barriers to adaptation, and translating capacity into action. While it is reco...
Drought and the future of rural communities: Opportunities and challenges for climate change adaptation in regional Victoria, Australia
Global Environmental Change, 2013
Australia's vulnerability to climate variability and change has been highlighted by the recent drought (i.e. the Big Dry or Millennium Drought), and also recent flooding across much of eastern Australia during 2011 and 2012. There is also the possibility that the frequency, intensity and duration of droughts may increase due to anthropogenic climate change, stressing the need for robust drought adaptation strategies. This study investigates the socio-economic impacts of drought, past and present drought adaptation measures, and the future adaptation strategies required to deal with projected impacts of climate change. The qualitative analysis presented records the actual experiences of drought and other climatic extremes and helps advance knowledge of how best to respond and adapt to such conditions, and how this might vary between different locations, sectors and communities. It was found that more effort is needed to address the changing environment and climate, by shifting from notions of 'droughtas-crisis' towards acknowledging the variable availability of water and that multi-year droughts should not be unexpected, and may even become more frequent. Action should also be taken to revalue the farming enterprise as critical to our environmental, economic and cultural well-being and there was also strong consensus that the value of water should be recognised in a more meaningful way (i.e. not just in economic terms). Finally, across the diverse stakeholders involved in the research, one point was consistently reiterated: that 'it's not just drought'. Exacerbating the issues of climate impacts on water security and supply is the complexity of the agriculture industry, global economics (in particular global markets and the recent/ongoing global financial crisis), and demographic changes (decreasing and ageing populations) which are currently occurring across most rural communities. The social and economic issues facing rural communities are not just a product of drought or climate change -to understand them as such would underestimate the extent of the problems and inhibit the ability to coordinate the holistic, cross-agency approach needed for successful climate change adaptation in rural communities.
Short-Term Emergency or Recurring Climatic Extreme: A Rural Town Perspective on Drought Policy and Programs
Australian Journal of Public Administration, 2012
Drought is most often encountered as a long-running and recurring climatic extreme; one that can have devastating environmental, social and economic impacts. While drought is a routine feature of the Australian climate, the politics of drought are often highly reactive, and drought support programs are notoriously ad hoc and ineffective. In the context of emergent global recognition of climate change, drought has received renewed political attention that presents significant opportunities for change. In this paper, we review the context of drought policy in Australia. Yet we seek to provide a unique contribution to current debates by considering the perspectives of those people at the forefront of drought; in particular, those people living and working in small rural towns in drought-affected areas. The aim of the paper is to use a case study to present an account of drought policies and programs from those who are the targets of such interventions.
Short-term emergency or recurring climatic extreme: a rural town perspective on drought policy
Australian Journal of Public Administration , 2012
Drought is most often encountered as a long-running and recurring climatic extreme; one that can have devastating environmental, social and economic impacts. While drought is a routine feature of the Australian climate, the politics of drought are often highly reactive, and drought support programs are notoriously ad hoc and ineffective. In the context of emergent global recognition of climate change, drought has received renewed political attention that presents significant opportunities for change. In this paper, we review the context of drought policy in Australia. Yet we seek to provide a unique contribution to current debates by considering the perspectives of those people at the forefront of drought; in particular, those people living and working in small rural towns in drought-affected areas. The aim of the paper is to use a case study to present an account of drought policies and programs from those who are the targets of such interventions.
Annika Maniram. The Impacts of Drought on the rural communities of Msinga
Drought is viewed as an important feature of climate change that results in extended periods of dryness, increasing temperatures and heatwaves (Orievulu, 2022). Additionally, drought is an extreme event in the hydrological cycle, and it is considered to be one of the most detrimental natural disasters occurring around the world. With the increasing impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities, the seriousness and frequency of drought is expected to rise in the upcoming decades (Mandela, 2019). According to Brown (2016), a drought is a period of below-average precipitation which results in drier than normal conditions. This study will be focusing on socio-economic droughts. The main aim of this study is to determine the impacts of drought on the rural communities of Msinga in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. The objectives for this study are to determine the socio-economic impacts of drought, to examine the perceived seriousness and frequency of drought and to investigate the adaptation and mitigation strategies of drought. Globally, droughts are viewed as one of the most distressing natural disasters, which affects food production, water resources, biodiversity and livelihoods. Approximately, 1.5 billion people have been directly impacted by drought this century, whilst every year an estimated 55 million people are affected around the world (Harvey, 2021 & WHO, 2021). Droughts are a key feature of South African climatic conditions, because of its topography, location and below average rainfall. In 2015/2016, South Africa had experienced one of the worst droughts in 30 years because of the extreme weather system, El Nino. The South African drought had resulted in threatened livelihoods, water shortages, loss of agricultural production and increased food prices. Additionally, drought is one of the most difficult challenges affecting developing countries, with the most detrimental effects being felt by rural communities and subsistence farmers, since they mainly rely on rain-fed agriculture. This research study also focuses on a theoretical framework. It discusses the sustainable livelihoods approach and the drought perception theory. The SLA assumes that all individuals have assets and abilities that can improve their livelihoods, whilst the drought perception theory discusses how farmers perceive drought based on four elements. The data obtained for this research study is archival data that was collected in June 2019 till August 2019 at the Msinga Municipality in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. However, this research project was conducted over a period of three years during 2020 - 2022. The data that was used for this project was collected using a quantitative research method. Additionally, the collection of data was conducted using a purposive sampling method, which is utilised when the researcher uses their own judgement to choose a group of participants that requires the people with the most characteristics based on their relevance to the research study. Furthermore, the tools that were used in this study included a questionnaire which provided a deeper understanding of the community dynamics. Questionnaires are a research tool that consists of a series of questions that aim to collect data from a respondent. Furthermore, to analyse the data that was collected, a programme called Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used. Data from the completed questionnaires were entered onto the SPSS programme. The demographic results have indicated that majority of residents within the Msinga Municipality were female, with a large portion of the surveyed population being single. The age distribution was disproportionate, with the older generation being the majority and the working-class population being the minority. The findings also showed a high level of uneducated residents, with majority of the population being unemployed and relying on social grants. The socio-economic impacts of droughts were also discussed, with the results showing high levels of malnutrition, food insecurity, limited food choices, crop failure, unemployment and poverty. The findings also presented adaptation and mitigation measures for dealing with drought, as well as strategies based on indigenous knowledge. The results also showed the different types of water that respondents used for irrigational purposes, as well as the perceived seriousness and frequency of droughts. Additionally, the results presented the percentages of respondents that received agricultural training and assistance from the government during a drought. It also discussed early warning systems and drought management programmes within the area.
Climate adversity and resilience: the voice of rural Australia
Rural and Remote Health, 2015
Introduction: Over the past decade, Australia has experienced prolonged drought and extensive flooding. It is argued that such events impact more significantly on rural communities than urban. Although there is a body of research investigating the effects of drought on mental and physical health in rural Australia, little research has examined the effects of flood and drought on wellbeing. This article explores the influence of drought and flood on the wellbeing of rural residents in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Methods: Forty-six individuals living in four rural communities in NSW were recruited and asked their experience of flood and drought using in-depth semi-structured face to face interviews or focus groups. The study used a grounded hermeneutic approach to contextualise participants' experiences within a rural social and cultural construct. Results: Weather was found to be at the core of rural life, with flood and drought contributing to decreased wellbeing from stress, anxiety, loss and fear. Social connectedness was found to promote resilience in rural communities buffering the effects of flood and drought. Conclusions: Flood and drought have negative impacts on an individual's wellbeing. Although these negative effects were seen to be buffered by individual and community resilience, the long term emotional impact of flood and drought on rural communities needs to be further considered.
Chapter Eighteen DROUGHT : ITS PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DIMENSIONS
2016
Drought has been a threat to human existence throughout history. Today, as in the past, drought alters the course of civilizations. It is not merely a physical phenomenon, but the result of an interplay between a natural event (precipitation deficiencies due to natural climatic variability on varying timescales) and the demand placed on water supply by human-use systems. Extended periods of drought have resulted in significant economic, environmental, and social impacts, including food supply disruptions, famine, massive soil erosion, migrations of people, and wars. Human activities often exacerbate the impacts of drought (e.g., the Dust Bowl in the Great Plains, the Sahelian drought of the early 1970s). This trend appears to be accelerating because of the increasing demand being placed on local and regional water resources as a result of the earth's rapidly expanding population. Recent droughts in developing and developed countries and the concomitant impacts and personal hardships that resulted have underscored the vulnerability of all societies to this natural hazard. It is difficult to determine whether it is the frequency of drought that is increasing, or simply societal vulnerability to it.
Social Aspects of Water Scarcity and Drought
Handbook of Drought and Water Scarcity, 2017
Factors associated with population risk perceptions of continuing drought in Australia
Australian Journal of Rural Health, 2009
To determine factors associated with risk perception of continuing drought in Australia. Computer Assisted Telephone Interview survey. The sample was weighted to the New South Wales population. A total of 2004 adults aged 16 years and over. Overall 55.9% of the respondents thought drought was extremely or very likely to continue, 60.1% were extremely or very concerned that they or their family would be affected, and 86.3% reported that they had made some level of change to the way that they lived their lives because of the perceived risk of continuing drought. After controlling for confounding factors, the odds of perceived drought being extremely or very likely to continue, concern for self or family and making changes to behaviour because of the possibility of continuing drought were significantly higher in women than men by 43%, 59% and 86%, respectively. Compared with those who lived in highly accessible geographical areas, respondents who lived in remote or very remote geographical areas were 3.22 (adjusted odds ratios = 3.22; 95% CI, 1.69-6.14) times more likely to think that drought would continue and were 3.72 (adjusted odds ratios = 3.72; 95% CI, 1.10-12.56) times more likely to have changed the way they lived their lives because of the possibility of continuing drought. Over half of the New South Wales population thought drought was very or extremely likely to continue. The baseline data collected in this survey will be useful for monitoring changes over time in the population's perceptions of continuing drought.
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\u27Not just drought.\u27 Drought, rural change and more: perspectives from rural farming communities
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A Sunburnt Country: The Economic and Financial Impact of Drought on Rural and Regional Families in Australia in an Era of Climate Change
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Reducing Societal Vulnerability to Drought:A Methodology
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2011
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Tracking Drought Perspectives: A Rural Case Study of Transformations Following an Invisible Hazard
Weather, Climate, and Society, 2018
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