Adapting or Coping ? An Analysis of Pastoralists’ Responses to Extreme Climatic Events in North-western Kenya

Abstract

Pastoral systems in Africa have always operated under high climate– related risk. However, recent repeated extreme weather events in short succession have exposed their vulnerability. Any supportive action requires understanding different response strategies and associated trade-offs • The climate change discourse is replete with the concepts „coping‟ and „adaptation‟. However, a clear distinction of the two terms is still elusive, and the implication of coping and adaptation for the future of pastoralism has received little attention • This study analyzes climate change response strategies of Turkana pastoralists in north-western Kenya and their implications for future adaptive capacity of pastoralism