Climate change vulnerability and multidimensional poverty in flood prone rural areas of Punjab, Pakistan: an application of multidimensional poverty index and livelihood vulnerability index

Flooding is considered the most pervasive risk in climate hazards. Flooding causes millions of peoples displacement and raises poverty in flood affected low income communities particularly reside in most hazards prone developing countries like Pakistan. Objective of this study is to examine the association in climate change vulnerability and multidimensional poverty in two districts flood prone rural communities of Punjab, Pakistan. In this research work collected data of 480 households was used where livelihood and climate change vulnerability indices were applied for empirical estimation of climate vulnerability levels. Poverty levels were estimated through the application of multidimensional poverty index based on the initiatives of human development, Oxford poverty and United Nation Development Program. Estimates indicated almost half population of research area collapse lower than the threshold of multidimensional poverty. Rajanpur district was estimated higher intensity of poverty and higher number of population involved multidimensional poverty rather than Muzaffargarh. Moreover, Rajanpur district considered much deprived in the dimensions of poverty like living standard, health and education. Regarding climate change vulnerability Muzaffargarh lagged at the back in livelihood strategies dimensions, food, socio-demographic profile and social networks while Rajanpur considered much vulnerable in the health, financial assets and natural assets dimensions. In the overall conclusions related to flood disasters Rajanpur district more vulnerable than Muzaffargarh and study estimated significant and positive association in climate change vulnerability indices and multidimensional poverty index. Inadequate formal schooling and nonappearance of climate change vulnerability assessment in the study area more possibility of raises higher severity of multidimensional poverty. Policy concerned relevant authorities need to apply the analysis of poverty assessment about vulnerability of climate change. Formal schooling must provided to inhabited population to raising capabilities of decision-making, productivity, job opportunities, information access and level of awareness. Moreover, flood risk mitigation policy measures need to applied through flood defense and hotspots identification where poverty and flood risks occurs.