Vulnerability assessment and adaptation costs of agriculture to climate change in the Lima region, Peru

Abstract

In the face of climate change, the characteristics of vulnerable sectors generate information on adaptation strategies, but the most important challenge is to assess the adaptation costs. This paper assesses climatic vulnerability in order to estimate the costs of agricultural adaptation to climate change in the region of Lima, Peru. Five indices of crop vulnerability to climate change impacts (from low to severe) were designed based on agricultural and water monitoring and surveys of farmers conducted during on-site workshops. The costs of two main climate change adaptation measures (base year 2017) were estimated, for the period 2017-2030: 1) implementation of contingency plans for water protection in the basins of Lima region (US $ 26.63 million), and 2) climate change adaptation for one crop (US $ 652.18 equivalent annual cost per hectare). Standardizing baselines to assess "business as usual" costs of climate change, without adaptation measures for the agriculture sector, is encouraged. This study allows the prediction of agricultural vulnerability until 2030, and at the same time it is preventive for farmers in order to make decisions about climate change in the coming years.