Seventeenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

Climate change is a wicked problem. As adaptation and mitigation strategies continue to be churned out, the complex interdependencies that surround the climate change phenomenon have complicated efforts to find global and sustainable solutions. Research has indicated that the context within which climate change is experienced may dictate the pace, direction, and sustainability of adaptation measures developed. This study explores the role of different dimensions of social capital in contributing to the development of adaptation mechanisms along the Mara River Basin in Kenya. The research utilized a mixed methods approach in data collection. Key findings indicated that the existence both cognitive and structural social capital contributed to climate change adaptation efforts by reducing financial, physical, and psychological costs of implementation and thus enhancing the sustainability of measures.