Assessing spatial adaptation to climate change impacts: A case study of Udon Thani Province, Thailand

Abstract

Climate change poses increasing risks to human systems, necessitating effective adaptation to enhance resilience. This study investigates spatial adaptation to climate change in Udon Thani Province, Thailand, a region highly vulnerable to climate variability yet with strong potential for developing context-specific adaptation practices. The objectives were to assess climate-related risks and examine community- based adaptation strategies. An integrative approach was applied, combining long-term meteorological records, secondary data from relevant agencies, and primary data from interviews with community leaders. Analyses focused on climate trends, spatial impacts, and community adaptive capacity. Results indicate a consistent increase in mean annual temperature and a decline in relative humidity, alongside high interannual rainfall variability, contributing to increasingly hot and dry conditions. The rising heat index suggests escalating health risks. Climate impacts are spatially heterogeneous, affecting ecosystems, local economies, and livelihoods differently across areas, with notable implications for the agricultural and tourism sectors. Adaptive capacity varies among communities and is influenced by leadership effectiveness, social cohesion, access to resources and knowledge, and external institutional support. These findings underscore the need for spatially differentiated and context-specific adaptation strategies to strengthen resilience under ongoing climate change.