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Tradeoffs in climate adaptation? Early data suggest reducing livelihood risks does not change health risks for mobile
Anne C Pisor1,2, Deepti Singh3, Dalmas Ochieng' Omia4
1Department of Anthropology and Social Science Research Institute, Penn State University, 237J Welch Building, 137 Fischer Rd, University Park, PA 16803, USA.
The Journal of Climate Change and Health
|July 19, 2026
Summary
Climate change impacts mobile communities. While Rendille people adapted to drought by changing herding patterns, this led to increased loneliness and stress, highlighting potential health trade-offs in climate adaptation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Sociology
Background:
- Climate events like drought significantly impact the health and livelihoods of mobile and migrant populations.
- Adaptation strategies for climate change may create unintended health risks, posing challenges for vulnerable communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the health impacts of hydroclimate extremes on the Rendille people in northern Kenya.
- To understand the adaptive strategies employed by mobile communities in response to climate change and their potential health consequences.
Main Methods:
- Conducted individual surveys with 90 participants and in-depth interviews with 16 individuals from the Rendille community.
- Collected data on health impacts and responses to hydroclimate extremes, including livelihood and movement pattern changes.
Main Results:
- During a severe drought (2020-2023), Rendille employed strategies like selling livestock, sharing food, and incurring debt to improve food security.
- Herders altered movement patterns, traveling further for pasture, which some reported increased loneliness and stress.
- No significant differences in self-reported health effects were found between herders who moved their animals versus those who stayed closer to home.
Conclusions:
- Evaluating potential co-harms and trade-offs between livelihood and health adaptations is crucial for effective climate risk reduction policies.
- Understanding these trade-offs is particularly important for mobile populations on the frontlines of climate change.
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