Climate change, power, and vulnerabilities in the Peruvian Highlands

Abstract The intensifying impacts of climate change pose a serious global threat, particularly for rural populations whose livelihoods are closely tied to natural resources. Yet there is lack critical understanding how asymmetric power dynamics shape the vulnerabilities such under change. This article examines interrelations between smallholders’ climate-related vulnerability experiences and relations across multiple scales adaptation in Peruvian Andes, region susceptible increasing climatic threats. analysis draws on case study conducted Mantaro River Valley Central Peru using qualitative methods: open-ended interviews, participant observation, document analysis. Findings show that context change, production has much do with larger socio-political structures which protection highland farmers not prioritized. impact uneven scalar other overlapping fields policy have created terms among smallholders. marginalization, conflicts, deepened I argue reach better multidimensionality vulnerabilities, more detailed attention must be paid place-based within context-specific, processes, ways these shaped by unequal scales.