Abstract:
Ethiopia is among those countries most vulnerable to climate risks and it is the historically
prone country to extreme weather events, which was a reason for frequent droughts that
caused periodic famines. Therefore, this situation has taught the Ethiopians how to live with
climate changes more than anyone else. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to
examine the social, economic and environmental impacts of climate change based on their
likelihood, degree of existence and trends of the impacts; to find out the adaptation strategies
and mitigation measures; and to identify the challenges to the adoption of the coping
mechanisms of the pastoralists of Geladi district. To achieve these objectives descriptive
survey method was employed and data was collected from 185 respondents. These
respondents were selected using non- probability purposive sampling. The gathered data
were analyzed using frequencies and statistical descriptive: percentage, mean, mode and
standard deviation; and the results are illustrated using tables, diagrams and graphs. As a
result, impacts of the climate change were likely appeared on the social, economic and
environmental conditions of the pastoralists. In addition, the degree of effect of the climate
change on the social, economic and environmental conditions was high. Nevertheless, the
adaptation strategies for food shortage, water shortage, pastoralists’ health problems and
drought were likely practiced; whereas, those adaptation practices related to livestock health
problems, and livestock feed shortage; and most of the mitigation measures were unlikely
practiced. This could be because of social, economic and political challenges that the
pastoralists are facing.
