Climate Variability and Inequality: Comparing the Experiences of Indonesia and Vietnam

Households in Indonesia and Vietnam that are poor, rural, older, headed by women, and/or from ethnic minorities bear the biggest burden of variability in climatic conditions. New research investigates whether climate variability in the two countries has regressive effects on income stability and inequality, hurting disadvantaged groups more than others. The study finds that in Indonesia, climate variability reduces income, while it has an equalizing effect across the most vulnerable groups in society. In Vietnam, climate variability mostly affects the agricultural sector, and it raises inequality significantly.