Climate Risk, Perceptions and Development in El Salvador

Development is undermined by disasters originating from natural hazards, but disasters are often the result of faulty development, as demonstrated by recent events worldwide. The key to ending this vicious cycle lies in the factors that determine why groups are vulnerable to hazards. This study examines vulnerability in El Salvador in order to understand how
development can drive a process of vulnerability reduction, and vice versa. The main challenges in El Salvador have to do with stagnation in the agriculture sector and rural economy, mistrust in government institutions, dependency, misinterpreted frameworks for risk management and differing understandings and beliefs. It concludes that a more holistic and integrated approach is necessary to address these challenges from both above and below.