Date of Graduation
Summer 2025
Degree
Master of Science in Geography & Geology
Department
School of Earth, Environment & Sustainability
Committee Chair
Asif Ishtiaque
Abstract
The impacts of climate change are deeply uneven, often widening social inequalities and environmental injustice. Participation of all stakeholders—particularly historically marginalized groups—is essential for designing effective and inclusive adaptation strategies. This mixed-method, cross-sectional study investigates the underlying factors that hinder participation in decision-making and examines organizational efforts to reduce marginalization within climate adaptation projects implemented across the southwest coast of Bangladesh. The study used de-identified datasets, collected through structured household surveys from 301 randomly selected individuals and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations in Assasuni. A Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was used to analyze how socio-economic and demographic factors coupled with people’s perceptions and organizational approaches affect the degree of participation. Thematic analysis of interviews explored strategies employed to enhance inclusivity. The findings reveal that wealth disparities, male dominance within households, incentive-based motivations, attitudes toward adaptation, and geographic isolation are key determinants of exclusion. In response, organizations are promoting participation through community consultations, group formation, targeted outreach, and one-to-one communication. Notably, early engagement, formalization of processes and sustained trust-building emerged as critical components for fostering inclusive, context-sensitive decision-making in climate adaptation planning. These insights underscore the need for participatory frameworks that are not only inclusive by design but also adaptive to local socio-political dynamics. This will ensure equitable adaptation measures through collective actions of future researchers, policymakers and practitioners.
Keywords
climate change, adaptation, marginalization, public participation, non-participation, determinants of marginalization
Subject Categories
Human Geography | Nature and Society Relations
Copyright
© Samiha Nuzhat
Recommended Citation
Nuzhat, Samiha, "Marginalization in Climate Change Adaptation Decision Making: Insights From Coastal Bangladesh" (2025). Graduate Theses/Dissertations. 4087.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/4087
