Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Building: Political Biases, Funding Gaps, and Empirical Insights into Mitigation Strategies

ABSTRACT

My thesis explores three interconnected areas related to climate change: vulnerability, the equitable distribution of adaptation resources, and resilience building. In the first two chapters, I examine the flow of funding from international climate organizations to municipalities in Central America and the Caribbean. I explore the role that clientelism plays in the allocation of adaptation funds at the municipal level and assess whether the most vulnerable communities are receiving the funds they need. In my third chapter, I evaluate which types of social vulnerabilities, experiences, and interventions predict impacts and recovery from hurricanes. Overall, I find that political clientelism diverts funds away from truly vulnerable areas, that subnational targeting needs to incorporate more comprehensive and intersectional approaches to climate vulnerability, and that even under favorable conditions, resilience building remains elusive for disaster-prone communities.

BIO

Gaby leverages her diverse background in biology, environmental policy, and political science, along with her activist roots, to tackle pressing environmental issues. Born and raised in Panama City, Panama, her work is fueled by a deep commitment to social and environmental justice. At UC Santa Barbara, her research has focused on studying the distribution of climate adaptation funding in Central America and the Caribbean to determine if vulnerable communities are receiving the funds they need. She also investigates the role that corruption plays in the allocation of these funds. During her time at UC Santa Barbara, she has also researched topics related to resilience building, violence against environmental activists, and gender disparities concerning access to climate funds. In her free time, Gaby loves to cook, dance, and create short-form content for social media.
Gaby holds an M.A. in Political Science from UC Santa Barbara, an M.S. in Watershed Science and Policy from CSU Monterey Bay, and a B.S. in Environmental Biology from the Universidad de Panamá.