Annotation :::: The report focuses on development science, and explores how local residents affected by climate change seek their own livelihood opportunities and self-development. It uses methods of empirical study and on-site investigation to analyse experiences of residents in the middle and southern parts of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Ningxia is located in the inland area of northwest China and has a vulnerable eco-environment and relatively deficient economy. The middle and southern area of Ningxia is mainly composed of loess gullies, hills, and desert landforms, and is more sensitive to climate change. Increase of population, excessive cultivation of land, and global warming have caused gradual reduction of vegetation, acceleration of soil erosion, extremely low land productivity, and the decline of the land’s capacity to support the population. The local environment has deteriorated to the extent that one piece of land cannot feed its local residents. At present, there are still nearly 1.1 million impoverished people in the area, accounting for 48% of the total population. The report finds that the arid area of Ningxia is expanding, and climate change has further intensified environmental vulnerability and poverty, greatly affecting local people’s livelihood. Climate change, shortage of water resources, and land desertification will “force” the local residents in the arid area of Ningxia to migrate to other places. Such migration not only contributes to the improvement of livelihood and self-development of local residents, but also promotes the restoration of ecological environment of the arid area of Ningxia.
