The Role of Governance in Climate Change Adaptation: A Quantitative Assessment in Afghanistan

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between governance factors and climate change adaptation outcomes in a community setting. Specifically, it investigates how corruption, accountability, and transparency, alongside socio-demographic characteristics, influence community-level adaptive capacity. Data were collected from 300 respondents using a structured questionnaire, which measured perceptions of climate change adaptation, governance and corruption, governance transparency, and accountability. Descriptive statistics revealed moderate levels of adaptive capacity, while reliability analysis confirmed that all measurement scales were internally consistent, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.730 to 1.000. Correlation analysis indicated that climate change adaptation outcomes are strongly and positively associated with governance variables, highlighting the interconnectedness of accountability, transparency, and corruption perceptions. Multiple linear regression analysis further showed that Governance and Corruption (IndexGG) is the only statistically significant predictor of climate change adaptation outcomes, emphasizing that lower levels of corruption are strongly linked to higher community resilience. Other factors, including accountability and demographic characteristics, did not show significant direct effects, suggesting that governance quality, particularly anti-corruption measures, plays a more decisive role in shaping adaptation outcomes. The findings underscore the importance of strengthening governance mechanisms to enhance climate change adaptation, with practical implications for policy design, resource allocation, and community engagement. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the critical influence of corruption on adaptation success and by providing evidence-based recommendations for improving governance in climate resilience initiatives.