1. Environmental stressors, natural resources and human security
Siri Eriksen Department of Sociology and Human Geography University of Oslo P.O.Box 1096 Blindern NO-0317 Oslo, Norway

2. Human security
the condition when and where individuals and communities have the options necessary to end, mitigate, or adapt to risks to their human, environmental, and social rights; have the capacity and freedom to exercise these options; and actively participate in attaining these options.

3. A need to shift the focus
Most policy attention so far has been on climate risks
Some attention has been paid to macro-level and sectoral adjustments
However, a micro-level and multi-sectoral focus is needed
Increased focus is needed on local response capacity and on drivers of vulnerability

5. Message 1: Responses take place in a context of multiple stressors
People experience a multiplicity of risks
Multiple stressors are both environmental and societal in origin
Local systems of natural resource use can be sensitive to pressures from outside
Sources of vulnerability link across space such as between urban and rural areas and across international borders, as well as across sectors
These interactions influence the capacity to respond to climate-related events

6. Message 2: Vulnerability context is highly differentiated
The vulnerability context varies from place to place, between individuals and over time
Groups are not homogenous
There are hidden and unexpected sources of vulnerability
Vulnerability and poverty are not synonymous
Interventions can inadvertedly increase exposure to stressors and reduce response capacity

8. Message 3: People’s responses to multiple shocks and changes are intrinsically political processes
There is continuous negotiation of competing interests between groups
Policy attention and investments have been skewed towards commercial farmers and large land owners at the expense of smallscale resource users
Most populations have a poor negotiating position in labour and trade markets that lock them into unreliable and short term survival type strategies at the expense of long term livelihood security

9. Main challenges
Ensuring people’s access to means of ensuring well-being, including social infrastructure, cultural rights, employment, economic activities such as farming, and natural resources
Strengthening the ability of vulnerable populations to influence political processes, policy development, economic changes and natural resource management systems and hence ensure their adaptation interests