Between Risks and Responses to Droughts in the Semi-Arid Region:
Adaptive Governance to Climate Change in the Regional Context of the Piancó-Piranhas-Açu Hydrographic River Basin
Brazilian Semi-Arid. River Basins. Climate Extremes. Water Resources
Management. Regional Planning. Climate Adaptation.
This thesis investigates the risks, vulnerabilities, and drought management in the
Brazilian semi-arid region, within the context of global climate change, using the
Piancó-Piranhas-Açu River Basin (BHRPPA) as a case study. The main objective is to
analyze the extent to which drought risk management, at the regional scale of semi-arid
river basins, particularly in the BHRPPA, has contributed to reducing vulnerabilities
and promoting climate change adaptation. The research employed a mixed-methods
approach, integrating literature review, document analysis, interviews, participant
observation, and the application of the Drought and Adaptive Capacity Index (iSECA).
The results indicate a widespread scenario of extreme vulnerability, stemming from
high exposure to drought events, the hydrological sensitivity of the territories, and the
low adaptive capacity of municipalities. The analysis of political-institutional structures
revealed important advances, but also highlighted limitations, such as the fragmentation
of public policies, the weak integration of climate change into water governance, and
the centralization of decision-making in state institutions. The study concludes that the
current model of drought risk management is insufficient to address the climate
challenges in the region. As a practical contribution, the thesis proposes guidelines for
Adaptive Drought Governance, based on integrated, cross-sectoral, and participatory
regional planning, with potential applicability to other basins in the Brazilian semi-arid
region.