A Climate for Change

(^168) Vulnerable Groups Human Development Report - Croatia 2008
Second, it would be helpful to explore the phenom-
enon of additional vulnerability where weather-de-
pendent industries form the predominant source of
jobs in certain regions (fishing/tourism on the coast,
farming in rural areas), increasing the barriers to find-
ing alternate sources of employment.
Counties in the war-affected areas have recovered
unevenly. Those in areas on the Adriatic have shown
strong economic recovery in recent years due to in-
creases in income generated from tourism, while
those in central and north-eastern Croatia are still lag-
ging behind. The lowest median household income is
in the counties of central and eastern Croatia (Bjelo-
var-Bilogora, Virovitica-Podravina, Pozega-Slavonia),
while the highest median household income is in
Istria County and the City of Zagreb. The difference
is dramatic. The ratio of median household income
between the counties with the highest and lowest in-
come (2.9) is identical to that of the ratio of median
household income between Croatia and Denmark
(the country with the second highest median house-
hold income in the EU).^6
The 2006 survey also found that regional disparities
were even worse when factors in addition to income
level were considered. Multiple deprivations on an in-
dividual level are important. When measuring the pro-
portion of socially excluded citizens,II the differences
between counties were 16 to 1. In six counties (Bjelo-
var-Bilogora, Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Srijem, Slavon-
ski Brod-Posavina, Virovitica-Podravina and Pozega
-Slavonia) approximately one quarter of the citizens
could be considered socially excluded. All these coun-
ties are in the Central-Eastern region of Croatia.^7 A
recent Regional Competitiveness Index report also
pointed out that the Central-Eastern region is at the
bottom of the scale.
There is clear evidence that regional differences be-
tween counties in terms of income, employment,
quality of life and opportunities for development are
already profound. Thus, special attention needs to be
given to regions that are already disadvantaged and
could be in an even worse position due to climate
change. In the Central and Eastern regions, that are
dependent on farming, or in Adriatic areas, where
tourism is the main source of income, the impacts
of climate change could be more damaging than in
other areas.
10.2.2. Low-income households
While less than 5% of Croatia’s population lives below
the absolute poverty line of USD 4.30 per person per
day,^8 a 2006 survey indicated that nearly one third of
all Croatian households had difficulty meeting basic
living expenses.^9
Croatia is at the lower end of median income distri-
bution in comparison to EU countries. Only two new
EU country members (Bulgaria and Romania), three
Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) and
Poland have lower average household incomes than
Croatia.^10
Income distribution within Croatia is uneven. Coun-
ties in the Slavonia region that could be additionally
damaged by increased climate variability are at the
lower end of income distribution.
Exposure to threats: Low-income households face
greater exposure to climate threats than their high-
income counterparts, primarily because of the con-
centration of low-paying jobs in climate-dependent
industries, such as those in agriculture, tourism, and
fishing. In addition, 44% of Croatian households
“grew vegetables or fruit in that period, or kept live-
stock or poultry to help them satisfy their nutritional
needs”^11 in 2006. While only certain households may
be growing crops that are vulnerable to changes in
temperature or events such as droughts, this number
may still be substantial. However, the net effects of cli-
mate change on these households have not been re-
searched. For lower-income households growing their
own food, decreased yields due to drought would di-
II An individual is considered socially excluded if his/her income is
below 60% of the national average and if he/she is unemployed and
deprived of socio-cultural relationships.
There is clear
evidence
that regional
differences
between
counties in
terms of income,
employment,
quality of life and
opportunities
for development
are already
profound. Thus,
special attention
needs to be
given to regions
that are already
disadvantaged
and could be in
an even worse
position due to
climate change