[H-GG03] Dialogues on natural resources and environment between earth and social sciences

[HGG03-02] Ancient Wisdom for Modern Challenges: Building Social Resilience to Climate Change Through Sustainable Agricultural Development

*Harry F Lee^1,2 (1.Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2.Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Keywords:Agriculture, Social resilience, Climate change, Sustainability, China, History

Agricultural development has historically been a cornerstone of social resilience, enabling societies to withstand and adapt to climate-induced subsistence pressures. In late imperial China, the introduction of high-yield, drought-tolerant American crops such as maize, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and peanuts represented a transformative agricultural strategy to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate deterioration. My previous research revealed that these crops had varying degrees of success in alleviating famines and wars triggered by hydroclimatic hazards such as floods and droughts, with their effectiveness significantly influenced by local social, economic, and environmental conditions.

Sustainability plays a critical role in mediating the relationship between agricultural development and social resilience to climate change. This study systematically examines how the adoption of high-yield American crops in Ming-Qing China interacted with the three pillars of sustainability – economy, society, and environment – to shape social resilience to climate change across different spatial and temporal scales. By integrating vulnerability models with sustainability assessment tools, this research develops a holistic framework to sustain the positive effects of agricultural development. Additionally, it seeks to deepen our understanding of the complex interplay between agriculture, sustainability, and social resilience, offering insights for both historical analysis and contemporary applications.