Identifying the Secondary Causes through Problem Tree Analysis
Using the Problem Tree Analysis framework, secondary causes are understood as the indirect or driving causes that lie deeper beneath the core problem and enable or intensify the direct causes. In the given context, poverty and lack of affordable housing are the key secondary causes. These structural and socio-economic conditions force vulnerable populations to settle in high-risk areas such as flood-prone riverbanks, thereby increasing their exposure to climate hazards. While factors like poor drainage systems and informal settlements function as more immediate or direct causes, and loss of lives and property represents the effects, poverty and inadequate housing operate at a deeper level, shaping vulnerability over time. Addressing these secondary causes is crucial for effective climate adaptation, as they tackle the root drivers of risk rather than merely responding to visible symptoms.