“We Have Never Seen These Things in Our Entire Lives”: Perceived Impacts of and Responses to Climate Change Among Sidama Agropastoralists Residing Near Hawassa, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Developing countries are experiencing the effects of climate change and urbanization simultaneously, often without the economic or political capital to address the impacts. Smallholder farmers in these countries are particularly vulnerable, given their limited resources and dependence on rainfed agriculture. On the African continent, Ethiopia is among the countries most impacted by climate change, largely due to drought, in recent years. To examine these intertwined challenges, we explored perceptions of weather change, effects on livelihood and well‐being, and resultant coping strategies among Sidama agropastoralists living in Loqqe, a lowland, peri‐urban village near Hawassa, Ethiopia. Results from semi‐structured group and individual interviews indicate a keen awareness of weather changes, with farmers noting an emerging ecosyndemic. This is due to decreased crop productivity and an inability to save water, compounding negative impacts on physical and mental health, and leading to the modification of traditional practices that were previously protective in times of environmental instability.