Impact of Climate Change in the Indian Sundarbans Region

This book studies climate change vulnerability in the Southern Part of the Indian Sundarbans Region, West Bengal, following the IPCC framework which highlights three prime components of vulnerability – exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. This framework is considered as one of the best methods of vulnerability assessment as it uses direct household perception through collection of primary data, and recognizes a household’s proficiency in maintaining sustainable means of livelihood to deal with climatic changes. This is especially important in gauging the knowledge and perception of local indigenous people on climate change, and determining what measures can be taken to foster informed decision making for improved climate change adaptation and management. The specific impact of climate change on women, their lives and livelihood are also given due attention, as there is little written about gendered vulnerability to climate change in the region. The final chapter elaborates the limits, barriers to adaptation of climate change and also extends site specific suggestions for achieving community resilience in the Indian Sundarbans Region.