Climate Change Adaptationby the

Disenfranchised

examples from few selected research projects

Presented at York University, Canada April 16. 2009

Joyashree RoyProfessor of Economics

Global Change ProgrammeSYLFF-project Director

(www.juglobalchangeprogram.org)(www.jusylffprogram.org)

Jadavpur University, Kolkata

Selected studies-SA Region

Four Country Project: Mountain ecosystem, and river basins

extreme events: flood and drought

Urbanisation, climate change and health

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Field SurveyCommunity and Household Response

Purpose: To understand local needs and actions currently undertaken during extreme events to identify coping capacity creation through policy intervention.

Approach

• Impact on Sustainable Development goals– Livelihood – Institution– Food– Empowerment: health, social capital

Micro aspects of drought: Micro aspects of drought: coping mechanismscoping mechanisms

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Strategies Adopted during Last Drought

Micro aspects of flood:Micro aspects of flood:household responsehousehold response

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Policy Suggestions

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stakeholders

Objective

• To share research findings • For validation• To get feedback on gaps• To test robustness

experience

• Enriching• Encouraging• Validated and Robust• Coping mechanisms are varying• Priorities in coping mechanisms are different

somewhat• Field level people want to get continuous

information and need scientific action

Local studies

• Local issues: High vulnerability: coastal area, river basin, mega city

• Migration and urban poverty River bank erosion, Coastal Flooding, Urban informal

sector, Human heath and climate change: Heat stress, heat island effect , vector borne diseases, land use pattern, landownership

wetland management, sustainable habitat development, sustainable livelihood

Malda

@ SYLFF-JU-Nilanjan

@ SYLFF-JU-Nilanjan

@ SYLFF-JU-Nilanjan

@ SYLFF-JU-Nilanjan

Sagar

@ GCP-JU-Indrila

@ GCP-JU-Indrila

Mangrove Destruction at Basanti Block, Sundarbans

@ GCP-JU-Somenath

Reclamation of Mangroves through construction of EmbankmentsReclamation of Mangroves through construction of Embankments

@ GCP-JU-Somenath

Reclamation of Mangroves for setting up of Aquaculture activity at Jharkhali, Sundarbans

@ GCP-JU-Somenath

Erosion at Boatkhali, Sagar Island Sundarbans

@ GCP-JU-Somenath

Erosion at the western side of Dhanchi Island, Sundarbans

@ GCP-JU-Somenath

Urban street food vending

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Diarrhoea

DiarrhoeaDengue

Gross Cropped Area

Air Pollution

Crime against Children and Women

PolioAir Pollution

MalariaDengue

Electricity Consumption

Whooping Cough, Asthma and Diarrhoea

Air Pollution

Whooping Cough and Asthma

Diarrhoea

Crime against Women and Children

Whooping Cough, Diarrohea, Malaria, Aasthama

Whooping Cough

MalariaFiscal DeficitMalaria

Malaria

Malaria

Malaria and Diarrhoea

Crime against Children

Consumption of Pesticide Malaria

Whooping Cough, Diarrhoea & Asthama

Dengue and Diarrohea

Crime against Women and Children

Dengue

Air Pollution

Diarrhoea and Malaria

Consumption of Pesticide

Consumption of Pesticide

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Classification Of PrioritiesEconomicEnvironmentalSocial

Map 2.

Topmost Issues of Concern

Adaptation strategies• Reactive have increased poverty, marginalisation as the changes have

been forced – Migration– Change of Occupation

• How to make these more pro active rather than reactive :• through vulnerable area based education, skill, rural technology

development and human health programmes.

• Rural –urban interface • Local Adaptation with global implication : mitigation need, sharing of

good practice, technology, policy, approach

Background

• GCP-JU 2001, JU-SYLFF 2003• Targeted research: In house, GOVT, NGO • Dissemination: Teaching programmes, books,

mentoring, awareness programmes• Programme, Teaching module development• Training and Capacity building : for govt., executives• Outreach: community based action programmes for

technology transfer

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