The impact of climate variability on the livelihood of coastal community: a case study of Jamnagar coast, Gujarat, India
Student name: Ms Shweta Sharma
Guide: Dr Arun Kansal
Year of completion: 2013
Host Organisation: CEPT University, Ahmedabad
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Anil Kumar Roy
Abstract: Climate Change has become a major concern of today. Weather pattern is changing at an
alarming rate and is impacting life on earth. Through this study an attempt was made to analyze
the changes in the climate of the study area that is Jamnagar Coast of Gujarat in India and then
to study its impact on the livelihood of two main communities (agriculture and fishing
community) residing in the study area. After evaluating the climate variability on the basis of
secondary data, primary data was collected directly from the stakeholders, as their perception
for the concept of climate variability was very important. Livelihood vulnerability was seen
based on the frame work of IPCC, with the help of data collected. The livelihood index had six
major components namely, Socio-economic profile, Livelihood, health, Social Networks, Water,
Natural disasters related to climate variability. These components were the base for examination
of vulnerability using the three contributing factors that were Exposure, Sensitivity and Adaptive
Capacity. Through the help of these three factors it was concluded that both communities have
low adaptive capacities but fishing community is at a higher risk of climate variability. Policies
at state level were also studied to assess the efforts of policy makers for the disasters occurring in
the region so that the rate of adaptation at the state level can be analyzed.
Key words: Climate change, Exposure, sensitivity, Adaptive Capacity, Livelihood Vulnerability
Index.
