Understanding livelihood impacts of climate change in the upper Ganga basin: a case study approach
Student name: Ms Yamini Yogya
Guide: Dr Arabinda Mishra
Year of completion: 2015
Host Organisation: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Ms Suruchi Bhadwal
Abstract: Although impacts of climate change on livelihoods have been documented, there
is insufficient knowledge on appropriate adaptation strategies. Given the
changing climate, it is an urgent imperative for communities with vulnerable
livelihood options to adapt. Hence, adaptation to climate change is no longer a
secondary or long-term response measure, but seems to be the only resort.
Studies have shown that effective adaptation can be attained through actions
that focus on addressing the vulnerabilities of the poor, since climate change
affects them disproportionately. Following thus, the current study aims to
explicate the perceived climatic stressors and subsequent impacts on livelihoods
of communities residing in the Upper Ganga Basin. Fuzzy cognitive maps have
been used under the Sustainable Livelihood Approach framework to depict the
various impacts and inter-linkages between the variables, while providing a
comprehensive understanding of the impacts of different asset categories within
each livelihood group. This process of mapping livelihood impacts has been
carried out for livelihood groups in six villages across different elevations of the
Basin. The perceived impacts on different asset classes and livelihood groups
are then discussed under a scenario generation exercise to determine acute and
critical areas of concern. In view of these impacts and the characteristics of the
study sites, possible adaptation options have been discussed, drawing from
expert opinions and existing body of literature.
Keywords: Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA), Fuzzy Cognitive Maps
(FCM), Adaptation, Livelihoods, Climate Change
