Vulnerability to climate change in semi-arid tropics of India: Scouting for holistic approach

Abstract

Characterizing vulnerable regions is a prerequisite in the priority setting for climate change research and allocating resources for the targeted stakeholders such as farmers, researchers, development practitioners and policy makers. In this context, vulnerability profiles are developed at district level for the varied agro-socio-economic environment of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The districts were indexed, based on the set of indicators representing the three components of climate change vulnerability i.e. Exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. The standard and widely accepted IPCC approach was used for the indexing purpose. Results indicated that the majority of the districts of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra are vulnerable to climate change. Over the years the analyzed districts experienced a varying level of vulnerability to climate change, with some districts improved and while others slipping into more vulnerable category. This dynamicity existed among the components of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity is reflected in the vulnerability status of the districts. This exercise is a guiding tool for formulating action plans and is way forward in improving adaptive capacity among the rural population.