ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE: NEED FOR A GEOGRAPHY LENS

Abstract

Climate change is univocal. A large section of humanity around world, particularly in developing countries, is vulnerable to the high-impact catastrophic events related to global warming. Human society has adapted to extreme climatic situations for centuries. However, the accelerated warming of the climate is a major concern. The COP27 reemphasized adaptation and identified five major sectors for the adaptation plans. India is experiencing the impact of climate change in ecological, economic and social sectors and several mission mode programmes are conceived under national and state-level action plans. This paper argues that while the global scenario provides a broad systemic idea, the local level change, impacts and manifestations are important for taking adaptive measures as there will be wide spatial variations in the velocity and direction of climate alteration and the underlying drivers of climate variation due to heterogeneity of earth surface. The relationships between scales of macro and micro and the interactions between macro structures and micro manifestations deserve more attention. Following a brief discussion on the vulnerability of India and state action plans, this paper highlights a couple of micro-level initiatives undertaken in Kerala, which have the potential to address emerging challenges due to climate change. It is suggested that local geography should be factored in while planning for adaptation, and all stakeholders across the society may be involved to face the challenge.