Climate, community, cooperation: an Indian approach to adaptation in the Global South

This study intends to assess India’s present approaches to disaster and climate risk management, adaptation and resilience building, to record best practices and analyse how these approaches can be scaled up globally as well as domestically by driving more investments. The study was carried out across four states Odisha, Maharashtra, Assam and Meghalaya with the objective of tackling the major climatic disasters confronting India today and their impacts on vulnerable landscapes. The states chosen for the study are dealing with the main disasters that affect India, and they also have a long history of disaster management and adaptation initiatives. Odisha has a lengthy history of cyclones, and its zero-causality policy has attracted attention globally. Droughts are common in Maharashtra and its drought-proofing strategies have reduced the plight of farmers significantly. Assam and Meghalaya are seeing greater unpredictability in annual and seasonal rainfall, as well as frequent landslides. However, a rich legacy of community adaptation initiatives, nature-based approaches in economic revival and the use of multiple stakeholders, including military forces, are helping the states fight extreme weather events. The study highlights the lessons learnt in dealing with multiple disasters and provides a blueprint for scaling up these practices in similar geographies and socioeconomic contexts.