Strengthening Responses to Climate Variability in South Asia: Roundtable Discussion

Shreya Mitra

04 May, 2014

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Climate Change, Human Security and Conflict

Climate and Environmental Change

Vulnerability• Exposure• Sensitivity• Adaptation

Human Insecurity

decreasesincreases

Fragility

Figure: Negative Cycle between Climate Change, Fragility, Vulnerability, Human Security and Conflict

Source: Vivekananda, J., Schilling, J. and Smith, D., (2014), ‘Climate Resilience in fragile and conflict-affected societies: concepts and approaches’, Development in Practice

Violent Conflict

Background of the SRtCV project

• Climate change policies are made at the capital/HQ level

• National analyses miss the granularity which is critical to ensure context sensitivity

• Little empirical evidence of local-level experiences of CC impacts taking into account existing peace and security challenges

To understand local resilience:

Q 1. What are the root causes of vulnerability (to climate and conflict risks)?

Q 2. How can external adaptation interventions (by the state or international

institutions) address these root causes of vulnerability?

Research Methodology

4 country study: Bangladesh, Indian, Nepal, Pakistan

• Pilot study - Snapshot of a cross-section of experiences of vulnerabilities rather than have a comprehensive mapping or larger n survey

• Aspects of the grounded theory approach and structured focused comparison

• Did not distinguish between anthropogenic CC caused by GHG emissions and naturally occurring environmental changes

• Nature of environmental risks faced (household or village level) and the interaction of these environmental risks with pre-existing social, economic and political risks

• Semi-structured interviews and some FGDs in local language

Two sub-national locations in each of the four countries Sites were chosen for the contrasting types of livelihood, environmental stress or resource situation

1. Satkhira (Gabura and BuriGoalini Unions)• Highly visible, and direct exposure and

sensitivity to environmental risks namely cyclones, floods, sea-level rise, and saline water intrusion

• Significant attention from donors and development agencies

2. Dhaka• Flooding and water-logging• Increasing trend of migration/slum-

dwellings

Research Methodology: Selection of Sub-National Research Sites

Risks to environmental securityShrimp farming versus non-shrimp farming

Shrimp farmers • Changes in river current and temperature

affecting shrimp breeding and timing of catchment

• Weakening of embankments through the construction of sluice gates and illegal pipes

• Legal cases filed by the government

Non-shrimp farmers• Inability to use the land for farming,

homestead gardening and rearing

of livestock• Limited benefits to them from shrimp farming

Risks to economic security

• Decrease in renu and fish populations is perceived as the main risk

• Restrictions on accessing the Sunderbans

- government-imposed 2 month annual

ban to protect the forest’s biodiversity

- local communities perceive the ban as a

direct obstacle to their income

- implications of the ban include

increased fishing (in some instances) and

some additional expenses (e.g. Boat License

Certificate; permits issues by the Forest

Department)

Risks to human security

2. Tiger attacks

- Widow Allowances/Widow Cards

• Clear difference between the

security risks posed by the dacoits and those by the tigers, expecting government protections in the case of the former

• Two main risks identified and both pertaining to accessing the Sunderbans

1. ‘Dacoits’ – local armed criminal groups who target fisherman and crab collectors entering the Sundarbans, abduct them and hold them to ransom

- Yellow payment slips – need for loans

Response to livelihood risks - community

1. Accessing loans- Loans with the promise of repayment

through next day’s catch- Loans to access Sunderbans (boat,

license, ransom money expenses)- NGO promotion of savings/credit

schemes to provide access to capital

2. Migration- Seasonal patterns of migration to

work in brick factories in Dhaka- Temporary migration/displacement in

response to Cyclone Aila- Negative feelings towards

migration

Response to livelihood risks – external interventions

Alternative livelihood programmes

• Diversifying livelihoods beyond fishing to include tailoring, rearing of chickens, mat/basket weaving etc.

• Ability to raise HH income

• Increased women’s empowerment

• Challenges in sustaining these new ventures into sustainable income-generating options

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

• Different policy frameworks exist to deal with different risks to human security

• But households don’t face single risks in isolation

• Working in silos no longer makes sense

• CCA should take account of the broad dimensions resilience including interlinked factors of livelihood options, effective governance, access to justice, security and well-being

• Building resilience doesn’t always look like CCA

SRtCV Reports and Publications

Academic PublicationsVivekananda, J., Schilling, J., Mitra, S. and Pandey, N., (2014), ‘On Shrimp, Salt and Security: Livelihood Risks and Responses in South Bangladesh and East India. Environment, Development and Sustainability,

Schilling, J., Vivekananda, J., Pandey, N., and Khan, M., (2013), ‘Vulnerability to Environmental Risks and Effects on Community Resilience in Mid-West Nepal and South-East Pakistan. Environment and Natural Resources Research

Thank You!