Growing social vulnerability in the river basins: Evidence from the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Region

• Published in: Environmental development Vol. 31; pp. 19 - 33
• Main Authors: Dilshad, Tanzina, Mallick, Dwijen, Udas, Pranita B., Goodrich, Chanda G., Prakash, Anjal, Gorti, Ganesh, Bhadwal, Suruchi, Anwar, Muhammad Zubair, Khandekar, Neha, Hassan, S.M. Tanvir, Habib, Nusrat, Abbasi, Saqib Shakeel, Syed, Md. Abu, Rahman, Atiq
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2019
• Subjects: Climate change stress; Gender responsive adaptation; Hindu Kush Himalaya; Marginalization; Social drivers and conditions; Social vulnerability; Hindu Kush Himalaya; Social vulnerability; Gender responsive adaptation; Marginalization; Social drivers and conditions; Climate change stress
• ISSN: 2211-4645; 2211-4653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2018.12.004

Vulnerability is a set of conditions of people that is derived from the historical and prevailing socio-economic, cultural, environmental and political contexts along with understanding future scenarios, especially for climate change. This study aimed at better understanding the nature and types of socio-economic drivers and social vulnerabilities in the context of increasing climatic stresses in four river basins in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. A multidimensional, contextual and integrated approach has been applied using participatory qualitative tools and techniques to identify major socio-economic drivers and conditions along with climatic factors in upstream, midstream and downstream of the river basins. In upstream and midstream region, people’s livelihood is dependent on subsistent agriculture, horticulture, pastoralism and tourism while in downstream, agriculture and fisheries are the major livelihood options. Climate sensitive natural resources based livelihoods are severely affected across the river basins. Poor and marginal population are not able take adequate adaptation measures due to lack of capacities, poor access to resources, services, information, which push them into greater vulnerability. The vulnerable groups in all four river basins are marginalized sections who are conditioned by economic classes, gender and social norms and living in geographically underdeveloped areas. For instance, poor, women, religious/ ethnic minorities, subordinate caste groups, char dwellers. Poor governance and the lack of access to resources and services have made the situation worse. All these factors are enhancing social vulnerability across the basins and study sites. Social protection measures, enhancement of human capitals and livelihood diversification with pro-poor and gender responsive adaptation and socially inclusive policy are needed to address growing social vulnerability. •Climate change induced social vulnerability is context-specific and localized.•Socioeconomic changes have multiplied the effect of climatic stressors leading to differential vulnerabilities.•Social protection measures, enhancement of human capitals and livelihood diversification are needed.•Trans-boundary issues need to be resolved to reduce vulnerability of people.