Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of issues surrounding the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector with focus on India. The status of adaptation research focusing on triggers of adaptation and adaptation strategies, such as innovation, adoption of technologies, risk management, and migration, are discussed. The chapter then deliberates on approaches for mainstreaming climate change adaptation policies, namely, climate-proofing, climate-first, and development-first. The wide-ranging budgetary requirements made by the State Action Plans on Climate Change for the agricultural sector highlight the need for a coherent approach for assessing adaptation budgets, along with the establishment of climate and disaster cells in the line departments of the state governments to integrate the climate risks with the developmental plans.

How Do Marginal and Small Farmers Perceive the Impacts of Climate Change on Livelihoods? A Case Study from Jammu Region, India

“…Climate change is a major challenge to economic growth, long-term prosperity, and survival of already vulnerable populations and amplifies economic, social, and environmental vulnerabilities (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2007; Mugula & Mkuna, 2016). Agriculture is one of the most sensitive sectors to climate change (Jamshidi et al, 2018;Kumar & Viswanathan, 2019;Malhi et al, 2021;Menike & Arachchi, 2016;Ahmed, 2019;Mulinya, 2017;Somboonsuke et al, 2018) and is expected to suffer the most due to its adverse impacts (Auffhammer & Schlenker, 2014;Campbell et al, 2016;Cline, 2007;Khanal & Mishra, 2007;Makate et al, 2016;Salvo et al, 2013). Climate change can affect crop yields as well as the types of crops that can be grown in certain areas, by impacting agricultural inputs such as water for irrigation, amounts of solar radiation that affect plant growth, as well as the prevalence of pests and diseases (Kumar, 2014;Porter et al, 2014).…”

“…The negative impacts of climate change on agriculture may bring food and livelihood insecurity for those depending heavily on agriculture (Zurovec & Vedeld, 2019; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2013; Kumar & Viswanathan, 2019;Panthi et al, 2016). Among others, small and subsistence farmers are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change.…”