Adaptation and Mitigation

How do we tackle climate change?
Lakshmi Menon, Senior Analyst – Adaptation and Risk Analysis Sector

Contents:

• International Consensus and Local Action

• Climate Action

  • Two Pillars: Adaptation and Mitigation

• Planning for Adaptation 

  • Understanding what is at Risk?

  • Risk = Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability (Sensitivity and Adaptive Capacity)

• Planning for Mitigation

  • Understanding Sources and Sinks

• Synergies

• Conclusion and Q&A

Source: https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/climate/climate-change-glossary/ 

International Consensus and Local Action

Key Organisations

Insert image on side

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - https://www.ipcc.ch/ 

• UNFCCC - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - https://unfccc.int/ 

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) - http://www.moef.gov.in/ 

Global Policy and Action 

Why 1.5˚C ?

Global Progress

Hierarchy of Action 

Source: SREX IPCC Report, 2014 16

 

Climate Action

Two Pillars

Managing the Unavoidable                                                        Avoiding the Unmanageable

Source: https://eaest.com/insight/climate-change-adaptation-vs-mitigation/

Adaptation

Chang Ghar

Source: https://www.thebetterindia.com/233052/assam-floods-bamboo-homes-viral-survive-traditional-technology-sustainable-architecture-disaster-safe-social-india-ana79/ 

Flood-resilient agriculture techniques

         

         Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Protect-Crops-from-Heavy-Rain 

Adapting to heat stress

         

         Source: Hindustan Times

Mitigation

Source: https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/india-factories-demand-to-generate-own-power-to-help-thermax/68165225 

Preventing the burning of fossil fuels

    Source: https://www.npr.org/2015/11/27/456716184/indias-quandary-climate-change-and-coal 

Emissions from the agriculture sector

Source: Bellarby, et al., 2008

Differences Insert image

Impacts Insert image

Quiz

A picture of a coastal city with a seawall and flood barriers, Kerala

Source: https://india.mongabay.com/2022/05/hard-constructions-continue-to-erode-keralas-coastline-leaving-communities-stranded/ 

A photo of a solar panel installation on the roof of a house, Gujarat

Source: https://india.mongabay.com/2022/05/hard-constructions-continue-to-erode-keralas-coastline-leaving-communities-stranded/ 

An illustration of a tree-planting event in a park

Source: https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/environment/leading-by-example-these-people-are-planting-trees-to-save-the-environment-we-should-too-372701.html 

IPCC - Assessment Report – AR6, Working Group II 

Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability

Planning for Adaptation

Understanding Risk 

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/30/india/india-flooding-climate-displacement-intl-hnk-dst/index.html 

Key terms and concepts

The goal of adaptation is to reduce risk

Source: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Working Group II, AR6

How do we measure risk?

Risk = Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability

Hazard
What is causing risk?

⬆️ HAZARD = ⬆️ RISK

Hazard
What is causing risk?

Exposure
Who or what is at risk?

⬆️ Exposure = ⬆️ Risk

    Hazard                                                                                                                                                                                                         Exposure
What is causing risk?                                                                                                                                                          Who or what is at risk?

    
Vulnerability
Why are they at risk?

Socio Economic Status

• Poverty

• Education

Household Composition 

• Age 14 or younger

• Age 60 or older

• Disability

Housing & Infrastructure 

• Kaccha House

• Unpaved roads

• Access to electricity

• Access to mobile phones

• Access to healthcare

• Disaster shelter

⬆️ Vulnerability = ⬆️ Risk

Addressing Vulnerability

GPSVS

ADITHI

SSEVS

 
BADLAO FOUNDATION                                                                                                                                                                             SAMVAD

• Agri & Non-agri Livelihoods

• NRM

• Education Advocacy

• Health & Nutrition

• Land Rights & Finance

SEBA JAGAT 

VIEWS

• DRR + CCA

• Sustainable Livelihoods

• WASH

• Education

• Youth Welfare

Importance of Adaptation

Source: Scriberia

Adaptation Methods

• Behaviour Change
• New Technologies 
• Green Infrastructure / Climate-smart Agriculture
• Capacity Building / Information & Awareness
• Physical Infrastructure 
• Financing 
• Early Warning Systems
• Policy 

Examples:

• Climate Smart Agriculture

  • Agroforestry

  • Intercropping

  • Crop Rotation

  • Drought Resistant Crops 

• River Bunds 
• Coastal Walls & Mangroves
• Rainwater Harvesting
• Weather forecasting 
• Disaster Preparedness

 

Case Studies

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Wetland Restoration

IPCC Assessment Report – AR6 Working Group III 

Mitigation of Climate Change

Planning for Mitigation

Understanding emissions

 

Source: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Working Group III, AR6

Understanding emissions

How do we mitigate climate change?

Carbon Sources and Sinks Source: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Working Group III, AR6

Key terms and concepts 

The goal of mitigation is to reduce emissions from sources or increase carbon sinks

Reducing emissions at source

1. Renewable Energy

   • Solar

   • Wind

   • Biogas

2. Energy Efficiency

3. Public Transport

4. Electric Mobility

5. Sustainable Agriculture

6. Waste Management

7. Population Control

Insert image

Increasing sinks

Increasing emission sinks

1. Afforestation and Reforestation

2. Urban Greening

3. Agroforestry

4. Mangrove Conservation

Key terms and concepts

What is net-zero? 

Balancing GHG we release with the GHG we remove on a national scale

Source: Project Drawdown

Ongoing work

GHG?

Synergies

Adaptation and Mitigation

Source: https://exchange.iseesystems.com/public/ramya/safari/index.html#page1

Our Work

Summary

1. Two Pillars of Climate Action
2. Adaptation 
   • Risk = Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability
3. Mitigation 
   • Reduce Carbon Emissions + Increase Carbon Sinks
4. Synergies 
5. Application to real-life projects 

Annexe

Climate Change at Our Doorsteps

ADITHI, Patna

• Initiation of fisheries program in Madhubani
• Women's health status survey in Bihar
• Soil and water conservation efforts in Dumra and Sitamarhi
• Establishing IGNOU study centre in Dumka
• Women & Children Welfare
• ​Water & Sanitation activities in Dumka and Sahebganj districts
• Operation of Women Helpline in Dumra, Sitamarhi
• Continued partnership with Unicef, Bihar

Major Regions and Domains of Work:

• Women & Children Welfare

• Flood Relief

• WASH

• HIV / AIDS

• Education

Ghoghardiha Prakhand Swarajya Vikas Sangh (GPSVS), Madhubani

• Climate Smart Agriculture Field Schools in Ghuskipatti, Jaynagar, Madhepur, Birpur, Basantpur
• Health and Nutrition Garden in Madhubani, Supaul, and Darbhanga
• Community Managed Drinking Water Supply System in Madhubani
• Disaster Mitigation
• Resilience Building of Women for climate Change in Supaul
• Comprehensive School Safety Program in Muzaffarpur, Bhojpur
• Trans Boundary Flood Resilience Project

Major Regions and Domains of Work:

• Disaster Mitigation

• Agro & non agro livelihoods

• WASH

• Traditional Medicine

• Women Welfare

Samagra Sikchhan Evam Vikas Sansthan (SSEVS)

• Promoting Enterprises & Agricultural Rural Livelihood (PEARL) phase-II project in West Champaran
• Sustainable Livelihood Intervention for Dalit Empowerment (SLIDE) in West Champaran
• Bihar Sustainable Livelihood Development (BSLD) in Sitamarhi
• Preventing Child Trafficking in Muzaffarpur & Vaishali
• Digital literacy in Saran
• Livelihood Resilience for Small and Marginalised farmers of Gandak river basin in West Champaran
• Promoting livelihood through MGNREGA in West Champaran & Siwan
• Homestead Land Literacy and advocacy

Major Regions and Domains of Work

• DRR + CCA

• Minimum Wages

• Digital Literacy

• Agriculture

• Women & Child Welfare

Badlao Foundation, Mihijam

• Addressing vulnerabilities among the Pahariya community through women-led market interventions in Jharkhand, India
• Strengthening of Tribal Organisation to Food Security and Rights (Aarho Johar)
• Rural Infrastructure Development (RIDF) in Dumka
• Jharkhand Tribal Empowerment & Livelihood Project (JTELP)
• Empowering Girls and Ending Child marriages in Jamtara, Jharkhand (UMANG)
• Mahila Sabha Mutual Benefit Trust (MBT) in Jamtara

Major Regions and Domains of Work

• Agro & Non-agro livelihoods

• WASH

• Traditional Women

• Medicine Welfare

• Disaster Mitigation

Samvad, Ranchi

• Deepening indigenocracy and promoting sustainable livelihood in Jharkhand

• Strengthening local self-governance in Jamtara district of Jharkhand

• Creating awareness and access to social protection in Jharkhand

• Improving knowledge and awareness about health and nutrition

• Improving knowledge about family planning methods in 6 states in India, including Jharkhand

Major Regions and Domains of Work:

• SHG

• Climate Justice

• Self

• Governance

• Forest Rights

• Women & Child Welfare

Sebajagat, Rampur

• ICRG programme in Kalahandi district
• MGNREGS in Kalahandi and Nuapada
• Disaster Management and Skill Building in Kalahandi
• Community Forest Right movement in Kalahandi, Nuapada, Khurdha, Gajapati, Sundargarh, Baragada, Kandhamal & Rayagada areas

Major Regions and Domains of Work:

• DRR + CCA

• NRM

• Skill Building

• Alternative Energy

• Health & Wellness

Voluntary Integration for Education and Welfare of Society (VIEWS), Gopalpur

• Small scale fisheries for Climate Adaptation
• Safe Migration from Cyclone-affected areas
• Clean Energy promotion
• Disaster Relief
• Community-based DRR preparedness
• Millet and Rice Intensification

Major Regions and Domains of Work:

• DRR + CCA

• Sustainable Livelihoods

• WASH

• Education

• Youth Welfare
  
  

LAHANTI, Dumka

• Hope of Family, Jharkhad Lahanti Project

• Gram Swasashan Aviyan (Self Governance), in Santhal Paragana

• Jharkhand Anti-Trafficking Network

• Red Alert (anti-trafficking)

• Lok Manch, Food Security and Agro-based Livelihoods, Jharkhand

Major Regions and Domains of Work:

• SelfGovernance

• Anti-trafficking

• Dalit Upliftment Agriculture

• Agriculture

• Women & Child Welfare
  
  

Self Employed Workers' Association Kendra (SEWAK), Tangarpali

• Educating rural and tribal communities on their rights

• Raising awareness on health and the environment

• Working in the domains of gender and education in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Keonjhar districts of Odisha
  

Major Regions and Domains of Work:

• Community Forest Rights
• Watershed Development
• Environment Awareness &
• Women & Child Welfare
• Advocacy
• Education

Women Organisation for Rural Development (WORD India), Sirigida

• Life Skills and Education in Telkoi and Barkot

• Jiban Sampark in Deogarh district

• Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Planning in Ghasipura

• Strengthening Panchayati Raj

• FRA in Telkoi and surrounding areas

• Child Rights in Bhimkand

• Climate Resilience Agriculture in Telkoi
  

Major Regions and Domains of Work

• Agro-based livelihoods

• Self-Governance

• WASH 

• Forest Rights

• Women & Child Welfare

Lucknow Mahila Sewa Trust, Lucknow

• Nayi Umang- Sustainable Livelihood for Rural Women

• Rudi-Rural Distribution (Second Freedom of self-employed Women)

• Membership Management System

• Digital Literacy for Underprivileged women

• Naee Roshni - Training Programme in Raebareli

• Huner Se Amdani – Training Programme in Lucknow

• Family Farming Programme

• Usha Shakti Project, Lucknow

• Samman Sewa - Economic Empowerment of Domestic Workers
  

Major Regions and Domains of Work

• Skill Development

• Micro finance

• Technology-Based Farming

• WASH

• Women & Child Welfare