Strengthening Responses to Climate Variability in South Asia: Roundtable Discussion Shreya Mitra

1. Strengthening Responses to Climate Variability in South Asia: Roundtable Discussion Shreya Mitra 04 May, 2014 Dhaka, Bangladesh

2. Climate Change, Human Security and Conflict Figure: Negative Cycle between Climate Change, Fragility, Vulnerability, Human Security and Conflict Climate and Environmental Change Violent Conflict Human Insecurity • Vulnerability • Exposure • Sensitivity • Adaptation Fragility decreases increases Source: Vivekananda, J., Schilling, J. and Smith, D., (2014), ‘Climate Resilience in fragile and conflict-affected societies: concepts and approaches’, Development in Practice

3. 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?

4. 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

5. Research Methodology: Selection of Sub-National Research Sites • 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

6. 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

7. Risks to economic security • Decrease in renuand 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)

8. Risks to human security • Two main risks identified and both pertaining to accessing the Sunderbans • ‘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 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

9. Response to livelihood risks - community • 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 • Migration • Seasonal patterns of migration to work in brick factories in Dhaka • Temporary migration/displacement in response to Cyclone Aila • Negative feelings towards migration

10. 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

11. 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

12. SRtCV Reports and Publications • Academic Publications • Vivekananda, 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

13. Thank You!