Assessing livelihood vulnerability to sea level rise: a perspective to climate vulnerability and adaptation in the context of the Indian sundarbans delta

Abstract The coastal communities of the Indian Sundarbans Delta in West Bengal survive in a socio-ecological system that grapples with existential threats due to Sea Level Rise (SLR). The coastal communities are majorly dependant on natural resource-based activities for sustenance and hence have high propensity to be adversely impacted by SLR. This study used a two-fold approach to estimate livelihood vulnerability to SLR – the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) consisting of seven major vulnerability components and the IPCC (2007) endorsed method computing vulnerability as a function of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. This study demonstrates integration of GIS-based approach into the sampling framework to identify adversely affected areas by SLR as compared to the existing secondary data-based approach. Data pertaining to the vulnerability components was collected through face-to-face interviews from 150 households located in four villages (Mahishamari, Mousani, Bijaybati and Gobardhanpur) and used to construct a composite vulnerability index, which revealed the sources and distribution of vulnerability in the study area. Gobardhanpur was found to be the most vulnerable with respect to the LVI index and Mahishamari with respect to the LVI-IPCC index. The findings of the study could assist stakeholders in integrating bespoke livelihood adaptation strategies in coastal management plans, thereby facilitating effective risk reduction to climate-induced vulnerabilities.