Climate adaptation and livelihood strategies in the Madurese community of Sumenep, Indonesia

This study examines how coastal communities in Sumenep, Madura, adapt to climate variability through the use of religious beliefs, ecological indicators, and informal practices. Based on ethnographic field research, 27 in-depth interviews, and climate data from the BMKG (2018–2020), this study reveals significant disruptions to seasonal patterns, a decline in trust in traditional knowledge, and the emergence of hybrid strategies that combine mutual aid, digital tools, and belief-based rituals. Women play a central role in daily adaptations such as managing water, food, and storage methods, but remain marginalised from formal decision-making, exposing gender-based barriers to resilience. Thematic analysis, supported by NVIVO, reveals that environmental changes are often interpreted through moral and cosmological frameworks. Despite their proactive responses, Madura communities remain absent from national climate policies. This study addresses this gap and calls for a decentralised and culturally oriented adaptation approach.