Gendered vulnerability and adaptive response to climatic variability and extreme events in India: Assessing differential impacts and building climate resilience

Abstract

Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of climatic variability and extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, cyclones, heatwaves, and erratic rainfall, posing significant challenges to sustainable development in India. While these hazards affect entire communities, their impacts are unevenly distributed across social groups, with gender emerging as a critical determinant of vulnerability and adaptive capacity. This study aims to assess the differential impacts of climatic variability and extreme events on women and men in India and examine the adaptive responses adopted at household and community levels. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates household surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and secondary data analysis to evaluate gender-specific vulnerabilities, adaptive capacities, and resilience. The study also examines the effectiveness of existing climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction policies in addressing gender inequalities. The findings are expected to demonstrate that gender-responsive adaptation strategies, enhanced access to resources, inclusive governance, climate-smart livelihoods, and community participation significantly strengthen resilience to climate risks.