Exciting new collaborations and research, backed by a generous £3.5 million funding from the UK and Canadian governments, are delving deep into the profound effects of climate change on human habitats.
With a focus on South Asia, two innovative projects are underway to explore whether migration presents a viable, impactful, and equitable response to climate-induced challenges, spanning from vulnerable coastal areas to the rugged highlands.
Partnering with esteemed universities and knowledge hubs in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, both initiatives are bringing together a diverse team of Geography researchers from the University of Exeter, led by the visionary Professor Neil Adger.
Professor Adger emphasises the urgency of confronting the stark realities of rising global temperatures and their impact on communities' ability to flourish in their current locales. The central question revolves around whether staying put or seeking new horizons offers the best chance for a thriving existence.
Enthusiastically embracing the opportunity to collaborate with rising research luminaries in Asia, Professor Adger underscores the lofty ambitions set by the visionary funders. Their mission? To forge ahead, hand in hand with affected communities, in uncovering fresh insights and paving the way toward adaptive futures. It's a challenge they're more than ready to tackle head-on.
One of those eye-opening and wondrous initiatives is titled ‘CLAPs’:
The Climate Change Local Adaptation Pathways initiative, generously funded for a three-year duration by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This groundbreaking project is a collaborative effort involving esteemed research teams from the University of Exeter, the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, and the University of East Anglia.
Make it known that these universities aren’t alone in this endeavour, but rather, they’re joined by dedicated civil society partners across India, including the Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development in Kerala and Gram Vikas in Odisha.
Dr. Chandni Singh, leading the charge at IIHS in Bengaluru, highlights the urgency of the ingenious mission. With communities across India facing the harsh realities of climate change, the ingrained focus is crystal clear: to identify effective strategies that empower vulnerable populations and create safe, sustainable environments; this approach is rooted in evidence-based policymaking, ensuring each and every single grain from the efforts leads to a meaningful impact.
Moreover, the project zeroes in on climate change adaptation in India, particularly in rapidly expanding metropolitan areas like Kochi and Bengaluru. Here, the convergence of population growth, livelihood shifts, and urgent climate action demands innovative solutions. CLAPs is pioneering new interventions that integrate migration into urban planning and architecture, laying the groundwork for resilient communities.
Recently, thirty passionate team members from CLAPs came together in Sylhet, Bangladesh for a collaborative meeting with key external partners. Led by Professor Nitya Rao, an esteemed researcher in gender and intersectional studies at the University of East Anglia, he articulated “We delved into a four-day Methods and Methodologies workshop. Early career researchers eagerly shared insights and honed their skills to address the critical challenges of migration as an adaptation strategy.”
But that's not all – “our journey of exploration continued with masterclasses led by Dr. Jelle Wouters from the Royal Thimpu College in Bhutan, Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui from RRMRU in Bangladesh, and Dr. Chandni Singh from IIHS in India. Together, we explored participatory, qualitative, and creative research methods, enriching our toolkit to drive our mission forward.”
This initiative represents a pivotal step towards a more resilient, sustainable future in the face of climate change particularly for sensitive South Asian communities.
