Climate change, multi-hazards and society: An empirical study on the coastal community of Indian Sundarban

This study presents an empirical assessment of how coastal communities in the Indian Sundarban perceive, experience and respond to climate‑change‑driven multi‑hazards, including cyclones, storm surges, salinisation, flooding and erosion. Drawing on surveys of 850 households across island, coastal, riverine and inland settings, it examines the differentiated impacts of recent extreme events—particularly Cyclones Fani, Bulbul, Amphan and Yaas—on livelihoods, assets and wellbeing. 

The study outlines a range of coping strategies currently used by households, from reducing food intake and borrowing money to selling assets and migrating, and identifies significant variation in adaptive capacity across geographical zones. It recommends strengthening education and health services, improving embankment management, enhancing access to credit and markets, and investing in climate‑resilient agriculture to reduce long‑term vulnerability. The authors emphasise the need for integrated DRR planning to build resilience in the Sundarban, where climate‑induced hazards are intensifying and disproportionately affecting the poorest communities.