observed in Hingalganj and Basanti blocks of the SBR. These blocks are located
along the coast and are frequently impacted by coastal hazards. The blocks
connected to the mainland are less affected by the disasters and have moderate or
low levels of adaptation. The adaptive measures should target group-oriented prioritizing of the vulnerable areas and communities. Livelihood diversification and
provision of basic amenities and facilities may lessen vulnerability in the SBR.
The principal component-based adaptation index analysis helped in understanding
the relationship between climatic adaptation strategies and the socioeconomic condition of the coastal community.
Keywords Adaptation strategies · Composite adaptation index · Coastal
multihazards · Sundarban Biosphere Reserve
Introduction
Climate change-induced coastal hazards have been found to be increasing globally,
leading to vulnerability of coastal communities. The vulnerability of these communities is modulated by climate perturbations, variability in rainfall and temperature,
rising sea level, and anthropogenic pressure on coastal ecosystems. Frequent striking
climate change-induced cyclones, storm surge, and flood are pushing the coastal
areas toward a bleak future. The coastal areas are fragile and susceptible to salinity
intrusion, erosion, and fluctuations in rainfall and temperature (Priya Rajan et al.
2019; Rehman et al. 2020). Further, the community and its assets are becoming
susceptible because of the increasing coastal hazards and increasing population and
urbanization (IPCC; Wong et al. 2014). Rising sea level is expected to increase
subsidence, coastal floods, damage to protecting structures, and, in extreme cases,
coastal erosion (Koroglu et al. 2019). The World Economic Forum (2019) identified
two major threats to humanity: climate change-induced disasters and inability to
adapt to those disastrous events. In 2019, economic losses from weather-related
disasters globally were accounted to be about USD 229 billion. Among these
disasters, flood ranked first, followed by cyclones. Cyclones have caused huge
devastation in Japan, the United States, and China, leading to combining economic
losses of USD 10 billion. Monsoon floods in India also caused huge economic losses
of about USD 10 billion, and cyclone Fani caused losses of about USD 8 billion in
coastal areas of India and Bangladesh (Aon 2020). Sea level rise is expected to
increase by 2100, depending on the magnitude of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions. Thus, decreasing sea level may allow more adaptation to the communities
living in coastal areas and deltas (IPCC 2018a).
Adaptation refers to foreseeing the implications of climate change and taking
appropriate actions to lessen the damages; adaptive capacity is defined as the
capability of an individual or system to adapt to the implications of climate change.
IPCC (2018b) defined adaptation as “the process of adjustment to actual or expected
climate and its effects, in order to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.
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M. Sahana et al.
along the coast and are frequently impacted by coastal hazards. The blocks
connected to the mainland are less affected by the disasters and have moderate or
low levels of adaptation. The adaptive measures should target group-oriented prioritizing of the vulnerable areas and communities. Livelihood diversification and
provision of basic amenities and facilities may lessen vulnerability in the SBR.
The principal component-based adaptation index analysis helped in understanding
the relationship between climatic adaptation strategies and the socioeconomic condition of the coastal community.
Keywords Adaptation strategies · Composite adaptation index · Coastal
multihazards · Sundarban Biosphere Reserve
Introduction
Climate change-induced coastal hazards have been found to be increasing globally,
leading to vulnerability of coastal communities. The vulnerability of these communities is modulated by climate perturbations, variability in rainfall and temperature,
rising sea level, and anthropogenic pressure on coastal ecosystems. Frequent striking
climate change-induced cyclones, storm surge, and flood are pushing the coastal
areas toward a bleak future. The coastal areas are fragile and susceptible to salinity
intrusion, erosion, and fluctuations in rainfall and temperature (Priya Rajan et al.
2019; Rehman et al. 2020). Further, the community and its assets are becoming
susceptible because of the increasing coastal hazards and increasing population and
urbanization (IPCC; Wong et al. 2014). Rising sea level is expected to increase
subsidence, coastal floods, damage to protecting structures, and, in extreme cases,
coastal erosion (Koroglu et al. 2019). The World Economic Forum (2019) identified
two major threats to humanity: climate change-induced disasters and inability to
adapt to those disastrous events. In 2019, economic losses from weather-related
disasters globally were accounted to be about USD 229 billion. Among these
disasters, flood ranked first, followed by cyclones. Cyclones have caused huge
devastation in Japan, the United States, and China, leading to combining economic
losses of USD 10 billion. Monsoon floods in India also caused huge economic losses
of about USD 10 billion, and cyclone Fani caused losses of about USD 8 billion in
coastal areas of India and Bangladesh (Aon 2020). Sea level rise is expected to
increase by 2100, depending on the magnitude of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions. Thus, decreasing sea level may allow more adaptation to the communities
living in coastal areas and deltas (IPCC 2018a).
Adaptation refers to foreseeing the implications of climate change and taking
appropriate actions to lessen the damages; adaptive capacity is defined as the
capability of an individual or system to adapt to the implications of climate change.
IPCC (2018b) defined adaptation as “the process of adjustment to actual or expected
climate and its effects, in order to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.
100
M. Sahana et al.