Climate Change Adaptation and Social Resilience in the Sundarbans

Household vulnerability to weather shocks and changing climatic conditions has become a major concern in developing countries. Yet the empirical evidence remains limited on the impact that changing environmental conditions have on households. This book explores climate change adaptation using a social resilience approach.

The book is based on primary data from the Sundarbans, a densely populated area located across parts of Bangladesh and India (West Bengal) which is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events and climate change. The focus is on assessing how households are affected by cyclones: whether they are able to cope with, adapt to and recover from events and changes; whether they are warned ahead of time; whether they benefit from government safety nets and other social programs; and finally whether they are driven to either temporary or permanent migration. This assessment leads to a better understanding of how exposure to an area of climate change vulnerability and risk affects and shapes human responses.

Anna O'Donnell is Social Development Specialist in the Social Development Unit at the World Bank, South Asia Region, based in Washington DC, USA.

Quentin Wodon is a Consultant at the World Bank in the Education Department and an Adjunct Professor at McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, USA.