Journal of Marine Science: Research & Development
Open Access

Abstract

With the interventions following IPCC?s 4 th assessment and SREX reports, concerns towards climate change adaptation has grown worldwide. The paradigm shift in disaster management from ?response and relief ? to ?risk mitigation and preparedness? centric approach called for greater focus on vulnerability reduction. This has brought the focus towards convergence of the two. India is vulnerability to almost all climatic hazards and thus needs more sustainable approach. Ecosystem approach to disaster risk reduction (ecoDRR) is a recent focus in India?s disaster management. However, climate change adaptation lacks planning and legal requirement in India, whereas disaster management plans at different levels are required under law. There were certain local interventions of integrating the two but the mechanisms and systems were never institutionalized. Looking to the potential opportunities that exist for integrating climate resilience into the disaster management plans, by strengthening HRVC (hazard, risk, vulnerability and capacity) assessment, and by infusing climate-change adaptation strategies in disaster mitigation plans, certain pilots were undertaken. Institutionalization of climate resilience into plans offers sustainability and long-term benefits. Two coastal state, viz., Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh were selected for pilot interventions at state, district and village levels, under a European Union supported project in collaboration with Indo-German Environment Programme. In an another initiative with the support of CDKN-START, model study of Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, a flood affected region in north India, has been undertaken jointly with Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group and US Based Institute of Social and Environment Transition. Governance and scientific understanding of the disaster risk management on one hand, disaster management concern of the environmental scientists, although inadequate at the initial stage, but when strengthened - provided the systemic facilitation. The assessment of opportunities, challenges and scoping of integration of the two were important steps of the pilots, and are discussed in the present paper along with the approach, methodology and framework of climate sensitive disaster management plans.

Biography

Anil K. Gupta, Ph.D. in environmental biology (1995), is Associate Professor at NIDM New Delhi since 2006. He also holds a Law degree. He received Young Scientist Award in 1996. He has the credit of over 100 publications including 43 journal papers and 7 books. He guided 5 Ph.D., several post-graduate researches, and steered projects with support of Govt. of India Agencies, UNDP, UNEP Geneva, GIZ Germany. He has been instrumental in drafting of national strategy on climate-change, ecosystem based disaster risk reduction (ecoDRR) now promoted by UN-PEDRR, and preparation of national human resource plan for disaster management.