Assessment of social vulnerability to climate change in the eastern coast of India

This study highlighted the social vulnerability to climate change of 29 eastern coastal districts across 4 eastern coastal states of India by using the ‘Integrated vulnerability assessment approach’ and IPCC’s definition of vulnerability. The assessment was based on secondary data, like socio-economic and bio-physical indicators, collected from several authenticated sources; and weightage of these indicators were assigned by using Principal Component Analysis. Vulnerability was calculated as the net affect of exposure and sensitivity on the adaptive capacity. Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu was found to be the most vulnerable district, while East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh was the least vulnerable. The net effect was found to be negative in 10 districts: South 24-Parganas of West Bengal; Bhadrak of Odisha; Prakasam of Andhra Pradesh; Thiruvallur, Villipuram, Thanjavur, Thoothukkudi, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Cuddalore of Tamil Nadu. This net negative effect may be considered as an indicator of alarming situation.