It is important that adaptation measures are based on scientifically sound climate data (historical and future). Twenty-five years of data from Bilaspur district shows erratic variations in temperature and rainfall as well as extreme events like flash floods, landslides, and droughts. Model-based future projections also show a temperature increase and a reduced number of rainy days coupled with high-intensity rainfall. In addition, communities’ traditional knowledge and perceptions are crucial sources of identifying climate impacts and prioritizing interventions. Residents from Kandrour Village in the Bilaspur district were consulted, and their observations, experiences, and perceptions of climate change confirm the scientific results.
Conventionally, plans at the village level did not consider increasing climate risks while planning annual activities and budget The project conducted a local level vulnerability assessment and adaptation activities were prioritized through consultation with communities and local officials with listing of potential sources of funding from existing schemes.
In addition to modelling data, it is important to engage local communities, with special attention to women and vulnerable groups to capture local information. It is important to value knowledge from community level experiences to design robust adaptation strategies. At the local level, access to actionable climate information is challenging. Climate data and projections are available at the district level and capacities to translate that information into impacts and make inferences for work are often limited at ground level. In such cases NGOs or other agencies can play a crucial role in bringing the right information and capturing local socio-economic and climate information. Engaging with communities helped identify existing challenges, cropping system, and water related infrastructure to design need based adaptation interventions. Further to integrate these prioritised interventions at the local level planning process it is crucial to continuously engage with the Gram Sabha (village council) members and district officials, firstly to create awareness about past and future climate change and impacts and secondly to work on the budget and policy cycle at local level to find entry points.
Capacity building and awareness raising has to cover all units in administration horizontally, and all levels of the governance vertically for a lasting mainstreaming process. In Bilaspur, the project worked with officials at the state, district and village level on creating awareness and mainstreaming adaptation. Further at community level specific trainings were provided to farmers on watershed activities and efficient irrigation practices. Experience shows that creating a cross-sectoral network of involved agencies and stakeholders can help delivering development efforts, aligned with climate change and Sustainable Development Goals.
In this adaptation planning process, it was also important to define the key stakeholders and develop champions amongst government, civil society, academia and politics. They play a key role in influencing policy decisions and finding solutions to problems. Their involvement and the use of their expertise tied in with the SAPCCs will create the network necessary for mainstreaming of adaptation efforts. The project worked closely with the village and district administration with coordination from state level.