Climate Change and Indigenous Livelihoods in Asia: Case Studies from India and the Himalayan Region

Abstract

This article examines the impacts of climate change on the livelihoods and cultural resilience of indigenous peoples in Asia, focusing on case studies from indigenous communities in India and the Himalayan region, including Nepal, Bhutan, and Ladakh. Employing a structural vulnerability and adaptation framework that integrates social, cultural, political, and environmental dimensions, the study analyzes field research and policy reports to understand climate change effects at regional and local levels. Findings reveal that shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns have induced ecological uncertainties in mountainous ecosystems, which are vital to indigenous subsistence farming, semi-nomadic pastoralism, and traditional water management systems. These environmental changes adversely affect food security and everyday livelihoods. Moreover, climate change undermines the spiritual and cultural relations of communities, such as seasonal rituals linked to glaciers and natural phenomena, causing disruptions in meaning and social cohesion. Despite their vulnerabilities, indigenous communities possess adaptive capacities through traditional ecological knowledge and community cooperation. However, these capacities are constrained by political power structures and state policies that often exclude indigenous voices from meaningful participation.The article concludes that fostering sustainable and equitable climate adaptation requires policy designs that recognize and empower indigenous rights to resource management and self-determined adaptation pathways. Enhancing partnerships among governments, communities, and organizations is essential to preserving cultural diversity and securing the livelihoods of indigenous peoples in this region.