Local approaches to harmonising climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction policies: Lessons from India

The document examines the disconnect between India's national and state-level disaster and climate policies, which often operate in silos. Through research in Barmer and Leh, it highlights how climate change is increasing the frequency of flash floods and 'invisible disasters'—small-scale events that go unreported. The briefing argues that local multi-stakeholder platforms, community-led knowledge sharing (such as 'weather schools' and radio programmes), and the use of post-disaster 'windows of opportunity' can help harmonise DRR and adaptation efforts and influence national policy.

• Climate change is significantly altering the nature and frequency of disasters in India's arid regions, leading to more intense flash floods and droughts. In Leh, 98% of respondents noticed temperature increases over two decades, while in Barmer, 82% of farmers observed sharp rises in winter and summer temperatures.
• There is a critical lack of coordination between India's national and state-level climate and disaster policies, such as the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC) and the National Disaster Management Act (NDMA). This segregation can lead to maladaptation, exemplified by tree plantations in Leh that blocked streams and worsened the impact of 2010 flash floods.
• Small-scale or remote disasters, termed 'invisible disasters', often go unreported and receive little aid because they do not cause human life loss or involve politically represented communities. An example is the February 2013 heavy snowfall in the Changthang region of Ladakh, which killed approximately 40,000 livestock.
• Local multi-stakeholder platforms and community-led initiatives can effectively bridge the gap between DRR and climate adaptation. Examples include 'nala training' (stream restoration) in Leh, which reduced flood risk and improved irrigation, and a community-managed weather station and 'weather school' that provided early warnings and scientific data to farmers.
• Innovative communication tools can empower marginalised groups to engage with policy-makers. In Barmer, a community radio programme developed by adolescent girls allowed vulnerable populations to discuss climate stresses and connect directly with experts and officials.
• To improve the integration of DRR and adaptation at a national level, the report suggests leveraging post-disaster 'windows of opportunity' by documenting successful local initiatives and creating interfaces between local and national multi-stakeholder platforms.

APA

Sharma, A., Chauhan, S., & Kumar, S. (2014). Local approaches to harmonising climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction policies: Lessons from India. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Leh-Barmer-Inside-Story_WEB1.pdf

Chicago

Sharma, Anshu, Sahba Chauhan, and Sunny Kumar. Local approaches to harmonising climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction policies: Lessons from India. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2014. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Leh-Barmer-Inside-Story_WEB1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sharma |first1=Anshu |last2=Chauhan |first2=Sahba |last3=Kumar |first3=Sunny |title=Local approaches to harmonising climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction policies: Lessons from India |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=May 2014 |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Leh-Barmer-Inside-Story_WEB1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sharma2014local, author = {Sharma, Anshu and Chauhan, Sahba and Kumar, Sunny}, title = {{Local approaches to harmonising climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction policies: Lessons from India}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2014}, month = may, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Leh-Barmer-Inside-Story_WEB1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }