Assessing the Climate Induced Livelihood Vulnerability of Coastal People Using Sustainable Livelihood Framework: A Study in South-Central Bangladesh

Climate change has become a major global concern, and it has severe consequences for all communities. Coastal areas of Bangladesh are vulnerable to climate change because of their geophysical condition and geographical position. Although climate change affects people’s sustainable livelihood strategies in coastal regions of Bangladesh, it has gained limited attention in academic discourse. This study, hence, aimed to investigate the impact of climate change on the sustainable livelihood strategies of coastal people. Utilizing an explanatory sequential mixed research approach, including stakeholders’ consultations, household surveys, in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs), the study was carried out in Char Kukrumukri union in Bhola District, one of the climate-vulnerable areas of the country. Our study findings revealed that climate change primarily affects natural and physical capital, which in turn impacts financial, human, social, and political capital, and in the end, creates different forms of vulnerabilities. The study also explored a significant association between increasing waterlogging areas and reducing arable lands (X2 = 38.02; p < 0.001), and the reduction in fresh water sources and damages in agricultural production (X2 = 80; p < 0.001). The study further highlighted that the government efforts, such as polderization, aimed at preventing salinity in coastal areas, have failed due to the lack of integration with the representation of local people. The lack of integration between the local community’s voices and government actions poses additional challenges to maintaining people’s sustainable livelihood strategies. Thus, the study suggests a successful integration of localized practices and government interventions to address the climate-induced livelihood challenges to coastal people.