Climatic vulnerability assessment of char dwellers of the Jamuna River of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. Climate-related hazards significantly threaten the livelihoods, food security, and adaptive capacity of riparian households, particularly in remote char areas. Using survey data of 240 households (including char and riverine households), collected between December 2025 and February 2026, this study investigates the extent of livelihood vulnerability to climate change in the char dwellers of the Jamuna River by applying the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) and IPCC Vulnerability Framework Approach (LVI-IPCC framework). The two approaches to vulnerability assessment were modified to incorporate local contexts. Overall, the results of LVI and LVI-IPCC did not change the ranking of vulnerability status; in both cases, households in char areas were found to be more vulnerable than those in riverine areas. While the standard LVI identified the most vulnerable livelihood components, the LVI-IPCC framework provided additional insights by categorizing vulnerability into exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The major contributors to vulnerability were found to be livelihood methods, access to food, water, health care, and natural disasters and climate variability. Riparian households were also shown to be vulnerable due to their relative inaccessibility and poor livelihoods, which, when combined with climate impacts on river morphology, lead to erosion and land loss, as well as a reduction in economic potential, creating a vicious cycle of poverty. Therefore, this study recommends strengthening targeted food security programs, livelihood diversification, and income-generating opportunities for vulnerable char households, particularly during periods of flooding and riverbank erosion. In addition, investments in rural infrastructure—such as transport, healthcare, education, and market access—along with strengthened local institutions and expanded NGO support, are essential to enhance adaptive capacity and reduce sensitivity to vulnerability in remote char communities.