ASSAR's work in Karnataka

To deal with differential vulnerability across the rural-urban continuum, development policies and climate change adaptation interventions need to respond to the needs and dynamic aspirations of the most vulnerable. Urban development policies require a deeper understanding of informal settlements, including dimensions of differential vulnerability, particularly across the multitude of social categories present, the various actors involved, and the roles of social networks, local associations, and social cohesion. Additionally, viable employment options in rural areas should be developed through the strengthening of rural livelihoods and/or the natural-resource base upon which these livelihoods depend.

Urban and regional governance in India is fragmented and weak, and there is little engagement with climate policy. Local governments lack personnel and technical capacity, and have not sufficiently leveraged the presence of a range of domestic and international non-state actors. The relationship between state and city government remains top-down, with decision-making occurring at the state level, and local agencies responsible for implementation. The largest challenge, however, is to build support for climate action within state and local government officials.

For decision makers and practitioners in semi-arid regions to make robust and informed decisions it is imperative that they take into account the available, legitimate and reliable knowledge that supports fine-scaled, contextualised, and robust adaptation responses. To facilitate knowledge transfer and local-level adaptation, knowledge brokers should be recognised and formally supported, and the effectiveness of extension services should be improved.

Preserving functioning ecosystem services within the urban fabric is crucial for climate resilience planning. However in Bengaluru, these ecosystem services are being challenged by unplanned, haphazard urbanisation. Promoting ecosystem-service-based stormwater-management practices, and exploring alternative strategies that can enable stormwater attenuation or retention are necessary.