Impact of climate change on Indigenous communities: Voices of tribal people
Authors: Nirmalya Mukherjee1 and Paramita Bhattacharya1
1. Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR), MANT (Manbhum Ananda Ashram Nityananda Trust), Kolkata, India
Introduction
Climate change poses substantial threats to the well-being of communities through the modification of ecosystems, increased disease transmission and the disruption of food accessibility. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns disrupt vectors and pathogens, resulting in the occurrence of infectious diseases among wildlife, cattle and domestic animals. In addition, severe weather phenomena such as heatwaves, storms and floods result in injury, displacement and death among animal populations.
The threat imposed by climate change is ubiquitous, but marginalised communities are the most vulnerable. Among these, indigenous communities are of particular importance, given their strong connection with their natural surroundings. Recent reports indicate that climate change is beginning to disturb their traditional practices, knowledge and languages. This, in turn, is leading to larger issues, such as health hazards, food insecurity and economic instability. Thus, climate change exposes indigenous communities to multifaceted challenges.
Not only that, climate change disproportionately affects indigenous peoples, threatening their traditional lands, resources and livelihoods. Rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns and increased natural disasters endanger their way of life and cultural heritage. However, indigenous communities have been adapting to changing climatic conditions, often drawing on their extensive local knowledge and traditional practices to mitigate adverse effects.
Impact of climate change on indigenous communities: local voices
MANT (Manbhum Ananda Ashram Nityananda Trust) has launched a community media initiative in the Purulia district of West Bengal, located in the eastern part of India and with 49% multidimensional poverty. The initiative aims to empower local Indigenous people to share their voices. Through various media outputs on climate change created by the community, the following points have emerged:
1. Spiritual and cultural disruption
The Indigenous people of Purulia district, West Bengal, assert that climatic fluctuations are causing shifts in the geographical distribution of plants and animals, which in turn are affecting traditional medicine, rituals and spiritual beliefs. Indigenous communities maintain a close connection with nature, associating it with sacred and traditional practices. Indigenous areas frequently include regions with significant biodiversity, which play a vital role in providing ecological services and supporting cultural activities. Climate change-induced habitat loss, deforestation and species extinction therefore jeopardise Indigenous livelihoods and cultural legacies.
2. Risks to livelihood
Indigenous communities strongly rely on natural resources for their livelihoods. These include agriculture, fishing, hunting and gathering. The people of Purulia reported changes in weather patterns, such as irregular rainfall or prolonged droughts. These phenomena have disrupted their traditional practices, leading to food insecurity and economic instability.
The agricultural sector is significantly affected by climate change. It is particularly challenging for regions such as Purulia, where environmental conditions are difficult. According to climate change experts and farmers, a number of issues, including low rainfall, poor soil moisture retention, high aridity, irregular rainfall patterns and rapid surface runoff, severely restrict the district's ability to support agriculture. Changing climatic conditions exacerbate these issues, increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, droughts and other extreme weather events. These climate extremes directly threaten the viability of agribusinesses, as they affect crop growth, productivity, photosynthesis and transpiration rates.
3. Health hazards
Indigenous communities report that climate change has been impacting their health. This has been manifesting in the form of heat-related illnesses, vector-borne diseases and malnutrition. These hazards are exacerbated by limited access to healthcare and poor infrastructure, especially in remote Indigenous regions.
4. Climate migration
Indigenous communities anticipate a substantial risk of being forcibly displaced from their ancestral lands in the event of extreme weather events and environmental degradation. This would lead to a loss of cultural identity, social disruption and increased vulnerability to exploitation and discrimination.
Existing challenges
Direct reports from indigenous people clearly indicate that limited access to resources, technology and information are hindering efforts to adapt to climate change impacts. Indigenous women have also highlighted linguistic barriers, as most information is not available in indigenous languages. Additionally, socio-political marginalization and a lack of recognition of indigenous rights impede participation in decision-making and access to adaptation support.
Initiatives by MANT: People’s Science Centre
MANT has proposed a comprehensive solution in response to the dire consequences that Indigenous communities face as a result of unsustainable exploitation. To empower these communities with scientific knowledge and development indicators, MANT has established the People’s Science Centre (PSC). The PSC offers support to marginalised and vulnerable communities that depend on ecosystem services for their survival. It provides local students, farmers and women's groups with the skills to conserve local resources and implement climate-smart agricultural practices through targeted interventions.
The PSC is committed to preserving the health of soil, water, flora and fauna, ensuring the sustainability of ecosystems. MANT envisions the PSC as a hub for learning, idea exchange and the practical application of measures to address threats faced by local communities. Through community media initiatives, MANT is raising awareness about pressing issues such as climate change and public health concerns such as malaria and other vector-borne diseases.
To translate ideas into tangible actions, MANT emphasizes the importance of institutionalized dissemination and hands-on local implementation. It is continuously working to empower local communities to develop village-based, ecosystem-specific mitigation and adaptation plans to effectively tackle the challenges posed by climate change.
Way forward
As a way forward, MANT envisages the following actions:
1. Indigenous education on climate change
Provide education about climate change to Indigenous people in their native language and actively engage the youth. This will improve their understanding of factors driving these changes and the importance of adopting climate-smart agricultural practices to reduce adverse effects.
2. Disseminate information though community media
Enhance the dissemination of information about climate change through community media. The program will furnish indigenous villages with the necessary knowledge and resources to adapt to changing climatic circumstances. These measures will include strategies for water conservation, the use of drought-resistant crop types and the adoption of soil conservation practices. Gaining a thorough understanding of these strategies can significantly enhance the communities’ capacity to adjust to the effects of climate change.
3. Empowering through community engagement
The development of climate change awareness through community engagement would strengthen the capacity of indigenous communities to withstand the effects of climate change. This would entail implementing community-led endeavours to adjust to climate change, such as building water collection infrastructure, increasing forest cover by planting trees and establishing mechanisms to identify and address extreme weather events.
4. Health preparedness programs
Climate change exerts both direct and indirect impacts on health, particularly in rural and tribal areas. Awareness programs will help communities to better prepare for health risks arising from climate change, including the occurrence of excessive heat, vector-borne diseases, water-borne diseases and insufficient nutrition due to crop failure.
Conclusion
Acknowledging Indigenous groups' distinct susceptibilities and including Indigenous knowledge and viewpoints in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts is crucial for effectively addressing the effects of climate change on these communities. Strong collaboration among governments, non-governmental organizations, academia and tribal communities will enhance resilience, advancing sustainable development and protecting the rights and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples in the context of climate change.
References
Ingty, T., & Bawa, K.S. (n.d.). Climate change and indigenous people. http://sikkimforest.gov.in/climate-change-in-sikkim/17-Chapter_Climate%20Change%20and%20Indigenous%20people.pdf
MANT-People’s Science Centre. (2024). MANT-PSC stakeholder consultation workshop.
https://cphr-mant.org/mant-psc-stakeholder-consultation-workshop/
United Nations. (n.d.). The effects of climate change on Indigenous peoples. https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/climate-change.html
To link to this article - DOI: https://doi.org/10.70253/JDNB3172
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