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Study Flags 25 Meghalaya Blocks as Highly Climate Vulnerable

2025-12-01

A new climate vulnerability assessment has found that 25 of Meghalaya’s 39 Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Blocks fall under the high or very high risk categories, highlighting the serious pressures climate change is placing on the state’s fragile Himalayan ecosystem. The analysis marks Meghalaya’s first block-level climate vulnerability study and offers a more granular understanding of local risks compared to broader district-level assessments.

The assessment was carried out by the Meghalaya Climate Change Centre (MCCC), established under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) as part of the National Action Plan for Climate Change. The study aligns with the national climate vulnerability framework promoted through State Climate Change Cells (SCCCs), set up by the Department of Science and Technology in 30 States and Union Territories to strengthen coordination between the Centre and the states.

Using a tiered, top-down methodology, the MCCC evaluated both biophysical and socio-economic indicators to map vulnerability across C&RD Blocks. The findings show that high and very high vulnerability levels are driven by factors such as limited access to institutional credit, low household incomes, poor public health and nutrition services including inadequate Anganwadi Centres, insufficient forest resources, and minimal irrigation coverage. These conditions collectively weaken community resilience and heighten exposure to climate stresses.

The report provides critical insights for policymakers working in climate adaptation, rural development and socio-economic equity. By pinpointing vulnerabilities at the block level, it enables more targeted interventions tailored to specific terrain and community needs. The study reinforces the need for integrated and grassroots-led climate adaptation strategies to build long-term resilience in Meghalaya and contributes to India’s broader goal of safeguarding the Himalayan ecosystem from escalating climate risks.

News source: PIB

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