A detailed report titled District-level Climate Risk Assessment for India: Mapping Flood and Drought Risks Using the IPCC Framework was released on 13 December 2024 at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. The study provides an in-depth analysis of flood and drought risks across 698 districts in India, offering valuable insights for climate adaptation planning.
The report was developed by IIT Mandi, IIT Guwahati, and the CSTEP Bengaluru, with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It includes district-level maps of flood and drought hazards, exposure, and vulnerability, culminating in comprehensive risk assessments for the country. A User Manual accompanying the report aims to build the capacity of State Climate Change Cells and associated departments.
Dr Anita Gupta, Head of the Climate and Environment Science and Technology (CEST) Division at DST, led the initiative to address climate change risks. During the report’s release in New Delhi, Dr Gupta emphasised the importance of translating these assessments into actionable strategies. She highlighted DST’s ongoing efforts under the National Mission on Sustainable Himalayan Ecosystems (NMSHE) and the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC), focusing on engaging with high-risk states to devise adaptation frameworks and empower vulnerable communities. She announced plans for a series of awareness campaigns aimed at improving local preparedness.
Pierre-Yves Pitteloud, Senior Regional Advisor for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, underscored the importance of integrating risk mapping with dialogue among policymakers, communities, and local bodies to address vulnerabilities effectively.
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The report categorises 51 districts as having ‘Very High’ flood risk and 118 as having ‘High’ flood risk. These districts are primarily located in Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha, and Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, the drought risk analysis places 91 districts in the ‘Very High’ category and 188 in the ‘High’ category, with Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, and other states accounting for most of these.
The report also identifies 11 districts, including Patna (Bihar), Alappuzha (Kerala), and Dibrugarh (Assam), that face dual risks of both floods and droughts, making them particularly vulnerable.
Prominent experts and stakeholders, including Prof Laxmidhar Behera (Director, IIT Mandi), Prof Devendra Jalihal (Director, IIT Guwahati), and representatives from DST and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, participated in the event. Their discussions focused on strategies to implement the findings and enhance climate resilience across India.
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