Abstract ID: 3.10939 | Accepted as Talk | Talk | TBA | TBA

The indigenous communities of cold deserts of the Third Pole region are experiencing grave and adverse consequences of climate change, livelihoods being the most vulnerable of them, leading to migration of the communities in search of favourable climate. A study was conducted to identify the gap in understanding climate change and related awareness among residents of Lahaul and Spiti, part of the Indian cold deserts, by analyzing the difference in perception between migrants and permanent residents. Residents were categorized into migrants and permanent residents based on their duration of stay in the region, the cut-off point being 10 months. The responses of the Indigenous communities concerning climate change awareness and adaptation were obtained through a structured and pre-tested questionnaire and analysed using chi-square, and Mann-Whitney tests. The responses were also related to climatic trends. Additionally, the factors driving adaptation by permanent residents like choice of house type and use of renewable energy resources were also explored. It was found that permanent residents, relying more on natural resources and traditional subsistence practices, perceived greater threats from changing climatic patterns and their subsequent effects. In contrast, migrants demonstrated varied perceptions. A decline in snowfall coupled with rising temperatures, and erratic rainfall has led to changes in housing and agricultural patterns, respectively, highlighting how varying climate vulnerabilities influence adaptation strategies of the indigenous communities.