Abstract ID: 3.8707 | Reviewing | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Climate change impacts are not gender-neutral, but beyond, with women and men experiencing its effects differently due to pre-existing social, economic, and cultural norms. Anecdotal evidence suggests, poorest and marginalized strata of society, which includes marginalized women, children and indigenous groups, experience the perils of climate change at greater degrees. This study examines the factors that make people of different gender, age, caste, socio-cultural settings and beyond, vulnerable to the impact of climate change, their adaptation process and methods and their experiences around adaptive capacities. This is a qualitative study based in Indrawati Rural Municipality of Sindhupalchowk, a region characterized by environmental vulnerabilities facing risks of landslide and flooding. 15 life histories, 8 in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions, community and hazards mapping were employed for this study. The framework for adaptation to climate change has been employed to understand the various forms of adaptation strategies and validate the qualitative findings. This study highlights that knowledge and awareness about climate change is highly gendered with men having greater knowledge about changes in agriculture, and rainfall patterns in the face of climate. Findings also show the impact of gender roles at inter and intra-household levels further marginalizes women and other climate-vulnerable groups pushing them into greater precarity. Additionally, evidence suggests that these groups not only experience climate change disproportionately but also have lower adaptive capacity. Limited resources, access, and social inequalities make migration a common coping strategy but less accessible to them, further exacerbating their vulnerability. The study highlights that adaptive capacity highly determines their coping strategies, with migration as an option available to those with resources and access. The findings underscore the need for inclusive policies that address the intersection of gender, climate change, and rural development in Nepal, ensuring that both women and men can effectively adapt to an increasingly uncertain climate future.