Climate Change and Social Vulnerability in Asia

This book explores the deep and often overlooked connections between climate change and social inequality in one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions: Asia. Drawing on empirical research and case studies from across Asia, including India, China, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. This volume explores how climate change disproportionately affects marginalised communities, shaping their socioeconomic realities and adaptive capacities. Dedicated chapters delve into coastal vulnerabilities, glacial lake outburst floods, and climate-induced displacement and look in detail at the subsequent psychosocial impacts, loss of indigenous languages, and economic vulnerabilities of microenterprises as well as communities. The authors also consider specific sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, household resilience, and health systems. Taken together, these cases highlight that the challenges presented by climate change are deepening existing social and economic disparities in the region, due to poverty, income inequality, catastrophic health expenditures, and food insecurity. Integrating the multifaceted perspectives of economics, social sciences, and environmental studies, this book will be of great interest to practitioners, government, corporates, students and scholars of climate change, environmental policy and sustainable development.