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Climate Change 101

IPCC Basics, Vulnerability, Adaptation & Climate Justice in South Asia
ImpactMojo Workshop Series • Understanding Climate Science & Action
75-90 Minutes

Workshop Overview

Target Audience: Development practitioners, environmental activists, policy makers, researchers, and community organizers working on climate and sustainability issues

Prerequisites: Basic understanding of environmental issues helpful but not required

Materials Needed: Laptops/tablets for accessing climate data, notebooks, colored pens for mapping

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Part 1: Climate Science Fundamentals - The IPCC Framework

20 minutes

The Stark Reality

Global Temperature: Earth has warmed 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels

South Asian Impact: India has warmed 0.7°C since 1900, with accelerating pace

Tipping Point: 1.5°C warming could trigger irreversible changes

Time Window: 8 years left to limit warming to 1.5°C (IPCC AR6, 2023)

Understanding the Greenhouse Effect

The Science Behind Climate Change

Natural Greenhouse Effect: Essential for life - keeps Earth 33°C warmer than it would be

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect: Human activities add more greenhouse gases, trapping extra heat

Key Greenhouse Gases & Their Sources:

  • Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) - 76%: Fossil fuels, deforestation, cement production
  • Methane (CH₄) - 16%: Agriculture (rice, livestock), landfills, gas leaks
  • Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) - 6%: Fertilizers, fossil fuels, industrial processes
  • Fluorinated gases - 2%: Refrigerants, industrial processes

IPCC Projections for South Asia

Climate Variable Current Trend 2030 Projection 2050 Projection
Temperature +0.7°C since 1900 +1.5-2°C +2-4°C
Monsoon Rainfall Increasing variability More intense, irregular +10-20% intensity
Extreme Heat Days Doubling since 1960 3-4x current levels 5-7x current levels
Sea Level Rise +1.7mm/year +30-60cm +60-110cm
Glacial Retreat -10-15m/year Accelerating loss 30-50% volume loss

Critical Insight: South Asia is a climate hotspot - warming faster than global average, with 1.9 billion people facing severe climate risks by 2050.

Activity: Climate Science Interpretation (8 minutes)

You are briefing a district collector about climate projections for their region. Using the data above, answer:

Scenario: Agricultural district in Punjab with wheat and rice cultivation, facing groundwater depletion

Analysis Questions (Work in pairs):

  1. Temperature Impact: How will 2-4°C warming affect crop yields and growing seasons?
  2. Water Stress: What happens when glacier-fed rivers reduce flow AND heat increases water demand?
  3. Extreme Events: How might more intense heat waves and erratic monsoons affect farmers?
  4. Timeline: Which impacts require immediate attention vs. long-term planning?

Share-out: Key insights about translating climate science into local impacts (5 minutes)

Part 2: Vulnerability Assessment - Who Gets Hit Hardest?

20 minutes

Climate Vulnerability = Exposure × Sensitivity × Adaptive Capacity

Exposure: Degree of climate stress (how much change occurs)

Sensitivity: How affected a system is by climate change

Adaptive Capacity: Ability to adjust, cope, and recover

Vulnerability Patterns in South Asia

Mountain Communities

High Exposure: Rapid glacial retreat, changing precipitation

High Sensitivity: Water-dependent livelihoods

Low Adaptive Capacity: Limited resources, remote location

Small Farmers

High Exposure: Variable rainfall, extreme temperatures

High Sensitivity: Rain-fed agriculture, single crops

Low Adaptive Capacity: Limited credit, technology, insurance

Urban Poor

High Exposure: Heat islands, flooding, air pollution

High Sensitivity: Informal settlements, health vulnerabilities

Low Adaptive Capacity: Limited mobility, informal jobs

Coastal Communities

High Exposure: Sea level rise, cyclones, storm surge

High Sensitivity: Low-lying areas, fishing dependent

Mixed Adaptive Capacity: Some have resources, others don't

Women

High Exposure: Same climate stress as men

High Sensitivity: Water collection, indoor air pollution

Lower Adaptive Capacity: Limited decision-making power, resources

Industrial Workers

High Exposure: Heat stress, outdoor work

High Sensitivity: Physical labor, safety risks

Low Adaptive Capacity: Can't avoid work, limited workplace protection

Intersectional Climate Impacts

Climate Justice Lens

The Paradox: Those who contribute least to climate change suffer the most from its impacts

Group Contribution to Emissions Climate Impact Level Access to Solutions
Rural poor (bottom 50%) Very low (10% of emissions) Very high Very limited
Urban middle class Medium (40% of emissions) Medium Moderate
Wealthy (top 10%) Very high (50% of emissions) Low High

Vulnerability Mapping Exercise (12 minutes)

Choose one region and conduct a rapid vulnerability assessment:

Option A: Sundarbans, West Bengal
  • Mangrove ecosystem
  • Sea level rise + cyclones
  • Fishing + honey collection livelihoods
  • Limited road connectivity
Option B: Rajasthan Desert Districts
  • Arid/semi-arid climate
  • Increasing heat + water scarcity
  • Pastoralism + dryland farming
  • High out-migration

Vulnerability Assessment Framework:

Vulnerability Factor Current Status Future Projection Priority Actions
Climate Exposure
Economic Sensitivity
Social Sensitivity
Adaptive Capacity

Presentation: 2 minutes per group to share vulnerability assessment and top 3 adaptation priorities

Part 3: Climate Solutions - Mitigation vs. Adaptation

20 minutes

Understanding the Two-Track Approach

Climate Mitigation

Goal: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit future warming

Focus: Addressing causes of climate change

Strategies:

  • Renewable energy transition
  • Energy efficiency improvements
  • Sustainable transport systems
  • Forest conservation and afforestation
  • Carbon pricing and markets
  • Sustainable agriculture practices

Timeframe: Long-term (10-50 years)

Climate Adaptation

Goal: Adjust to current and future climate impacts

Focus: Managing consequences of climate change

Strategies:

  • Climate-resilient infrastructure
  • Drought-resistant crop varieties
  • Early warning systems
  • Ecosystem-based adaptation
  • Social protection systems
  • Livelihood diversification

Timeframe: Immediate to medium-term (1-20 years)

India's Climate Action Framework

🇮🇳 National Climate Commitments

Paris Agreement Targets (Updated 2022):

  • Emissions Intensity: Reduce by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels)
  • Non-fossil Capacity: 500 GW renewable energy by 2030
  • Carbon Sink: Create additional 2.5-3 billion tons CO₂ equivalent
  • Net Zero: Achieve carbon neutrality by 2070

National Adaptation Priorities:

  • Water Security: Jal Shakti Mission, groundwater management
  • Climate-Smart Agriculture: Crop insurance, climate-resilient varieties
  • Disaster Risk Reduction: Early warning, infrastructure hardening
  • Ecosystem Services: Coastal protection, urban green spaces

Local Climate Solutions in Action

Solution Type Example Project Location Key Benefits Replication Potential
Ecosystem-based Adaptation Mangrove restoration Odisha coast Storm protection, livelihoods High (all coastal areas)
Community-based Early Warning Flood alerts via mobile Assam Lives saved, damage reduced High (flood-prone areas)
Climate-Smart Agriculture System of Rice Intensification Tamil Nadu Water savings, higher yields High (rice-growing areas)
Urban Heat Reduction Cool roofs program Ahmedabad Temperature reduction, energy savings High (hot cities)
Renewable Energy Solar microgrids Rural Uttar Pradesh Energy access, reduced emissions Very high (rural areas)

Solution Design Workshop (15 minutes)

Your task: Design a climate intervention for a specific context

Scenario: A municipal corporation in a Tier-2 city (population 500,000) wants to develop a climate action plan. The city faces:

  • Increasing summer temperatures (45°C+ for 15-20 days)
  • Erratic monsoons causing urban flooding
  • Air pollution from traffic and industry
  • Water scarcity in summer months
  • Growing informal settlements

Design Framework (Work in groups of 3-4):

  1. Prioritize (5 min): Which climate challenge should be addressed first? Why?
  2. Strategy (5 min): Choose 2 mitigation + 2 adaptation solutions that fit this context
  3. Implementation (3 min): What are the key steps and stakeholders needed?
  4. Co-benefits (2 min): How do your solutions address multiple challenges?

Presentations: 2 minutes per group to pitch your climate action plan

Part 4: Climate Justice and Governance

10 minutes

Climate Justice Principle: Climate action must address the unequal distribution of climate impacts and ensure that solutions don't worsen existing inequalities.

Governance Challenges & Opportunities

Multi-level Climate Governance

Global Level: Paris Agreement, climate finance, technology transfer

National Level: NDCs, climate laws, sectoral policies

State Level: Climate action plans, adaptation strategies

Local Level: Urban climate plans, community adaptation

Challenge: Coordination across levels and alignment of incentives

Climate Finance and Equity

The Numbers:

  • Global Need: $2.8 trillion/year for climate action by 2030
  • Developing Country Need: $1 trillion/year for adaptation alone
  • Current Finance: $100 billion/year (far below need)
  • India's Requirement: $170 billion for 2015-2030 NDCs

Equity Concerns:

  • Rich countries responsible for 79% of historical emissions
  • Climate finance often comes as loans, not grants
  • Adaptation receives less funding than mitigation
  • Local communities often excluded from decision-making

Climate Justice Analysis (8 minutes)

Case Study: Large solar park development displaces farming communities

Situation: 5,000 hectares of agricultural land acquired for solar park. Benefits: 750 MW clean energy, reduced emissions. Costs: 2,000 farming families displaced, loss of traditional livelihoods.

Justice Questions to Consider:

  1. Distributive Justice: Who bears costs vs. who receives benefits?
  2. Procedural Justice: Were affected communities consulted in decision-making?
  3. Recognition Justice: Are traditional land rights and livelihoods valued?
  4. Corrective Justice: What compensation and alternatives are provided?

Discussion: How could this project be redesigned to be more just? What principles should guide climate interventions?

Key Takeaway

Climate change is not just an environmental issue - it's a development challenge that intersects with poverty, inequality, health, and justice. Effective climate action must be grounded in both science and equity.

Resources for Continued Learning

Climate Science & Data:

Indian Climate Policy:

Adaptation & Resilience:

Climate Justice:

Next Steps in ImpactMojo:

This handout is part of the ImpactMojo 101 Knowledge Series
Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 • Free to use with attribution • www.impactmojo.in

For the complete Climate Change 101 course with detailed climate models, vulnerability assessments, and adaptation case studies, visit the ImpactMojo platform.