**Executive Summary**
A new study reveals that 25 out of 39 Community & Rural Development (C&RD) blocks in Meghalaya are classified under high or very high climate vulnerability categories. Conducted by the Meghalaya Climate Change Centre (MCCC) under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE), the assessment uses a national framework to integrate biophysical and socio-economic indicators. The findings aim to inform policy and promote climate-resilient livelihoods. The press release is dated 29 NOV 2023.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Vulnerability Assessment:**
* 25 out of 39 C&RD blocks in Meghalaya are highly vulnerable to climate change.
* The Meghalaya Climate Change Centre (MCCC) conducted the assessment under NMSHE.
* A common national framework integrates biophysical and socio-economic indicators in a tiered, top-down approach.
* **Contributing Factors:**
* Limited access to institutional credit.
* Low household incomes.
* Inadequate public health and nutrition infrastructure (e.g., Anganwadi Centres).
* Scarce forest resources.
* Low irrigation coverage.
* **Policy Implications:**
* The study provides actionable insights for policymakers in climate resilience planning and rural development.
* It enables location-specific adaptation and mitigation strategies tailored to Meghalaya's diverse regions.
* The research emphasizes integrated climate adaptation planning at the grassroots level.
* **National Context:**
* The Climate Change Programme has established State Climate Change Cells (SCCCs) in 30 States/UTs.
* The MCCC is a key component of NMSHE under the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC).
* **Publication:**
* The study, titled "Integrated Climate Vulnerability Assessment of Meghalaya at Block Level," is published in Discover Sustainability.
* The DOI link to access it is: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43621-025-01500-6
**Impact Analysis**
**Policymakers**
* **Impact:** Gaining actionable insights to improve climate resilience planning, rural development, and socio-economic equity.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the study's findings to develop and implement location-specific adaptation and mitigation strategies tailored to Meghalaya's diverse terrain and communities.
**Communities in Meghalaya (specifically the 25 identified blocks)**
* **Impact:** Increased awareness of climate vulnerabilities and potential for targeted interventions to enhance adaptive capacity.
* **Action Required:** Engage with policymakers and relevant organizations to advocate for resource allocation and implementation of adaptation strategies that address the identified vulnerabilities.
**Government of Meghalaya**
* **Impact:** Enhanced ability to contribute to the broader national agenda of building a climate-resilient Himalayan ecosystem through integrated climate adaptation planning.
* **Action Required:** Integrate the study's findings into state-level climate action plans and policies, and collaborate with other states/UTs to share best practices.
Key Entities Referenced
National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC): A national level plan under which the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem operates.
National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE): A mission under the NAPCC, important component of Meghalaya Climate Change Centre.
Meghalaya: The state in India where the climate vulnerability assessment was conducted, focusing on its Community & Rural Development (C&RD) Blocks.
Meghalaya Climate Change Centre (MCCC): The center in Meghalaya that conducted the climate vulnerability assessment.
Integrated Climate Vulnerability Assessment of Meghalaya at Block Level: The study published in Discover Sustainability assessing climate vulnerability.
Ministry of Science & Technology
First block level climate vulnerability assessment
in Meghalaya shows 25 blocks in high or very
high vulnerability categories
प्रव तथ: 29 NOV 2025 8:22PM by PIB Delhi
According to a new study 25 out of 39 Community & Rural Development (C&RD) Blocks in Meghalaya
fall under the high or very high climate vulnerability categories.
The Climate Change Programme under CEST Division of the Department of Science and Technology has
established State Climate Change Cells (SCCCs) in 30 States/UTs of the country for better coherence on
climate actions between Centre and States, and among States. The Meghalaya Climate Change Centre
(MCCC), Government of Meghalaya is one of the important components under the National Mission for
Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) under the National Action Plan for Climate Change
(NAPCC).
Climate change poses severe threats to both natural ecosystems and socio-economic systems, particularly
in fragile regions such as the Indian Himalayas.
Recognizing this, the Meghalaya Climate Change Centre (MCCC) has conducted a comprehensive block-
level climate vulnerability assessment covering the 39 Community & Rural Development (C&RD) Blocks
of the State under NMSHE. The study adopts a common national framework to integrate biophysical and
socio-economic indicators through a tiered, top-down approach.
Fig 1: Map showing Blocks category based on the Integrated Vulnerability Assessment.
The assessment which reveals high or very high climate vulnerability 25 out of 39 C&RD Blocks shows
that major contributing factors include limited access to institutional credit, low household incomes,
inadequate public health and nutrition infrastructure, such as Anganwadi Centres and scarce forestresources and low irrigation coverage.
These indicators highlight areas requiring targeted policy attention to enhance adaptive capacity and
promote climate-resilient livelihoods.
The research provides actionable insights for policymakers, especially those engaged in climate resilience
planning, rural development, and socio-economic equity. By revealing local-level vulnerabilities that
district-level assessments may overlook, this study enables location-specific adaptation and mitigation
strategies tailored to Meghalaya’s diverse terrain and communities.
The findings underscore the importance of integrated climate adaptation planning at the grassroots level
and contribute to the broader national agenda of building a climate-resilient Himalayan ecosystem.
Fig 2: Drivers contributing to Integrated Vulnerability in Meghalaya at the Block Level.
The study titled “Integrated Climate Vulnerability Assessment of Meghalaya at Block Level” has been
published in the renowned journal Discover Sustainability, underscoring its scientific merit and policy
relevance.
Publication link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43621-025-01500-6
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