The Risks of Climate Change Adaptation: How policies of adaptation, lower the adaptive capacity of indigenous communities

Sammanfattning: This thesis evolve out of a two months field study in Northeast India, addressing the vulnerability of the Mishing tribe whom are living, surrounded by the Brahmaputra River on Majuli Island. Indigenous communities such as the Mishings are often portrayed as the first victims of global climate change. On Majuli climate change is increasing the scale and frequency of floods on the eroding island The main approach of the Indian and Assam Government to address these risks are through the implementation of technologies to control the river. This approach is sustained by the UNFCCC Adaptation Framework which is largely based on the transfer of technologies and impact driven analysis of environmental hazards to address the vulnerability of local communities. This thesis question such an approach. Investigating an eroded Mishing community, the vulnerability towards floods was found to be related with the policies of flood and erosion adaptation by the government. It is thus suggested that indigenous communities are to a higher degree, the first victims of unsustainable adaptation policies rather than climate change itself.