Riding the Coastal Communities Through Responses to Climate Change – A Case Study from Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala

Abstract

Climate change is a pressing global threat that disrupts ecosystems, human  livelihoods, and well-being showing differences among extreme weather events.  Climate change increases the vulnerability among fishing communities and coastal  populations in India, especially in Kerala, whose livelihoods are heavily dependent  on marine and coastal resources. In this regard, gender becomes a significant  determinant of how people view, adapt to, and reduce climate hazards. This study  looked at how climate literacy affects older citizens’ and knowledge, attitude,  practice (KAP), in a few coastal settlements in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram  District. A purposive sample of 150 respondents who were 60 years of age or older  was used to gather data, which was done using a structured interview, climate  literacy checklist, KAP scales. The results indicate that although both sexes had high  levels of knowledge and favourable views towards climate change, their practices  remained modest, with women demonstrating greater awareness and men taking  more adaptive actions. While women had comparatively better levels of knowledge,  men had much higher levels of climate literacy. In order to improve adaptation and  mitigation tactics in vulnerable coastal areas, the insights gained from the study  emphasises the necessity of gender-sensitive policies, climate literacy initiatives,  and inclusive community-based interventions.