Case Study Summary

India is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, increasingly experiencing sea-level rise, weather events and cyclones in its coastal areas. Communities, many of them fisher people, in these areas are vulnerable to climate change impact on their lives and livelihoods. Combining traditional knowledge with newer knowledge from climate change observations is essential for building resilience among coastal communities.

The Centre for Environmental Education (CEE) is the National Operator for Blue Flag, Eco Schools and Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) programmes.Together they aim to help create safer coasts for India. Through Blue Flag, a voluntary marina and beach certification program, 10 Indian coastal sites will become learning laboratories. These spaces will welcome Eco School students and YRE participants to experience action-based learning.

The Case Study research aims to create awareness about climate change, its impact and adaptation among the schools, youth, and coastal communities. It also seeks to build local capacity among beach managers, nodal officers and selected local formal and informal educators for facilitating climate action.

This research will strengthen CEE’s understanding of the local ecological context, climate risks, community and municipal facilities at the site. It will gain this understanding through key informant interviews and focus group discussions to identify potential topics of interest and relevance in the context of climate change, coastal ecological changes, and action among the local educational institutions and community.