ABSTRACT
The chapter utilises data from the Kerala Migration Survey 2023 and the Kerala Migration and Climate Resilience Survey 2023 to understand household perception, response and adaptation to climatic events like floods in Kerala. Drawing a subsample from the Kerala Migration Survey, the Kerala Migration and Climate Resilience Survey 2023 samples 696 households across six districts of Kerala. Despite Kerala's strong human development indicators, the state remains acutely vulnerable to climate-related hazards, with floods identified as the most frequently reported natural disaster among surveyed households. The research reveals widespread awareness of climate change and a shared expectation of conditions worsening in the future. However, only a small proportion of households reported adopting explicit adaptation or coping strategies, indicating a significant gap in climate preparedness. The impacts of climate events were widespread, including water shortages, property damage, and disruptions to agriculture and livestock. Mental health effects—such as anxiety and sleep disturbances—emerged as significant yet largely unaddressed, with limited awareness of relevant services. Temporary displacement was common, underscoring the severity of disruptions. Adaptation efforts were primarily state-funded, with additional support from remittances and community-based organisations. The findings highlight the need for a new development paradigm in Kerala—one that integrates environmental sustainability, decentralised adaptation planning, and the inclusion of mental health within climate resilience frameworks.
