Divergent Climate Vulnerabilities in South Asia: A Comparative Analysis of India and Bhutan
Author : Dr. Sushma Mishra
Abstract :
This study provides a comparative assessment of climate risks and vulnerabilities in India and Bhutan using document analysis of authoritative scientific assessments, including IPCC reports, national climate profiles, and peer-reviewed literature. Although geographically proximate, the two countries exhibit sharply contrasting climate risk profiles shaped by differences in topography, socioeconomic structures, and development trajectories. India faces a wide spectrum of hazards: extreme heat, monsoon volatility, floods, droughts, cyclones, and coastal impacts driven by projected temperature increases exceeding 3°C under high-emission scenarios and substantial exposure of coastal and agrarian populations. In contrast, Bhutan’s vulnerabilities are more geographically concentrated, with warming projected to approach 3–4°C by late century, intensifying cryosphere degradation, glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risks, and hydropower sensitivity. While both countries show increasing precipitation variability, the consequences differ: India faces recurrent large-scale inundation affecting millions, whereas Bhutan experiences highly localized but severe flood and landslide risks that threaten critical infrastructure and national revenue. The comparison reveals how biophysical context and economic structure shape differentiated climate vulnerabilities within South Asia, underscoring the need for country-specific adaptation pathways alongside strengthened regional cooperation for shared hydrological and cryosphere-related risks.
Keywords :
India, Bhutan, Climate Profile, Comparative Analysis, Climate Vulnerability.
