Based on a case study of selected Farmer-Managed Irrigation Systems, this article examines the links among climate change, water scarcity, and migration and suggests a more nuanced examination of the nexus.

From the Assi Ghat in the holy city Banaras (also known as Kashi), rows of elaborate tents, raised on the far side of the floodplain of the Ganga River, are visible. They are part of a neighborhood known as ‘Tent City,’ a ‘city’ catering to tourists and helping them experience all dimensions of the heritage city Banaras, from its floodplains to the sacred Ganga River that flows flanking the city.

Healthy floodplains are crucial for maintaining the ecological balance of a river. In particular, they allow a river to expand during floods, accommodating the additional volume of water without harming nearby land and settlements. Local communities practice agriculture on floodplains to earn their livelihoods. Historically, floodplains functioned as open spaces under community ownership, available to everyone. Contemporarily, floodplains of cities are used as a space for private businesses.  Regardless of ownership, such endeavors pollute the environment and impact the river ecosystem.

To attempt to fully comprehend the injustices unfolding from global warming, one needs to deeply consider the far-reaching impacts across geographical and temporal scales of climate change.

In South Asia, climate change will make water-allocation decisions more complex, and potentially more contentious, across three areas: urban growth, low-carbon electricity, and agriculture.

Adaptation is not only about adjusting to new sequences of ongoing and potential changes in SAM-N spawned by climate change but also social practices.

Lessons from LAPA can help understand how vulnerable families in a context of development deficit deal with extreme climate shocks.

Ken MacClune and Atalie Pestalozzi write that heat (rising temperature and humidity combine) is an impending disaster for millions of South Asians. The effort to minimize irreversible impacts from this disaster must begin with dialogue for systemic actions than piecemeal and jerky responses.