“Climate change is the defining issue of our time…. every day we fail to act is a day that we step a little closer towards a fate that none of us wants- a fate that will resonate through generations in the damage done to humankind and life on earth.” _ Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General (UNDRR, 2020). 

The challenges and problems which come with climate change are now affecting lives and livelihoods of people all around the world. Its effects are both slow long-term and also extreme climatic events. Human-driven climate shifts became far more pronounced in the 20th century, even though natural climate variability has existed since Earth’s atmosphere first formed (Stocker et al., 2014). 

In North-East India, the state of Mizoram is well-known for its rough terrain, thick forests and indigenous population. Its fragile mountain ecosystems and Indigenous livelihoods are increasingly threatened by rising heat, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme weather. These challenges are made harder by the state’s remote location and limited resources (Chhachhuak, 2025). People across the state are increasingly being forced to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. 

Drawing on existing literature and two practitioner interviews, this article provides an exploratory reflection on how climate resilience is being understood and practiced within local community contexts in Mizoram. It examines how climate change has long shaped life in the state, increasingly introducing danger, uncertainty, and disruption. The discussion considers how communities perceive these changes, their levels of awareness of climate-related risks, and how daily life is being reshaped by emerging needs for adaptation. Two practitioners Angela and Hari, involved in this project shared their direct experiences working with communities, offering grounded insights into how resilience efforts are unfolding on the ground. Angela, an outreach specialist in her 30s, at Mizoram Startup Mission (MSUM)’s Green Investment awareness efforts and brings extensive experience working directly with communities across Mizoram. Hari, a PhD scholar in Mizoram, conducts community-based research in remote regions and offers field-based insights into emerging challenges and resilience practices observed during his work. 

Vulnerabilities faced by the community: 

According to the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) of Mizoram (Thanga and Kire, 2025), Mizoram lies in India’s highest seismic risk zone i.e. Zone V of the Seismic Zone Map of India. Past earthquakes above magnitude 8 have caused severe damage to lives and infrastructure. It is prone to effects of the tropical cyclones which rise from the Bay of Bengal, and retreating monsoon. It gets a heavy monsoon and frequent cloudbursts. 

Mizoram’s bamboo-based housing and steep terrain make structural damage widespread, and heavy rainfall triggers frequent landslides disrupting roads, communication, and causes losses of life each year. Heightened susceptibility to disasters arises due to multiplying population and unplanned urbanisation, leading to congested, disorganised construction with very little attention to seismic safety on the steep slopes of the state (Thanga and Kire, 2025). Human vulnerability to disaster is most significant in areas which are economically and socially weaker. These areas also prove to be negatively affected by water quantity, biodiversity, ecosystem structure and ecological processes (Basharat, et. al. 2016; Thanga and Kire, 2025). According to the state-wise vulnerability index released by IHCAP (2019), Mizoram has been ranked second highest in the climate change vulnerability analysis with a rating of 0.71 (Thangjam, et al. 2023). 

Institutional challenges faced: 

In recent years there have been some very brutal events which have destroyed parts of the state and the population in various ways. Cyclone Remal in May 2024 claimed 42 lives, and destroyed 5938 houses. In May 2025, torrential rainfall triggered landslides in 940 locations in the state of Mizoram, killing 6 people (Tribune, 2025). According to the Tribune (2025), there has been institutional issues which have intensified the effects of the disasters. They mentioned that Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) reports have proved the state’s disaster management system has proved to be extremely underprepared for the intense hazards. Also, State Executive Committee (SEC) has failed to review construction projects for compliance, and inspections were not performed regularly at landslide-prone zones. There has also been a stark absence and neglect of training and capacity building for the front-line workers in the region (Tribune, 2025). 

Studies have also highlighted additional barriers faced by the population, including a digital divide in certain areas of the state that limits rural women’s access to crucial climate-related information. This adds to their vulnerability to climate risks. There are still 28.27% of rural areas which have no access to mobile connectivity due to harsh terrain, high cost of devices and limited digital literacy (Malsawmtluangi and Khiangte, 2026). In their study, they also mentioned only 27% of the respondents actually had any knowledge of the Village Disaster Management Plan. 

Awareness among the community: 

Awareness among people is present, but perceptions of climate change vary with education levels. Most respondents felt that human activities strongly influence climate change. Almost 85% conveyed their lived experience of rising temperatures over the years, resulting in milder winters and warming winds. The study also points out that 24.7% of Mizoram’s population has almost no concerns about climate change taking place at all. The study showed that people have been mentioning how climate change has been affecting their livelihood and economic instability (Sahoo et al., 2018). 

Using insights from Angela’s MSUM outreach and the Hari’s field research, both estimated climate-change awareness at roughly 50%, informed by the engagement results observed. Hari identified older farmers in the villages, have developed an understanding of climatic changes through long-term, lived experiences. Angela observed that younger people tend to show relatively greater awareness, largely due to their engagement with social media and digital platforms. At the same time, she not highlighted that some individuals remain less informed about climate change because the pressures of daily life take precedence. As they explained, many people are focused on meeting immediate personal and economic needs, leaving limited capacity to engage with broader environmental concerns. 

Hari has noted that, in his work with local communities, it is common for residents to receive only partial information about climate change from government agencies—such as the agricultural department and the Mizoram Science, Technology and Innovation Cell (MISTIC) (Climate Change Cell), as well as from NGOs engaged in climate-related initiatives. They added that much of the community’s knowledge also comes from internet sources and television. 

Idea of and steps towards climate resilience taken in parts of the state: 

Resilience is a multi-sectoral concept. According to the (European Commission, 2012) climate resilience refers to, “The ability of an individual, a household, a community, a country or a region to withstand, to adapt, and to quickly recover from stresses and shocks”. Resilience encompasses anticipating stressors, coping with them, and regaining normal functioning in an efficient manner (Mehryar, 2022). 

In Mizoram, efforts toward resilience are emerging through both bottom-up community practices and top-down policy initiatives. The initiatives presented here are drawn from interviews with Angela and Hari and supported by policy documents and secondary sources. Their field engagement offers insight into developments they have worked with in recent years. As such, the projects below illustrate particular examples of resilience efforts, not a full picture of the state. 

State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC)- 32 states in India have prepared a SAPCC. Mizoram is one of those states and in 2025 the state released its SAPCC 2.0 detailing crucial steps the government is planning to take (Yagnik et al., 2022; Thanga and Kire, 2025). The plan reflects a multi-agency approach, and a close reading of the document indicates that it is thoroughly researched and addresses a wide range of developmental needs within the state. This suggests that the government is moving toward a comprehensive strategy that acknowledges and incorporates many of the climate-related challenges currently faced. 

1) Green Investment Fund: The increasing urgency to address and mitigate the severe consequences of climate risk has intensified investor engagement with environmentally oriented financial instruments, particularly green investment funds (Arfaoui et al., 2024). Mizoram is collaborating with organisations such as MSUM to advance green investment as part of its broader sustainability efforts, reflecting wider shifts in which climate-related risks are reshaping business priorities. Angela, who works closely on MSUM’s Green Investment Outreach Campaign, explained that the initiative aims to support young entrepreneurs in adopting more sustainable practices. I was involved in the project during its initial phase, helping to frame green investment in ways that resonates with business perspectives. The business examples discussed in this article were identified through MSUM’s engagement with entrepreneurs in parts of Mizoram, where Angela has observed why many are turning toward green investment and how these choices are beginning to generate positive change. Some case studies: 

• Ruki Lodge cum Folklore Café’ is a locally operated enterprise that has integrated multiple green practices into its business model, providing economic security for several families in the area. The lodge uses recycled wood for its furniture, relies on solar energy, and harvests rainwater to support more efficient resource management. The café operates entirely plastic-free, using locally sourced materials such as bamboo for trays and cutlery, and replacing single-use items with glass bottles and metal utensils. Ingredients such as tea, pumpkin, and okra are procured from nearby villages, while the café grows its own coriander,x tomatoes and repurposes coffee grounds as fertilizer for its organic kitchen garden. These practices reduce sourcing costs, enhance sustainability, and allow the business greater control over its supply chain. The owners continue to explore additional environmentally responsible strategies for future operations. 

• ‘Muro Muri’, a woman-led travel enterprise in Mizoram which integrates sustainability into its operations. The entrepreneur uses metal cups throughout her tours and provides groups with reusable tupperware and metal cutlery, which local restaurants accept to serve food at reduced rates to discourage disposable items. She has observed increasing plastic use in local markets and argues that practices such as selling produce in banana leaves—once common in the state—would better align with climate-conscious tourism. She also noted that travellers are increasingly mindful of supporting environmentally responsible businesses. In her interview with Angela while we worked with MSUM, she emphasised her commitment to taking guests mostly to establishments that are green-certified and operate with sustainability in mind. 

• ‘Aizawl Coffee House’ adopts a distinct sustainability-focused model, producing breads, cookies, and other items in small batches to minimise waste and maintain quality. Coffee is roasted and supplied every fifteen days, reducing bulk waste and ensuring freshness. The café repurposes used coffee grounds as body scrubs, fertiliser for its garden, and manure for customers who request it. Although it has faced criticism, particularly regarding pricing, the owners emphasise that sourcing ingredients from local farmers and their own garden supports higher quality and long-term sustainability. Regular customers value these practices, and the business remains committed to reducing waste and prioritising environmental responsibility. 

• ‘Label Lelen’ is a Mizoram-based clothing brand that prioritises sustainable materials in its designs. The founder notes that local markets are dominated by fast fashion, with low-quality polyester contributing to frequent consumption cycles. In response, she uses bamboo fibre—an abundant, vegan, rapidly renewable, and biodegradable resource in the state—to produce her garments. Beyond its environmental benefits, bamboo fibre is also suitable for sensitive skin due to its natural antibacterial properties. The brand emphasises social sustainability and actively incorporates upcycling and zero-waste practices into its production process. 

• In Mizoram there are some clothing brands and labels identified by MSUM, who are working on their packaging and trying to do things more sustainably, they have started using paper bags rather than plastic for packaging. There have been some businesses, mainly restaurants, focusing to stop the charges of getting resources imported from afar or other states. They are rather focusing on using mostly local fruits, vegetables, tea, and coffee so that they can help reduce the carbon footprint, waste and also provide economic stability locally. 

2) Waste Control: Angela also highlighted several informal sustainability practices already present within local households. Families consciously make an effort to reduce food waste and adopt healthier diets. Because pork and poultry form a central part of the regional cuisine, households commonly raise pigs and chickens in their backyards, feeding them with household food scraps rather than commercially processed feed. This practice not only minimises food waste but also reinforces communal sharing norms, as meals prepared from home-raised livestock are often distributed among neighbours. Such practices illustrate how resource use is managed sustainably within the community, even in the absence of formal environmental interventions. 

3) Framing changes: According to Hari, the government has been encouraging farmers to transition away from traditional jhum (shifting) cultivation due to its contribution to land degradation. Farmers are being advised to adopt terraced farming practices that support water conservation and to implement rainwater harvesting systems to protect agricultural yields during increasingly dry and hot summers. 

Moving Forward: 

Interview findings during this research suggested several opportunities. Particularly based on conversations it’s visible that there is a need for awareness initiatives being more widespread. Introduction of awareness should be made early, through schools and educational centres. Such efforts would help familiarise younger populations with climate-related challenges from the outset. 

This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, and also gives our future generation to be more prepared for the future, and protect themselves from some events better. Awareness programmes should also be extended to remote areas experiencing digital divides, where pilot projects can support community engagement and strengthen local coping strategies before hazards occur. While organisations such as MSUM are contributing meaningfully, broader participation from businesses is needed—especially in reducing plastic use and adopting rainwater harvesting, given the state’s high annual rainfall. 

References: 

Arfaoui, N. et al. (2024) “Can green investment funds hedge climate risk?,” Finance Research Letters, 60, p. 104961. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2023.104961. 

Basharat, M., Shah, H.R. and Hameed, N. (2016) “Landslide susceptibility mapping using GIS and weighted overlay method: a case study from NW Himalayas, Pakistan,” Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 9(4), p. 292. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-016-2308-y. 

Chhachhuak, D.L. (2025) “Climate Change and SDG 13 in Mizoram: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Development,” International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, IX(V), pp. 1053–1060. Available at: https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.90500090. 

European Commission (2012) “Communication from the commission to the european parliament and the council.” Available at: https://doi.org/10.1163/2210-7975_HRD-4679-0058. 

IHCAP (2019) Climate Vulnerability Assessment for the Indian Himalayan Region using a Common Framework. Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati & Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, p. 60. Available at: https://doi.org/https://dst.gov.in/sites/default/files/IHCAP_Climate%20Vulnerability%20Assessment_30Nov2018_Final_aw.pdf. 

Malsawmtluangi, K. and Khiangte, L. (2026) “Digital Divide and Its Impact on Women’s Access to Climate Resilience Information in Rural Mizoram,” in M. Bhattacharyya and R. Shaw (eds.) Gender, Climate Change and Disaster Resilience: An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Singapore: Springer Nature, pp. 225–239. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-95-6188-9_12. 

Mehryar, S. (2022) “What is the difference between climate change adaptation and resilience?,” Grantham Research Institute on climate change and the environment, September. Available at: https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/explainers/what-is-the-difference-between-climate-change-adaptation-and-resilience/ (Accessed: July 31, 2026). 

Sahoo, U.K. et al. (2018) Climate change impacts on forest and its adaptation study in Mizoram. 

Stocker, T. (2014) Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis: Working Group I Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press. 

Thanga, L. and Kire, K. (2025) State Action Plan on Climate Change (Upto 2030). Government of Mizoram, p. 222. Available at: https://forest.mizoram.gov.in/uploads/attachments/2025/05/cb6ffe4bfc7a10f6c1255b837158df35/mizoram-sapccupdated220125.pdf. 

Thangjam, U., Thong, P. and Sahoo, U.K. (2023) “Climate change threat on socio-economic condition of agroforestry managers: A vulnerability study in eastern Himalayan state of Mizoram, Northeast India,” Climate Risk Management, 40, p. 100519. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2023.100519. 

Tribune, T.A. (2025) CAG report exposes Mizoram’s disaster management failures amid frequent calamities. Available at: https://assamtribune.com/north-east/cag-report-exposes-mizorams-disaster-management-failures-amid-frequent-calamities-1589857 (Accessed: July 30, 2026). 

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Yagnik, K. et al. (2022) Guidebook: How to develop a Climate Action Plan for cities in India. Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission, p. 218. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2760/21878.