Community-Led Climate Crisis Solutions: A Study with the Urban Garo Indigenous Community in Bangladesh

This paper examines the impacts of the climate crisis on the urban Garo Indigenous community in the Dhaka city in Bangladesh and explores their community-driven climate adaptation strategies. The research focuses on: (1) identifying climate change-induced challenges such as heat stress, water scarcity, and livelihood disruptions; (2) analyzing shifts in Garo spirituality and their implications for cultural and environmental sustainability; and (3) highlighting Indigenous-led solutions to climate adaptation. Learning from decolonial research framework, we used deep listening, storytelling, and reflective analysis as our research methods to center Indigenous voices and lived experiences. This research took place in August 2023, engaging urban-residing Garo women in Dhaka city. Thematic analysis reveals three key findings: (1) climate change significantly disrupts the well-being and livelihoods of the Garo community; (2) colonial legacies and religious conversion have weakened traditional spirituality, impacting environmental stewardship; and (3) Garo women are leading community-driven adaptation efforts, implementing Indigenous knowledge with contemporary climate resilience strategies. Findings emphasize the importance of Indigenous leadership, cultural revitalization, and policy recognition in shaping equitable and sustainable climate adaptation pathways. This research advocates for Indigenous-led climate action, ensuring that Garo perspectives and solutions are meaningfully incorporated into climate governance frameworks.