Among the many adverse impacts of climate change in the most vulnerable countries, climate change–induced displacement increasingly caused by extreme weather events is a serious concern, particularly in densely populated Asian countries. Reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) project a grim picture for South Asia, the most populous region on Earth, home to about one-quarter of global …

Highlights • Rural livelihoods are intrinsically connected with seasonal climate fluctuations. • Rural livelihoods get more economic benefits from the local ecosystem services (ES) during monsoon and post-monsoon months. • Livelihoods of ES dependent are vulnerable in the pre-monsoon season. • Communities are increasingly diversifying their livelihood strategies to non-ES sectors. • Non-ES dependent livelihoods enjoy increasingly better economic security. …