The Sundarbans, a fragile and ecologically significant region in West Bengal, India, faces growing environmental threats due to climate change, development, and urbanization. This study investigates how residents of the Indian Sundarbans, particularly those on Gosaba and Satjelia islands, perceive environmental changes and their impacts on livelihoods, with a focus on intergenerational shifts in occupational patterns. Surveying 400 households across ten villages, the research employed geotagged data to spatially assess flood risks, assigning vulnerability scores to households based on their exposure to environmental changes. The findings indicate that local communities are highly aware of shifts in climate, including increased rainfall variability and recurrent flooding, which are disrupting traditional livelihood practices such as fishing and agriculture. These environmental pressures are driving younger generations away from ancestral occupations, leading them to pursue alternative careers. The research underscores a notable trend of occupational change as a direct response to the challenges posed by climate change. It reveals that only 63% of respondents continue in their parents’ occupations, signaling a significant shift toward more diversified livelihood strategies. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers and development planners working to design interventions that can help mitigate the adverse effects of environmental degradation in this vulnerable region.