Several nations in the South Asian region, who share similar cultural and geographical features, have failed to see the common good in battling challenges of climate change.

There is now heightened awareness on the crucial need for the world to take action against human-induced climate change. This includes initiatives by Governments, businesses, civil society and, in general, the public at large. It was in 2011 that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) brought out a special report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation, which altered perceptions about climate change. The public then understood and associated with climate change, the increase in frequency and intensity of extreme events all over the world. While national Governments have the prime responsibility for action under the Paris Agreement, there is also a need for regional initiatives.

There are, no doubt, universal efforts on mitigating the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and carbon dioxide in particular. But some of the fundamental changes that would be required to minimise the risks from the impacts of climate change in the future are not fully understood. Pope Francis in his message on the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation” stated: “It is also a season to reflect on our lifestyles and how our daily decisions about food, consumption, transportation, use of water, energy and many other material goods can often be thoughtless and harmful. Too many of us act like tyrants with regard to creation.”

Lifestyles, unfortunately, across the globe, in both developed and developing countries, are being directed towards a monoculture of excessive consumerism and escalating generation of waste. There are societies which are ignoring their own historical and cultural roots, blindly embracing the lifestyles established in the developed world, particularly in the US. There is a growing need for societies to look within, pursue culturally consistent lifestyles through opportunities for cooperation among countries, which face similar problems as a result of climate change.

Nature does not recognise geographical boundaries. While sharing common cultural and geographical features, several nations  fail to see the common good in working together to meet the serious challenge of climate change. South Asia is one such region, which ignores this reality, leading to a neglect of poverty, which would be exacerbated with the impacts of climate change.

The IPCC clearly stated in its fifth assessment report, “Climate change will amplify existing risks and create new risks for natural and human systems. Risks are unevenly distributed and are generally greater for disadvantaged people and communities at all levels of development.” It also stated that climate change is projected to increase displacement of people and some would “experience higher exposure to extreme weather events, particularly in the developing countries with low income” along with increased risks of violent conflicts resulting from drivers of these conflicts such as poverty and economic shocks.  South Asia could see an increase in these unfortunate trends.

South Asia has a shared culture and history and high vulnerability to climate change impacts.  If we take only the landmass extending from Afghanistan to the southern tip of India, excluding Sri Lanka and the Maldives, this landmass is home to around 1.75 billion people.

Regional impacts of climate change, which are rapidly on the increase, show that a decline in wheat productivity would vary from seven per cent for a 1.5oC increase in temperature to 24 per cent at 3oC. South Asia is vulnerable to extreme events, the frequency and intensity of which is increasing. These would affect human health, security, livelihoods and poverty.

The IPCC identified an increase in heat waves, heavy rain, floods and droughts, some of which would lead to an increase in diarrhoeal disease, dengue fever and malaria. The monsoon, which provides the bulk of water supply for this region, will see future increase in precipitation extremes and in contrast a decline in productivity of rainfed agriculture in semi-arid areas. A large part of the population in the countries of South Asia lives in low-lying coastal zones and flood plains, which leaves them vulnerable to sea level rise.

Since island States like Sri Lanka and the Maldives face problems somewhat different from the landmass of South Asia, for the present, we may include them in separate efforts involving adaptation and mitigation initiatives. As yet in South Asia, the spirit of cooperation even on issues of common concern has been largely missing. Given the high density of the population in this region, the large number of human beings exposed to climate change impacts is perhaps higher than in any other region of the world.

South Asia has suffered grievously from terrorism, which has been fostered by some countries as a part of Government policy. It should be obvious that carrying on the dastardly practice of terrorism also results in serious and long-term dangers for countries that breed and support terrorism. If they are serious about the welfare of their people, they have to move from terrorism to terra-ism.

There are, unfortunately, serious political differences among some of the countries of the region but given the common challenge of climate change, perhaps rising above hostile and contentious issue through a programme of mutually beneficial action would be in the interest of all. Such an initiative should include adaptation measures in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan and cost-effective mitigation measures.

Developing country negotiators have argued for several years under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for “common but differentiated responsibilities”, whereby the historically high emitters of GHGs are required to do much more in mitigating their emissions than those nations, which are on the threshold of development.

There is also a rationale for the developed nations to provide financial resources to help developing countries as part of collective action to deal with climate change. Unfortunately, the principles behind these demands have been forgotten by the developed countries. The nations of South Asia could raise their collective voice for projects to be funded by the industrialised nations.

South Asia, with its excellent insolation and wind energy potential, would be in a unique position to collaborate both in scientific and economic terms across national boundaries. Can the leadership of South Asia rise above current tensions and political differences to serve the interests of their own deprived populations, which would be exposed increasingly to the growing impacts of climate change?  Perhaps as a beginning, this subject could be a serious area of research and advocacy at the recently established South Asian University.

(Writer: RK Pachauri , Courtesy:  The Pioneer)

Several nations in the South Asian region, who share similar cultural and geographical features, have failed to see the common good in battling challenges of climate change.

There is now heightened awareness on the crucial need for the world to take action against human-induced climate change. This includes initiatives by Governments, businesses, civil society and, in general, the public at large. It was in 2011 that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) brought out a special report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation, which altered perceptions about climate change. The public then understood and associated with climate change, the increase in frequency and intensity of extreme events all over the world. While national Governments have the prime responsibility for action under the Paris Agreement, there is also a need for regional initiatives.

There are, no doubt, universal efforts on mitigating the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and carbon dioxide in particular. But some of the fundamental changes that would be required to minimise the risks from the impacts of climate change in the future are not fully understood. Pope Francis in his message on the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation” stated: “It is also a season to reflect on our lifestyles and how our daily decisions about food, consumption, transportation, use of water, energy and many other material goods can often be thoughtless and harmful. Too many of us act like tyrants with regard to creation.”

Lifestyles, unfortunately, across the globe, in both developed and developing countries, are being directed towards a monoculture of excessive consumerism and escalating generation of waste. There are societies which are ignoring their own historical and cultural roots, blindly embracing the lifestyles established in the developed world, particularly in the US. There is a growing need for societies to look within, pursue culturally consistent lifestyles through opportunities for cooperation among countries, which face similar problems as a result of climate change.

Nature does not recognise geographical boundaries. While sharing common cultural and geographical features, several nations  fail to see the common good in working together to meet the serious challenge of climate change. South Asia is one such region, which ignores this reality, leading to a neglect of poverty, which would be exacerbated with the impacts of climate change.

The IPCC clearly stated in its fifth assessment report, “Climate change will amplify existing risks and create new risks for natural and human systems. Risks are unevenly distributed and are generally greater for disadvantaged people and communities at all levels of development.” It also stated that climate change is projected to increase displacement of people and some would “experience higher exposure to extreme weather events, particularly in the developing countries with low income” along with increased risks of violent conflicts resulting from drivers of these conflicts such as poverty and economic shocks.  South Asia could see an increase in these unfortunate trends.

South Asia has a shared culture and history and high vulnerability to climate change impacts.  If we take only the landmass extending from Afghanistan to the southern tip of India, excluding Sri Lanka and the Maldives, this landmass is home to around 1.75 billion people.

Regional impacts of climate change, which are rapidly on the increase, show that a decline in wheat productivity would vary from seven per cent for a 1.5oC increase in temperature to 24 per cent at 3oC. South Asia is vulnerable to extreme events, the frequency and intensity of which is increasing. These would affect human health, security, livelihoods and poverty.

The IPCC identified an increase in heat waves, heavy rain, floods and droughts, some of which would lead to an increase in diarrhoeal disease, dengue fever and malaria. The monsoon, which provides the bulk of water supply for this region, will see future increase in precipitation extremes and in contrast a decline in productivity of rainfed agriculture in semi-arid areas. A large part of the population in the countries of South Asia lives in low-lying coastal zones and flood plains, which leaves them vulnerable to sea level rise.

Since island States like Sri Lanka and the Maldives face problems somewhat different from the landmass of South Asia, for the present, we may include them in separate efforts involving adaptation and mitigation initiatives. As yet in South Asia, the spirit of cooperation even on issues of common concern has been largely missing. Given the high density of the population in this region, the large number of human beings exposed to climate change impacts is perhaps higher than in any other region of the world.

South Asia has suffered grievously from terrorism, which has been fostered by some countries as a part of Government policy. It should be obvious that carrying on the dastardly practice of terrorism also results in serious and long-term dangers for countries that breed and support terrorism. If they are serious about the welfare of their people, they have to move from terrorism to terra-ism.

There are, unfortunately, serious political differences among some of the countries of the region but given the common challenge of climate change, perhaps rising above hostile and contentious issue through a programme of mutually beneficial action would be in the interest of all. Such an initiative should include adaptation measures in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan and cost-effective mitigation measures.

Developing country negotiators have argued for several years under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for “common but differentiated responsibilities”, whereby the historically high emitters of GHGs are required to do much more in mitigating their emissions than those nations, which are on the threshold of development.

There is also a rationale for the developed nations to provide financial resources to help developing countries as part of collective action to deal with climate change. Unfortunately, the principles behind these demands have been forgotten by the developed countries. The nations of South Asia could raise their collective voice for projects to be funded by the industrialised nations.

South Asia, with its excellent insolation and wind energy potential, would be in a unique position to collaborate both in scientific and economic terms across national boundaries. Can the leadership of South Asia rise above current tensions and political differences to serve the interests of their own deprived populations, which would be exposed increasingly to the growing impacts of climate change?  Perhaps as a beginning, this subject could be a serious area of research and advocacy at the recently established South Asian University.

(Writer: RK Pachauri , Courtesy:  The Pioneer)