South Asia in the Face of Climate Disasters: Regional Cooperation Urged to Tackle Extreme Floods and Heatwaves

A new World Bank report states that by 2030, almost 90% of the region’s population will experience extreme heatwaves, and one in four will encounter severe flooding. Coordinated action across political boundaries is essential to address collective hazards effectively.

Shafi Mohammad Tarek, a professor at Jahangirnagar University, emphasized that climate change is a global issue, and individual actions won’t be effective for countries such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

He emphasized the importance of information sharing and developing a unified Early Warning System to address floods and climate-related hazards, as most of Bangladesh’s rivers come from India. Such regional cooperation could not only help protect the environment but also help ease long-standing political tensions.

However, geopolitical complexities and recent political instability are hindering such formal cooperation. Policy experts suggest that some important cooperation can be achieved through ‘ring-fencing’ in key areas like the environment and climate.

Increased regional cooperation would help reduce poverty and food insecurity caused by floods, cyclones, and droughts. Joint monitoring and control systems are crucial for managing air pollution in major cities like Dhaka, Lahore, and New Delhi.