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South Asia's Climate Crisis: Survival Over Rivalry
15 Dec
Summary
- South Asia faces rapid warming, exceeding global averages.
- Climate change impacts could cost the region 10% of GDP.
- Regional cooperation on climate is crucial for survival.
South Asia confronts an escalating climate crisis, with warming rates outpacing the global average and threatening millions. Melting glaciers and unpredictable river flows, such as the Indus and Ganges, are creating water scarcity and fueling geopolitical friction, exemplified by tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over the Kabul River.
Economic stability is precarious, with the World Bank projecting a potential 10% GDP loss by mid-century due to climate impacts on agriculture and other sectors. Major cities are already grappling with smog and water shortages, straining health systems and disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
The region's future hinges on a collective response, reframing climate change not as a peripheral environmental issue but as a core security imperative. A unified 'Regional Climate Framework Agreement' is essential to foster peace, prosperity, and adaptive resilience, moving beyond historical rivalries for shared survival.
