Feature Article: Climate Change Across South Asia
There are a few major international environmental treaties which have been widely accepted across South Asia. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has been accepted by every South Asian country. This convention seeks to protect species that are endangered or in danger of becoming extinct both now and in the future. As such, signatory states are required to create domestic legislation that protects certain endangered species from being sold or traded.
INTRODUCTION
Amcons aute dunt aliqu
As Cylone Phailin hit the Bay of Bengal, India made preparations to evacuate nearly half a million residents, avoiding the high casualty rates associated with storms in South Asia.[1] Cyclones, tsunamis, monsoons and earthquakes have always been a problem across South Asia, however, with the effects of climate change building force, these phenomena will become more frequent. There are other slowly developing effects of climate change like rising sea levels and receding shorelines that pose a special threat to South Asian states. This endangers the lives and livelihood of millions of humans, and requires attention at the regional level, as all South Asian countries will need to work cooperatively to address the direct and indirect effects of climate change.
Charlotte Sterret explains in a report for Oxfam that:
“Some of the predicted impacts of climate change include increased variability in both monsoon and winter rainfall patterns; increase in average temperatures, with warmer winters; increased salinity in coastal areas as a result of rising seas and reduced discharge of major rivers; weakening ecosystems; the recession of glaciers in the Himalayas; and increased frequency and/or severity of extreme weather events (floods, cyclones, and droughts)" .[2]
She goes onto explain how this is especially detrimental for South Asians, as nearly 60% of the labor force across the region is employed in agriculture. She also notes that South Asia has a high population density in general, and also a high poverty rate, which leaves many people vulnerable to the effects of climate change without proper housing or health services.
Further, the increasing urbanization of major cities across the region have placed millions of people in urban centers that are already beyond capacity [3] This will become deadly if or when climate change events hit these population centers. Such events could directly kill many people due to infrastructure collapses, but the indirect effects could be outbreaks of disease and security threats in the form of increased criminality. As such, the secondary effects of climate change “has the potential to compound the prevailing development problems and increase pressure on key resources needed to sustain growth.” [4]
If one looks to the long-view, the situation seems even direr. Sterret explains that by the end of the century “Much of the Maldives may be submerged…Up to a fifth of Bangladesh will be inundated, affecting over a tenth of the population…(and) 125 million people across Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan could be rendered homeless by rising sea levels.” [5] This presents a challenge for these nations, but also an opportunity to engage in the international environmental community while developing a regional protection for the environment.
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS
CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTH ASIA
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By Waris Husain