Author: Deepak Joshi Pokhrel
In July 2023, more than 50 people were killed in Pakistan. Likewise, over a dozen people in the northeastern state of Assam had to flee their homes and sought refuge in makeshift relief camps. The reason was not a conflict or a terror attack. But the people in both countries were severely affected by the incessant rainfall driven by climate change.
South Asia is home to over 675 million people, representing roughly 8.5% world’s population and making it the third populous region in Asia. South Asia is endowed with mountainous countries like Nepal, and at the same time, it has island nations such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives. It has a major river system from the Hindu Kush and the Himalayan regions, which flows through and irrigates these countries, boosting agricultural productivity. The majority of these countries’ populations rely on agriculture for their subsistence, though tourism is an integral part of their economy.
But many South Asian nations have been facing the impact of climate change in recent decades. There are reports of glacial lake outbursts in mountainous countries like Nepal due to a temperature rise. On the other hand, the rise of sea level has posed a severe threat to the people of island nations, including Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Every year, floods and inundations cause huge damage to the lives and properties of people living in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Nepal is already grappling with a climate change crisis, facing complex disasters beyond its previous experience and capacity to manage. The glaring example is the unprecedented rainfall between 24 and 27 September 2024 that devastated the country’s capital, Kathmandu. The country capital experienced record-breaking rainfall with more than 300 mm recorded in some parts of the Kathmandu valley. What was very astonishing was that Kathmandu witnessed incessant rainfall during September, which almost marks the end of the monsoon season in the country.
During the flood, more than 228 lives were lost, and many went missing. Likewise, over a dozen hydropower projects generating over 1000 MW were damaged. In addition, there has been damage to the road, settlements, and other infrastructures. The experts blamed the record-breaking rainfall driven by climate change. They also argued that uncontrolled and haphazard human activities have triggered climate change, endangering lives and properties.
Not far away, the climate change-induced disaster has wreaked havoc in India as well. A study conducted by IPE Global and Esri India in 2024 says that over 84% of Indian districts are susceptible to extreme heat waves, with 70% of these districts also experiencing increased frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events. The study also found that India’s monsoon season is increasingly characterized by extended summer-like conditions except on non-rainy days. This shift has significant implications for public health, agriculture, and infrastructure.
The island nation of Sri Lanka has a similar story to tell. As a climate change hotspot, the island nation experiences frequent, extreme weather conditions, including floods, landslides, and drought, causing considerable economic setbacks. The country’s main export crop, tea, bears the brunt of these weather conditions. Spread over 200,000 hectares in the mountainous region, the tea plantations are exposed to harsh and extreme weather patterns changes caused by climate change, affecting the productivity and quality of the tea harvest.
The pisciculture-related business has also been facing the brunt of these extreme conditions. As the marine ecosystem is affected by uncontrolled and haphazard human activities, it has impacted fish populations in rivers, leading to a decline in production due to changes in water temperature, habitat availability, and other factors. These changes can disrupt fish growth, reproduction, and overall survival. What is very worrisome is the fact that the island nation, which already reels under economic crisis, has been struggling to cope with challenges posed by climate change.
In 2021, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said some 21 percent of people in South Asia faced severe food insecurity, a percent rise from 2020. In the same year, the region had the highest undernourished people in the world- 300 million. We do not need a rocket scientist to explain what the causes of such problems are. The answer to this question is very simple. Climate change results in drought, floods, landslides, and extreme weather conditions, resulting in a decline in agricultural productivity.
Why is this region so prone to climate change? Similarly, what have been the collective efforts so far to tackle the menace triggered by climate change? These are issues of great concern. But sadly, they are seldom discussed with high emphasis.
Many say that there is not just one factor but a combination of several factors. To start with, the diverse topography coupled with poverty and dense population has been perceived as a key factor making it susceptible to climate change. Moreover, the region’s population’s reliance on monsoon-fed agriculture is yet another factor that triggers climate change. It is reported that about 70% of South Asians live in rural areas and account for 70% of the poor. Most of the poor depend on agriculture for their subsistence. The unorganized urbanization and rampant destruction of forests in the veil of development can be attributed as the critical factor for increased climate change and its impact in the region. South Asia is home to some of the fastest-growing cities in the world. The drought, heavy dependence on natural resources for livelihoods, and geographic features further exacerbate these vulnerabilities.
In sum, high population densities, a large concentration of poverty, and climate variability have all combined to make South Asia vulnerable to climate change and the consequences arising from it.
References
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/8/what-makes-south-asia-so-vulnerable-to-climate-change
- https://www.cgiar.org/news-events/news/the-era-of-climate-crisis-in-nepal-a-call-for-urgent-action/
- https://www.indiatoday.in/environment/story/how-climate-change-has-exposed-india-to-extreme-heat-and-rain-2577831-2024-08-06
- https://www.preventionweb.net/news/building-communities-are-resilient-disaster-risks-and-climate-change-effects
- https://lib.icimod.org/records/3s0pc-ebz86
