TURKISH CENTER  for ASIA PACIFIC STUDIES

Executive Summary

          "Climate change and climate risks are intimately linked, as they both directly and indirectly contribute to global warming (Masud, Sahara, & Kabir, 2023). Climate change refers to any significant alteration in the mean or variability of climatic attributes that persists for an extended period, typically decades or more (Chakraborty, Pattanayak, Mandal, Das, & Roychowdhury, 2014). Even minor changes in the planet's average temperature can lead to larger, potentially dangerous climate and weather pattern shifts. Extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and storm surges, are becoming more frequent and severe, threatening lands, livestock, crops, and food supplies (Yan & Alvi, 2022). Those living in fragile environments, who are already vulnerable to hunger, are most affected by climate change (Mahapatra, Walia, Rao, Raju, & Saggurti, 2021). The anticipated impacts of climate change on Earth's biological and physical systems are drawing global attention. Climate change affects all regions, posing varying health risks to human populations depending on their location and lifestyle (Dhital, Koirala, Dhungel, RK, & Gulis, 2016).

          The IPCC report shows that global surface temperature has risen by 1.09oC in 2011-2020, compared to 1850-1900, due to successively warmer decades since 1850(Chakraborty, Pattanayak, Mandal, Das, & Roychowdhury, 2014).Global heating is reducing the snow cover and sea ice in some regions and intensifying heavy rains and forest fires in others, leading to drastic changes in existing habitats (United Nations, 2022). Human activities, principally through the emission of greenhouse gases have unequivocally caused global warming, with global surface temperature reaching 1.1o C above 1850-1900 in 2011-2020. Due to historical and current imbalances in land use, energy use, and consumption and production patterns between and within nations, as well as between regions, people, and lifestyles, these emissions have continued to rise (Lee, Romero, & Core Writing Team, 2023). Climate-induced risks threaten nations worldwide, but poor countries are particularly vulnerable because of their low adaptive capacity and their heavy reliance on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture (Aryal, Sapkota, Rahut, Marenya, & Stirling, 2021). Asia is experiencing the highest temperature in the last 30 years, with average temperatures in 2021 reaching 0.86oC above the 1981-2010 average, and 2020 the warmest year on record since 1900. Extreme precipitation events such as storms, floods, and landslides, which have led to over 48 million people directly affected and 4,000 lives lost in 2021 in the region are becoming more frequent (Asian Development Bank, 2023). Less than 0.4%, 0.5%, 7%, and 4% of global CO2 emissions were produced between 1850 and 2019 by LDCs, SIDs, Africa, and South Asia, whereas around 39% was produced by North America and Europe having the United States contributing 23% and Europe contributing 26%(United Nations, 2022).

          The climate departure will have a significant impact on the lives of poor people. The climate change shocks push such poor people below the absolute poverty line (Fujii, 2016).The empirical evidence substantially supports the hypothesis that the lower a household's level of income, the greater the likelihood of being negatively impacted by disasters caused by nature(Laplante, 2010).

          Despite the issue of sustainable development raised in the 1970s, it was in the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987 (WCED or Brundtland Commission) that the term was coined and also defined as "development that meets the needs of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"(Le Blanc, 2015).

          Some causes that promote sustainable development include "equitable distribution of growth's benefits, prudent resource management, and a decrease in the detrimental effects of economic growth on people and the environment" (Serageldin, 1996). Thus, sustainable development ensures the well-being of the human person by integrating social development, economic development and environment conservation and protection.

This report concentrates on the key questions: How is the South Asian economy currently performing? What impacts is climate change having on South Asia? Why are South Asian countries committed to sustainable development in the face of climate change? How is climate change affecting the socio-economic and geographic sectors of South Asia? What are the primary concerns related to climate change in this region? How is climate change contributing to the increase in poverty levels in South Asia? What strategies could South Asian countries adopt to cope with climate change and poverty and promote sustainable development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Climate Change, Poverty and Sustainable Development Practices in South Asia 

Dr. Bama Dev Sigdel 

Non-Resident Distinguished Fellow, Turkish Center for Asia Pacific Studies, Ankara, Turkey
Visiting Professor/Senior Researcher, People's Campus/IMPRI, India/Nepal,
Centre for Policy Studies and Rural Development (CEPRUD), Kathmandu, Nepal

APAC Report · January 2025