Oped»
Choppy waters
APR 28 -
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the largest regional grouping in terms of the size of the population. As one of the world’s most ecologically diverse and ecologically fragile regions, South Asia is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change with an urgent need for adaptive action.
An increasing number of intellectuals have agreed that a consistent rise in annual mean temperatures, less frequent but more intensive rainfall, increasing frequency and intensity of floods, changes in monsoon on- and offset, growing threats from glacial lake outburst floods, longer dry spells and drought events and increasingly stronger storms have already been experienced in the SAARC region in the past decade. Such hazards not only cause damage and loss of human lives and property, they also undermine development progress in the region and put the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at risk, including the obligations of and commitments to the climate change regime.
Realising this scenario, SAARC has chosen climate change as the theme of the 16th summit. Undoubtedly, climate change is one of the complementarities for enhancing closer and mutually beneficial cooperation in the region. For example, member states can benefit from carbon trading by implementing programmes and projects with the concept of clean development mechanism. Therefore, adoption of the SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment and Climate Change can play a significant role in promoting cooperation in the field of environment and sustainable development.
Initiatives
Having realised this situation, the 14th SAARC Summit (New Delhi, April 3-4, 2007) expressed “deep concern” over global climate change. At the 29th session of the SAARC Council of Ministers (New Delhi, Dec. 7-8, 2007), the issue of climate change, particularly the increasing vulnerability of the region due to environmental degradation and climate change, was discussed. The ministers felt that given the vulnerabilities, inadequate means and limited capacities, the region needed to ensure rapid social and economic development to make SAARC resilient to climate change. After the recommendation of the expert group, there is already an Action Plan on Climate Change which was adopted in Dhaka in July 2008.
Other initiatives which are supporting climate change are SAARC Integrated Action of Programme, SAARC Developmental Goals and SAARC Regional Centres. To illustrate, SAARC Meteorological Research Centre is undertaking research relevant to weather prediction and compiling climatological information.
Way forward
SAARC can accelerate climate change cooperation through the exchange of best practices and knowledge, capacity building and transfer of eco-friendly technology among member states. Some relevant areas of cooperation could be:
Energy development: The first area of cooperation, can focus on developing renewable and alternative energy. This will not only fulfil the growing demand for energy but also reduce consumption of fossil fuels and fuel wood in SAARC leading to a reduction of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Forest development: The second area, could contribute to the national economies and reduce the impacts of climate change. Studies have shown that natural tropical forest regeneration on bare mountains and plains is possible through wildlife conservation, especially conserving big mammals like elephants, rhinos and wild buffaloes. Therefore, wildlife conservation could be another strong area for cooperation and environmental impact assessment.
Disaster management: The third area, to mitigate the impact of climate change induced hazards such as floods and landslides. It will not only prevent people from becoming climate refugees by preserving their lives and property but also promote the common socio-economic and environmental interests of the region. In this effort, the SAARC Cooperation on Disaster Response Mechanism could be another sub-area for strong cooperation.
Likewise, controlling vector-born diseases such as malaria, dengue and kalazar could be the fourth area. Environment impact assessment, climate research and studies and development of eco-friendly methods and technologies are the other beneficial areas to explore and address the threats posed by climate change.
SAARC should adopt specific measures and strategies to make SAARC an effective vehicle for regional cooperation in climate change. It has to focus on implementation and integration of related programmes underway in the region. Thematic areas of the road map for implementation of the SAARC Action Plan on climate change could be adaptation to climate change, technology transfer, finance and investment, education and awareness and management of impact and risks due to climate change. The organisation has to set up a dynamic SAARC Climate Expert Group to formulate possible specific action plans and programmes.
It will be more relevant for SAARC to focus on conservation of the mountains and the Himalaya in the north, conservation of plain fertile land and tropical forests in the middle and conservation of the coastal areas in the south, i.e., the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. For instance, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Bhutan can benefit by conserving the mountains and the Himalayan ecosystem by converting bare mountains into green mountains which are helpful for watershed management.
Conducting environment and climate diplomacy could be a predominant tool for SAARC to obtain financial and technical support from the developed countries, other regional organisations and international financial institutions such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The region can also get support from international non-governmental organisations such as ICIMOD, IUCN and WWF.
Moreover, strengthening the SAARC Secretariat, SAARC Bodies, SAARC Regional Centres and expediting their operations and increasing the SAARC budget by each of the member states are the most crucial and important steps required to make SAARC result oriented for the benefit of the teeming millions of the region.
These endeavours will certainly add new dynamics in the region to achieve sustainable economic growth and development and promote the objectives of the organisation. It will not only benefit the region but also contribute to the global endeavour to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
narayanbist@yahoo.com
Posted on: 2010-04-29 08:02
Headlines
Advertisements
