Climate change threatening S Asian development - World Bank
Climate change will overturn hard won gains in reducing poverty in
South Asia as changing weather patterns make accessing water and food
resources even more difficult, according to a new report named Turn down
the Heat - Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts and the Case for
Resilience, released by the World Bank.
Extreme weather such as heat waves, devastating floods and droughts,
and more intense tropical cyclones will hit the region with Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, India and Pakistan bearing the brunt of the climate impacts,
according to new research.
 The report says that Sri Lanka is the most vulnerable to
unprecedented heat waves and coastal erosion which can impact tourism.
In India, devastating floods such as the 2005 deluge in Mumbai which
killed 500 and caused USD 1.7 billion in damage will become twice as
likely in the region. Dry areas will get drier and wet areas wetter.
Bangladesh, potentially the most vulnerable country in the region
will experience an increase in cyclones, extreme flooding and higher
than average sea level rise. The impacts of extreme flooding are
expected to be at their worst at just 2.5C of warming. The salinisation
of water and heat waves will lead to a reduction in crop yields, as well
as the availability of drinking water, impacting the health and wealth
of the population.
Maldives is famously vulnerable to sea level rise with 115 cm
expected by the end of the century. This can be reduced to 80cm if
temperature rise is kept under 2C, the report says.
Pakistan is most vulnerable to drought and extreme heat waves. If the
world warms by an average of 4C, Pakistan's average temperature will
rise 6C. Also, flash flooding in the Indus Delta can be expected.
Sanjay Vashist, Director of Climate Action Network South Asia said
the report highlights the threat that climate change poses to the hard
won gains in development made in this region in recent years.
"South Asia needs support from the international community to adapt
towards a low carbon approach to development that is compatible with
meeting the human rights and needs of its growing population," said Hina
Lotia from LEAD Pakistan.
The report takes an in-depth look at what climate change means for
South Asia. The report warns that even climate change of 2șC will pose a
'significant challenge to development' in the region.
"South Asia will require comprehensive plans to adapt communities to
climate change with investments in infrastructure and flood defenses,
and drought resistant crops are necessary," said Ziaul Mukta from Oxfam
GB.
He warned that if warming increased by 4șC on average, rainfall
patterns will be affected. Overall, dry areas like Northwestern India,
Pakistan and Afghanistan - currently a major food producing area like
Punjab in Pakistan and India, Tarai belt in Nepal and Northern parts of
Bangladesh for the sub continent - will get dryer resulting in reduced
crop production. Wet areas, like Southern India and parts of Bangladesh,
will get wetter, leading to flooding and an increase in diseases.
Not only will climate change affect the provision of safe drinking
water and water for agricultural irrigation, access to energy could
become even more difficult as less water is available to run hydropower
stations and cool other existing electricity stations. Only 62 per cent
of the region's population currently has access to electricity.
Heat waves will disproportionately impact the elderly and the urban
poor, the report said. Events like the heat-wave in Andhra Pradesh,
India, in May 2002 which caused 1,000 deaths in a single week as the
mercury hit 51șC will become much more common.
Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) is calling on South Asian
governments to collaborate to initiate joint monitoring of the impacts
and undertake joint actions to address the climate induced disasters.
Since the sub-continent nations are dependent on shared natural resource
ecosystems, much can be achieved through 'Regional Cooperation' among
neighboring stakeholders. |
