Amid deep concerns over South Asia as one of the most vulnerable regions for climate change, most of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation ( SAARC) state heads have pledged to focus and tackle the issue of climate change.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of SAARC in Nepal on Wednesday morning, leaders of the South Asian nations stressed the need of joint efforts to tackle this global issue.
They were of the view that increasing natural disasters in the region due to erratic weather patterns, as a result of climate change, have inflicted a huge loss to the region. The SAARC leaders also highlighted the challenges of environment pollution and natural disasters.
Prime Minister of Nepal, Sushil Koirala, who is also the chairman of the 18th SAARC summit, said in his inaugural speech that it's high time to work collectively to confront the challenges of climate change for the benefits of the people in the region. "We call for a climate justice mechanism guided by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and for activating funding mechanisms for adaptation and mitigation measures. No one has the privilege to pollute the planet without accountability," Koirala said.
According to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s report "Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability"released in March, flooding, food shortage and stagnating economic growth are some of the devastating impacts South Asia might experience due to advancing climate change. "Glaciers are retreating, crop yields are fluctuating, water levels in our rivers and streams have receded and we are experiencing more extreme weather,"said Prime Minister of Bhutan, TsheringTobgay. He added that flash floods and landslides have become recurring events, causing widespread damage and destruction.
In recent years, the melting of Himalayan glaciers and devastating floods and landslides, cyclones in the South Asian region have grown high, risking the lives of more than 1.6 billion.
In October, a snowstorm disaster occurred in Nepal, resulting in the deaths of at least 43 people, Nepal's worst trekking disaster under the impact of cyclone Hudhud in India.
Global Risk Data Platform, under United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), states that Nepal is also among the top 10 countries in terms of Mortality Risk Index (MRI) for landslides.
According to IPCC's report, the majority of South Asian countries are vulnerable to climate change due to population and poverty. A rising sea level and reduced production in agriculture pose the biggest threats.
Drought mostly affects India, Afghanistan, Pakistan whereas floods and landslides regularly plague Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In September, more than 400 people were killed in flashfloods and landslides in the Himalayan region of Kashmir that goes across India and Pakistan.
Cyclones are common in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Almost 200,000 people have lost their lives due to disasters and natural hazards in Bangladesh alone over the past 30 years.
The South Asian leaders were of view that the SAARC must forge a common position and become a significant voice on the global climate platform.
Sri Lankan President MahindaRajapaksa said"Climate change is a defining challenge and demands a concerted regional and global response."
Though South Asia has developed a road map for Disaster Risk Reduction, there are no proper mechanisms for effective initiatives. According to report "Climate changes in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas (HKH) region" released by International Center for Integrated Mountain development ICIMOD,"Fighting the challenge of climate change requires increased regional cooperation."
Experts believe that South Asian nations will have to invest heavily in both mitigation and adaptation to tackle the progressing climate change.
Published in Xinhua, Nov 27 2014
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