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All eight countries of South Asia, with nearly two billion population that is about 25 percent of the global demography, are living in an area of just 3 percent. Its total economy is only 5.21% (US$ 5 trillion) of the global economy. In simple words, a greater number of persons in this region are staying in very limited areas with little income. It is dominated by the Indian subcontinent and is bounded by the Indian Ocean in the south, and the Himalayas, Karakoram, and Pamir mountains in the north – the major hotbeds of climate change.
This one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change, all the eight countries are already facing natural calamities in a severe scale and erratic intervals. This has resulted in record breaking unseasonal rains causing massive floods unprecedented cyclones and at the same time devastating droughts with high rise in temperature. The net results are- death, loss of home, food scarcity, less water and widespread diseases. In addition to that, global warming in the region is leading to the loss of human habitat and migration problems. The only fear that is deemed as credible and common among the SAARC countries is climate change.
The South Asia region consists of the eight countries - Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. According to the variable index Bangladesh and Pakistan ranked sixth and seventh respectively as the countries most affected by climate change while India ranked fifth followed by Nepal. The tiny landlocked Himalayan Kingdom Bhutan seems to be in the best position far away from the rest six. Very little is known about war torn Afghanistan and at present the smallest island nation Maldives faces the chance of losing to the sea in some years to come. Another island nation Sri Lanka just coming out of economic and political upheavals and is not in a comfortable position either.
Bangladesh, which seems to be a victim of climate change, is widely considered as one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Though its contribution to global warming is negligible (less than 0.47% of global emissions), the country is impacted by all the adversities of climate change mostly due to its delta location.
Being highly prone to the appalling cataclysms of climate change that have resulted in to health, habitat, food and water security, the SAARC nations together have almost failed due to geo-politics between two countries who are born rivals- India and Pakistan.
Considering the above overall grim situation, media persons of South Asia for the first time have formed the South Asia Climate Change Journalist Forum with present headquarters in Dhaka. It has Office Bearers and Members from each country and has adopted a constitution. The regional forum of journalists working on climate change was formally established during the UN Climate Conference (COP 27) in Sharm-El Sheikh (Egypt), in November 2022. Since then, it has had regular online and offline meetings on climate change within and among member countries. The host nation has taken the lead in organising several workshops and talks in coordination with different stakeholders including Governments. Even prior to the COP 28 at Dubai, meetings and discussions were held led by Bangladesh. A climate journal has already been published by the organization. This journal with the climate situation in each country has also articles from all the member nations. The SACCJF has an updated website which also carries important climate news and views. There are plans to go for more study, research, collaboration and a host of other work on climate change in cooperation with different stakeholders.
The writer is Secretary General, South Asian Climate Change Journalist's Forum (SACCJF)
Messenger/Disha
