Asia’s poorest countries are dependent on natural resources that are already insufficient to meet the region’s needs. It is these resources, including land, water, forests and fisheries, which are most difficult to protect against the effects of climate change.

National and international agencies are beginning to recognise the extent to which climate change will affect Asia. Yet government initiatives and donor projects continue to focus on one-off extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts and cyclones, with a very recent change in thinking towards preparedness.

The impacts of climate change are likely to vary significantly across Asia, with some countries coping better than others do. A study from the International Institute for Environment and Development, UK, offers an overview of the anticipated impacts of climate change on three of South Asia’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs): Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. These three countries are likely to be among the most vulnerable, due to their lack of economic growth, low institutional capabilities and dependency on climate-sensitive resources.

In response, the National Adaptation Programmes of Action to Climate Change (NAPA) in all three countries are bringing together climate change experts to discuss what action is needed. These programmes aim to formulate nationwide strategies for adaptation. To guide the process, the research suggests that:

• The most damaging effects of climate change for all three countries will be its impact on water resources and agriculture, which is the main source of employment in all three countries.
• The loss of agricultural land for production will have a significant impact on livelihoods, especially for poor rural communities.
• Bangladeshis living in coastal areas are most at risk from sea level rise; in Nepal, people living in the Terai plain and hilly areas and most threatened by glacial flooding; in Bhutan, the western region is most vulnerable to glacier lake flooding.
• Following the pattern of past events, climate change is likely to increase social unrest by driving rural populations into urban centres.
• Changes already underway have improved adaptation responses, including better observation and forecasting for natural hazard risks, and the fostering of community involvement in raising awareness.
• Improving governance and reducing corruption is a major requirement for the success of activities (such as adaptation measures implemented under NAPAs).

Climate change poses a significant threat to sustainable development in South Asia. Governments and donor agencies must ensure adaptation measures are central to their development agendas. These measures need to be realistic, as unrealistic responses will further jeopardise livelihoods and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Realistic measures include:

• Encouraging existing initiatives that provide adaptation opportunities, such as a coastal greenbelt project to protect coastal areas and livelihoods of coastal communities.
• Continued lobbying of policymakers in all areas of government to act decisively on adaptation programmes.
• Scaling-up of activities in donor projects that focus on adaptation.
• Strengthening community-based adaptation measures that build on existing local strategies for coping with extreme events.
• Increasing public awareness by improving government coordination and establishing regional collaboration, as well as through research and training.
• Adopting efficient water management strategies during both the winter and monsoon seasons.

Source(s):
‘Facing Up to Climate Change in South Asia’, International Institute for Environment and Development, Gatekeeper Series No 118, by Mozaharul Alam and Laurel A Murray, 2005 Full document.

Funded by: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Rockefeller Foundation

id21 Research Highlight: 11 November 2005

Further Information:
Gatekeeper Editor
Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods Programme
International Institute for Environment and Development
3 Endsleigh Street
London WC1H ODD
UK

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7388 2117
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7388 2826
Contact the contributor: gatekeeper@iied.org

International Institute for Environment and Development, UK

Mozaharul Alam

Contact the contributor: mozaharul.alam@bcas.net

Other related links:
id21 insights #53 - Securing development in the face of climate change

See id21's links to climate change websites

'Insuring against climate change: who will pay for the poorest?'

'Are carbon sinks really good for rural people?'

'Adapting to climate change: developing countries and the global response'

'Meeting greenhouse gas targets and supporting development: a win-win situation?'

'Beyond Kyoto: towards a north-south bargain on climate change'