Climate change: South Asia’s biggest threat?

Imagine waking up to find your home submerged, your crops destroyed, and your community in chaos—all because of climate change. In South Asia, this isn’t just a nightmare; it’s a daily reality. Join us as we uncover the shocking truths behind the unprecedented disasters reshaping lives in this region.

The Democracy Forum and TDF President Lord Bruce invite you to a live webinar,

'Climate change: South Asia’s biggest threat?'
on
Monday November 18th, 2024
2-3.30pm UK time (GMT)

Moderator
Humphrey Hawksley, Author & former BBC Asia correspondent

Panellists
Dr Bhargav Krishna, Convenor, SFC and Coordinator of the Environmental Governance and Policy vertical, Sustainable Futures Collaborative
Prof. Benjamin P. Horton, Director, the Earth Observatory of Singapore; Professor of the Asian School of Environment,
Nanyang Technological University;
Dr Indu K. Murthy, Principal Research Scientist and Sector Head, Climate, Environment and Sustainability, Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP)
Dr Anamika Barua, Professor, Dept of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG)
Mihir Bhatt, Director, All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI)

00:14–02:38 South Asia’s Unique Vulnerability (Humphrey Hawksley):
South Asia faces severe climate impacts due to its geography and dense population. Events like floods, heatwaves, and cyclones are increasing in frequency and intensity.
Governments need frameworks to mainstream climate action across sectors and adapt to this evolving threat.

03:16–06:41 Economic Implications of Climate Change (Lord Charles Bruce):
Climate-induced economic losses in South Asia could reach 2.5–9% of GDP by 2030.
Urban heatwaves and agricultural impacts threaten livelihoods, with India alone facing productivity losses of $50–250 billion annually.

06:41–11:39 Heatwaves and Urban Challenges (Bav Krishna):
Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and severe, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities and outdoor workers.
India’s National Heat Management Framework integrates climate adaptation strategies across sectors.

23:27–27:51 Inaction at Global Forums ( Ben Horton):
COP meetings are criticized for fossil fuel lobbying and inadequate outcomes.
Horton highlights the link between extreme events, such as super typhoons and rising temperatures, with human activities.

45:47–48:55 Agricultural Vulnerabilities (Indu K. Murthy):
Climate change acts as a risk multiplier, exacerbating poverty and inequalities.
Agriculture, which supports 60% of South Asia's population, is highly susceptible to erratic weather and monsoon disruptions.

57:29–1:05:07 Transboundary Coordination Challenges (Anamika Barua):
Shared climate challenges like river flooding require regional cooperation, but political tensions often lead to blame games.
Poor transboundary management exacerbates the suffering of vulnerable communities.

1:12:28–1:20:41 Role of Education and Research ( Ben Horton and Bav Krishna):
Climate education must be integrated into school curricula to raise awareness and equip future leaders.
Specialized programs in engineering, healthcare, and urban planning are critical to address emerging climate challenges.

1:20:41–1:25:59 Climate Change as a Risk Multiplier (Indu KM and Anamika Barua):
Rising sea levels and extreme weather events are compounding socio-economic vulnerabilities.

1:25:59–1:29:09, Urbanization and resource extraction further strain South Asia’s resilience.
Political Will as a Key Factor (Anamika Barua):
Political will and collaboration are crucial to addressing climate change effectively.
Failure to act decisively within the next decade could lead to irreversible consequences.

1:29:09 Comparing Threats (Ben Horton):
Horton equates the threat of climate change to global nuclear conflict due to its potentially catastrophic consequences.
He stresses that immediate and collective action is the only way to mitigate these risks.

Видео Climate change: South Asia’s biggest threat? канала The Democracy Forum