A STUDY ON HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS SOUTH ASIA

- Dr. E. Thelma, associate professor in economics, Bishop Heber College,

MK. Ramanan, 3rd BA Economics, Bishop Heber College.

Abstract

South Asia is vulnerable and most affected by adverse impacts of climate change. The study
examines the impact of climate change on South Asia during the year 2023 – 2024, resulting
in unprecedented heatwaves and drought in summers followed by abnormal rains and floods
during the monsoon season. Agriculture is the backbone of South Asia's economy, which has
been devastated by both drought and floods. While the flood water is gradually receding, the
stagnant contaminated water is causing several health risks for the inhabitants. This research
argues that water security is an emerging national security challenge for South Asia. The
article investigates the status of water availability vis-a-vis the burgeoning population,
agriculture, and other uses of water. The impact of abnormal melting of glaciers, the no
availability of dams for storage of rainwater, and lack of smart means for agricultural water
have been examined to empirically validate the arguments.

Introduction
The most at-risk region for the negative effects of climate change is South Asia. The research
looks at how climate change will affect South Asia in future by studying the past, with
unheard-of heatwaves and droughts in the summers and unusual monsoon season rains and
floods. The foundation of South Asia's economy is agriculture, which has been severely
damaged by both floods and drought. According to this study, South Asia's most pressing
national security issue is water security. The increasing population, agriculture, and other
water-related uses are all impacted by the increasing impact of climate change. Human-
induced activities, particularly greenhouse gas emissions, are causing various hazards such as
heatwaves, droughts, heavy precipitation, and tropical cyclones. These disasters affect
different geographic areas, affecting the environment, human health, economy, and society.
The world is more vulnerable to the detrimental effects of climate change, with nations with
the lowest greenhouse gas emissions experiencing the worst effects on health.
The urgency of addressing the climate emergency is posing threats to global water security,
food security, agricultural productivity, food supply, and prices, all of which negatively
impact poverty, inequality, and sustainable development. UNICEF warns on the availability
and use of water, urging everyone to become water-smart.
South Asia's sensitivity to climate change's adverse effects may lead to abnormal weather
patterns, such as rising temperatures accelerating glacier melting and massive flooding due to
the unique monsoon. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns that South Asia is likely
to experience food shortages, water shortages, and grave consequences for human security
due to the significant loss of life and property.
In response to South Asia's recent flood crisis, it is crucial to recognize everyone's role in
addressing the climate emergency and ensuring water security for all.

Objectives

The present study has the following objectives.

 Examine the latest trends in climate change in developing nations.

 Examine the destruction caused by floods, the state of food security, and the
detrimental effects on the agriculture sector.

Review of literature

Numerous studies on the impact of climate change on the economy in developing nations
have been conducted. A few of the research projects consist of:

 Manisha Sharma (2022)

India's pursuit of a net-zero carbon economy is a long-term challenge due to its abundant
resources and lack of expertise. Climate change, causing economic strain, is a significant
concern. Failure to achieve an emissions-free economy could hinder progress, as energy
demands and climate change agendas often clash, putting half of India's population at
risk.
 Ashraf Hussain (2022)
Climate change is causing rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and extreme
weather events, impacting land, agriculture, forests, food, and human health. Pakistan,
among the top ten countries, is among the top ten, with South Asia being particularly
affected due to limited information on self-defense and adaptation. Increased fossil fuel
use and greenhouse gas use pose risks to Pakistan's food supply and energy security.
 Syed Shoyeb Hossain (2023)
Bangladesh, a riverine country in South Asia, is projected to reach 247 million by 2050,
with a population of 1.29%. The country's agriculture sector, crucial for poverty
reduction, is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The subtropical monsoon climate,
with up to 66% of the country submerged, makes it susceptible to storm surges and
cyclones. Rising sea levels in the southern region may limit economic expansion.
Mythology

This paper uses secondary data from the South Asian government's Ministry of Agriculture to
study the extreme droughts and floods in South Asia over the past 25 years. The data is based
on surveys and studies conducted by the Ministry of Climate Change, with a focus on the past
years. The study provides a comprehensive picture of these events, analyzing data from
various sources. The findings are expected to provide policy recommendations for South
Asia's government departments to address the ongoing flood catastrophe and rehabilitation
process. The study also investigates South Asia's global susceptibility to climate change
hazards to objectively demonstrate the dangers and vulnerabilities.

Findings

For decades, the most discussed but least addressed subject has been climate change. Global
leaders have frequently teamed up to address this worldwide issue, but their efforts have
shown mixed results. The effects of climate change on Earth have been repeatedly discussed
in everything from motivating speeches to documentaries and movies yet to no result. The
industrialized world is ignoring the devastating impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the
ozone layer, which is depleting and exposing Earth's surface to more UV radiation. This has
negative effects on human health, including immune system weakness and cancer. The
agriculture sector is also affected by low crop production.

Figure 1: Assessing climate risk and South Asia countries Source: Pal
Arch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology.
Deciphering Climate Change's Effects on South Asia (about Figure 1)
The industrialized world is ignoring the devastating impact of greenhouse gas emissions on
the ozone layer, which is depleting and exposing Earth's surface to more UV radiation the
result can be seen in above figure 1. This has negative effects on human health, including
immune system weakness and cancer. The agriculture sector is also affected by low crop
production. Recent research has found a hole seven times larger than the Antarctic in the
Tropics, close to the equator. Despite these concerns, industrialized nations seem less
concerned about ozone depletion and rising global temperatures. The United Nations
Framework on Climate Change has launched several agreements and protocols, but these
have served no economic purpose, leading industrial countries to withdraw from them due to
the non-binding nature of the world order. The following are the main worldwide contributors
to CO2 emissions:

Figure 2: The top ten most polluted nations in the world as of 2020 are shown in the figure—
source: Garrett C. Most Polluted Countries in the World: 2022 Ranking.

In 2024, China will lead in CO2 emissions, followed by India in third with 2.3 billion tons,
and the United States in second with 4.4 billion tons. These nations, despite not ranking
among the top 10 global contributors, are among the top 10 per capita contributors due to
their high reliance on oil and small population numbers. UN Secretary-General Mr. Antonio
Gutters paid an visit to the South Asian country (Pakistan) to express solidarity with flood
victims and assess the devastation through official briefings and field visits. He declared that
“nature has attacked Pakistan, which contributes less than 1% of global emissions” while
being forced to bear the consequences of developed countries' emissions and climate
pollution.

Examination of Damages cussed by climate change in Asian countries.

Pakistan has experienced devastating floods and torrential rains, resulting in at least 50 deaths
and over 1700 inured, including children, affecting over 33 million people. Climate change
has led to unprecedented effects on the economy and society, with a third of the country
underwater. In India, flash floods in Assam have forced thousands to flee their homes and
seek safety in temporary relief camps. South Asia, one of the world's most sensitive regions
to global warming, is particularly vulnerable due to poverty, population density, and
geographic location. The World Bank reports that at least one natural disaster has affected
750 million people in South Asia, with issues such as water shortages, population dislocation,
and a lack of land for food production. Climate experts predict lasting impacts on the
lifestyles of hundreds of millions, highlighting the urgent need for urgent action.

Food insecurity

South Asia was regarded for millennia as the world's "granary" of agriculture due to its
climate, which is ideal for crop growth. "But the delicate balance that was necessary for crops
to grow has been disturbed with the onset of climate change," Saeed stated.
A 2021 study predicts that South Asia will experience the most severe consequences of
climate change, with a 16 percent decline in wheat yields in the year 2050. Environmentalist
Anjal Prakash warns that rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and increased
extreme weather events pose significant challenges to agricultural systems, affecting fisheries
and cattle productivity. The region, home to the world's greatest concentration of glaciers in
the Himalayas, may face serious problems with water availability due to climate change. The
melting of glaciers and changes in rainfall patterns can disrupt irrigation systems, affecting
crop growth and exacerbating water scarcity. The ongoing hunger issue in South Asia is
worsened by a lack of water and poor crop yields. The UN Food and Agriculture
Organization reported that 21% more people experienced extreme food insecurity in 2021
than in 2020, with 330 million people undernourished in the same year.

SUGGESTION

 For fast development countries should not depend on polluting and non-eco-friendly
methods instead they can adopt long-term goals and sustainable ways of development.
 Countries should only use coal as a last resort and should slowly switch the thermal
power plants to other sources of power generation.
 More than developing countries the developed countries contribute more towards
pollution but the consequence could be found in developing countries to avoid such
injustice in the world summit all countries should be held responsible for the amount of
pollution they have caused. They should be charged as a penalty and the penalty funds
should be distributed among the countries which face advanced effects. The funds
distributed should be strictly monitored.
 Most of the South Asian countries have been colonized in the past and during such period
deforestation was at its peak, natural resources were looted to a great extent, and polluted
the rivers as a result environment suffered a great deal of damage. The colonial countries
should be held responsible and should help in the environmental recovery of the
colonised countries.
 Countries should clearly define agricultural land as separate from forest land. They
should understand that agriculture also leads to deforestation and they both are different.
To prevent deforestation, they have to make sure that no forest land is converted into
agricultural land and no agricultural land is converted into commercial land.
 There is also a need to increase the number of water reservoirs and dams so that more
rainwater can be stored and floods can be avoided. It also decreases the dependence on
rain for agriculture and helps to maintain groundwater levels.
 The green revolution was initiated to address food shortages, but now we produce surplus
food. It's time to remove hazardous substances like pesticides, herbicides, fungicides,
fertilisers, and veterinary chemicals. Pesticides are toxic to humans and can cause acute
and chronic health effects. Starting with 10% natural agriculture and 90% existing
agriculture, the gap between natural and existing agriculture should be eradicated without
affecting food availability. Alternatives for harmful chemicals should be found through
research and development and by studying traditional agriculture .

Conclusion

Climate change poses a growing threat to the world, particularly South Asia, which has
experienced intense droughts and floods in 2022 and 2023. To address this, South Asia must
declare a climate emergency and adopt strategies for a comprehensive response, involving
strong interagency cooperation and the synergistic application of national power. This
requires the integration of departments under special unions and provincial disaster response
organizations. International recognition is needed for the conservation and distribution of
existing water resources, as most industrialized nations have adopted these methods.
Developing innovative ways to use water for agriculture and recycle it for other purposes is
also crucial. The recent floods in South Asia highlight the need for larger water reservoirs.
This study aims to provide knowledge and help nations form countermeasures before it's too
late.
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