Climate Injustice: Implications for South Asian Countries & a Way Forward

Abstract

The region is disproportionately affected, this paper examines the climate injustice through a human security perspective and arguing that this region is facing the severe consequences of the climate justice despite contributing very little, the paper analysis the major manifestation of the climate injustice in the region including extreme heatwaves, unprecedented rainfalls, floods, cyclones, sea level rise and glacier melting. Further the study explores that the multidimensional consequence of the disasters which includes loss of human lives, economic losses (agriculture & infrastructure), health hazards, displacements and climate induced migrations. The paper argues that for South Asia climate change has become more than just an environmental issue rather it has emerged as a serious human security, social justice and a regional security threat which need a serious attention regionally and internationally. Finally, the paper stresses on the importance of climate mitigation, climate adaptation, climate resilience, cooperation over conflict at regional level and climate international diplomacy to address the challenges, consequences and growing vulnerabilities of the climate injustice in the region. It concludes that the major responsibility lies on the shoulders of greenhouse gas emitters to fulfill their commitments under international climate agreements and protocols that to reduce the emissions and to provide adequate financial and technical support to the regional countries to protect and to safeguard the future of vulnerable population across the South Asia.