Tuesday, February 11, 2025
HomeClimate RefugeesThe impending crisis of climate migration in South Asia

The impending crisis of climate migration in South Asia

“Climate Displacement Hotspots: The Urgent Need for Action in South Asia”

June 5 marked the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, a day established by the United Nations in June 1972 at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Despite five decades of awareness and efforts, the impact of climate change continues to be a pressing issue, particularly in South Asia.

According to the World Development Report on Migrants, Refugees, and Societies, 40% of the world’s population, equivalent to 3.5 billion people, live in areas highly susceptible to the effects of climate change. These effects include water scarcity, drought, heat stress, sea level rise, and extreme events like floods and tropical cyclones.

South Asia is home to some of the most impacted climate displacement hotspots, including the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region, coastal areas, island nations, and deltaic and semi-arid regions. Countries like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are affected by sea level rise and coastal floods, while Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Nepal face challenges from glacial melt and temperature rise. Small island nations like the Maldives are threatened by submersion.

The situation is worsened by high population density, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure. By 2050, an estimated 216 million South Asians could be displaced due to climatic reasons. In 2020, cyclone Amphan alone displaced five million people across the region. The economic costs of displacement include job losses, food insecurity, and overcrowding of resources, leading to further migration and social and economic costs.

Climate migration also impacts agricultural patterns and water availability, forcing people to move to urban areas. This rural-urban migration strains cities that are already operating at capacity, leading to conflicts over resource sharing and social unrest. In 2020, 95% of conflict-related displacements were reported in climate-vulnerable countries.

To support climate refugees, sustainable solutions such as adopting salinity-resistant crops and strengthening infrastructure are crucial. However, weak policy responses from governments and international agencies have hindered progress. Most countries in South Asia lack comprehensive policies to address climate displacement, and international aid has been insufficient.

The “loss and damage” framework developed at COP27 aims to support the most impacted countries, but concerns remain about funding and liability issues. European countries fear bearing a large responsibility, while questions about funders and funding requirements remain unanswered.

As the world marks the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, the plight of climate migrants in South Asia underscores the urgent need for targeted policies, resilience-building measures, and international cooperation to address the challenges posed by climate change.

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