Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ

  1. One South Asia

Why #OneSouthAsia?

Climate

Flooding, drought, cyclones, and other extreme weather ignore national borders.

In the past two decades, more than half of all South Asians, or 750 million people, have been affected by at least one natural disaster such as flooding, drought, or cyclones. Based on current trends, losses in the region will average $160 billion annually by 2030.

Variability in the annual monsoon season, which delivers more than 70 percent of South Asia's rainfall, affects farm production as well as aviation, hydropower, urban infrastructure, and tourism. However, there is limited access to weather information tailored to economic sectors. Targeted weather information can save lives, improve the livelihoods of farmers and business owners, and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities.

 

Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ works with partners, including the UK-funded Resilient Asia Program, to provide technical assistance and analytical support to to accelerate transformational and collaborative climate action and to respond to the urgency of climate change challenges in South Asia.

Earlier, climate resilience and disaster risk management efforts were supported under the Program for Asia Resilience to Climate Change (PARCC), which closed in February 2023. 

 

Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ's South Asia Water Initiative or SAWI, which was a multi-donor trust fund to increase regional cooperation in transboundary water management, also closed in June 2022.

 

Our Publications:

 

Our Programs

 

Related

 

Air pollution travels long distances in South Asia and gets trapped in large ¡°airsheds¡± that are shaped by climatology and geography. Our report identifies six major airsheds and analyzes four scenarios to reduce air pollution.
The Economic Case for Nature Report Cover report title in color and abacus type graphic

Making a business case to protect nature and ecosystem services

July 7, 2021 - South Asia's economy is embedded in nature. A new World Bank model finds that a collapse in "ecosystem services" such as crop pollination, fish stocks, and native forests would slash regional GDP by 6.5% or $320 billion.
Read the report Arrow

Apr 22, 2021 - The cross-border consequences of climate change and ecological degradation demand collaborative action, not national plans. The world needs to hear a united voice from South Asia so the region receives attention and support at the multilateral level.

June 23, 2020 - Pandemic lockdowns provided a respite but previous exposure to air pollution has likely made more South Asians vulnerable to contracting severe respiratory diseases, including complications from COVID-19.

May 14, 2020 - A new regional project, Climate Adaptation and Resilience for South Asia, will help make agriculture, transport, and other pandemic-ravaged sectors more resilient to climate change.

VIDEO

OneSouthAsia
click
VIDEO Aug 31, 2022

In South Asia, people are experiencing the effects of a warming climate. Almost 750 million people -- half of South Asia¡¯s population -- were affected by at least one climate-related disaster in the last two decades. The South Asia Hydromet Forum (SAHF) supports regional engagement to promote collaboration and enhance capacity at the regional and sub-regional levels towards improving Hydromet, Early Warning and Climate Services in South Asia

Climate Stories and Editorials

Jan. 2022. South Asia is among the world¡¯s most vulnerable regions to climate change and disasters. Our latest Editorial series, in collaboration with ICIMOD and The Third Pole, presents various perspectives on cross-border approaches

As a part of the World Bank's Tech Emerge Challenge, low-cost wi-fi-enabled community radio is connecting signal dark villages in Uttarakhand in India.

Stay Connected

Join online #OneSouthAsia Conversations
Subscribe to our newsletter
Cecile Fruman
Director
Regional Integration and Engagement - South Asia