South Asia is an incredibly diverse region.
The peaks of the Nepalese Himalaya, the fertile lands of Bangladesh, the plain desert as well as the lush forests of India, and the Indian Ocean island nations of the Maldives and Sri Lanka are all parts of the region. Perhaps even more diverse than its geography, however, is it's vast array of communities, languages, and cultures. Over 1.4 billion people live in South Asia, among which an estimate of over 600 million fall below the absolute poverty line. Critical systems that govern these societies - such as energy, water, agriculture, politics, economic institutions, prevailing social injustices, etc. - are all directly informed by centuries of chronic poverty prevalent in the region, and thus, threaten not only efforts aimed at economic development but also directly affect climate action programs.
A number of different organizations have been responding to such threats with strategic campaigns and programs - from research projects and poverty alleviation campaigns, to community strengthening programs and political empowerment drives. Thus far, much of the region’s attention has revolved around extreme weather adaptation measures, renewable energy investment, and climate-resilient urban development. Conversations around Climate Justice and Systems Thinking have become more common in the last few decades. Additionally, various existing poverty alleviation programs have also now begun to include the climate change dimension in their efforts.
Below is an assortment of organizations active on the frontlines.
