Policy makers and experts from across South Asia reinforced the need for
cooperation to jointly address mounting climate change effects in the
region. The frequency of natural catastrophes and disasters in South
Asia has increased over the years, putting one of the most populated
regions in the world at immense risk. Realizing the immediacy of
attention required to address issues related to climate change, food
security and population dynamics in South Asia, pa rliamentarians,
policy makers and  experts from across the region have come together to
deliberate over and design policy actions for joint redressal of common
challenges to the region. The high-level meeting has brought together
over 60 policymakers and experts and has been organized by the
Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Pakistan (SDPI), Climate
Action Network of South Asia (CANSA), Oxfam, along with Asian Forum of
Parliamentarians on Population and Development.

Speaking at the
occasion, Dr. Abid Suleri, Executive Director, SDPI observed that
climate change issues also constitute security threats and are not just
confined to environmental concerns. While explaining multiple crises
facing the region, he elaborated that climate change effects also
threaten food security across South Asia. Tauqeer Shiekh, CEO, Leads
Pakistan, said that instead of promoting alternative lifestyles in the
face of climate change effects, there is a need to ensure sustainable
livelihoods in the region.

Iqbal Tabish, Secretary General of
SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industries, observed that the world has
witnessed a number of crises since 1995 and food security has emerged as
one of the most acute ones in the South Asian region. “South Asian
nations must commit to ensuring food security across the region by the
year 2020”, he said. He also highlighted how multi-dimensional water
crisis, energy intensity of green revolution and technologies, and
agricultural diversification to high value crops are aggravating the
food insecurity situation in South Asia. Despite substantial increase in
the production of cereals in South Asia over the last ten years, there
has been no significant reduction in the number of people suffering from
food insecurity. This is because food security requires not only
availability of food but also adequate access to it. Hence, food
insecurity in South Asia cannot be addressed without meeting the poverty
challenge.

Ikram Syed, Member of Parliament from Afghanistan,
spoke about the need for governments to provide incentives to the
private sector to undertake environment-friendly production processes. “Governments in South Asia should share best practices, invest in
technologies that help prevent the loss of agricultural land, and ensure
food security for their populations”, he said.

Ram Kishan from
CANSA indicated the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to climate
change effects. Hence, “climate change policies must be developed at
national, regional and global levels, while steps must be taken to
protect lives and livelihoods,” he said.  He also brought the issue of
migration to the discussion, and stated that “extreme events regularly
cause migration and force displacement of people”. Participants at the
occasion also lamented the lack of implementation on measures taken for
regional cooperation in South Asia. Also present at the meeting were
Kinley Om, MP Bhutan, Shahida Rahmani, MNA Pakistan, Zia-ul-Haq Mukta,
Oxfam, Ananda Pokhrel, MP from Nepal, among others.