AFTER Pakistan floated the idea of ‘climate diplomacy’ to tackle cross-border pollution in light of smog which has engulfed vast tracts of India and Pakistan, a US official indicated on the sidelines of COP29 that the White House may throw its weight behind any initiative taken in this regard.

Last month, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed her government’s intention to approach India to jointly counter the air pollution, which mostly comes from vehicular and industrial emissions, and is exacerbated in winter due to stubble burning.

Talking to Dawn on the sidelines of COP29 in Baku, Ali Zaidi — national climate adviser to the Biden administration — said the US was “100 per cent supportive” of partnership-based approaches to tackle problems that cannot be solved in isolation.

“In the US, we have this thing called the ‘good neighbour rule’, which governs smog. It actually was developed when we witnessed exactly this phenomenon in the US. So you know when it comes to cross-border pollution and cross-border issues, we are 100pc suportive of partnership-based approaches to tackle problems that cannot be solved on their own,” he said in response to a question about smog, which has made life unbearable for millions in Pakistan.

The White House official said the US was already active in the Hindu Kush — often referred to as ‘The Third Pole’ for housing the most glaciers in the world outside the polar regions — to better coordinate the mitigation response, because environmental impacts from glaciers do not isolate themselves to one jurisdiction.

“I think the regional solutions are a necessary complement to this sort of multilateral dialogue,” he said, referring to the COP summit.

The adviser said regional cooperation among relevant parties to address climate change would have more impact than putting “another ornament on a 1,000-page document (COP)”.

In response to a question about the failure of the world to help Pakistan after the 2022 floods caused damages to the tune of $30 billion, he said the global community needed to reinvent its approach to rebuilding from disasters, particularly by investing in pre-disaster mitigation.

According to the White House official, the US took a really long time to reengineer its thinking domestically in terms of building resilience into the recovery.

He favoured approaches that ran “consistent with the financial position” of states that needed to do rebuilding, saying there was a need to mobilise more countries to move more capital to help with adaptation and mitigation in these vulnerable countries.

In response to a question about the loan-laden climate finance framework, he said, “If you are targeting projects that have very clear cash flow and a strong counterparty then debt works just fine.”

He agreed some concessionary capital did need to come in depending on the technological aspect, the richness of the resources and the maturity of the market, while referring to India’s solar projects.

Vulnerable areas need significant grant-based aid, but there is still a need to figure out how to monetise risk reduction associated with adaptation finance and that’s why it was difficult to do. These places are going to soak up more grant-based finance, he said.

Speaking about the Trump-led US administration all set to take over from the Biden administration, he appeared optimistic, saying the states in the US will figure out how to provide the policy support even if the federal government stopped being part of it. About the US, he said it should remain part of the dialogue and be the author of the roadmap that will govern the contours of climate finance for decades to come.

Produced as part of the 2024 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organised by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Centre for Peace and Security.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2024

The post Efficacy of a culturally adapted, cognitive behavioural therapy-based intervention for postnatal depression in British south Asian women (ROSHNI-2): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial was curated by information for practice.

South Asia grapples with escalating levels of malnutrition in various forms, including undernutrition, overweight and obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies, alongside the increasing incidence of diet-related non-communicable diseases. Malnutrition re... Source: IFPRI Bangladesh Country Office

Event Begins: Wednesday, November 13, 2024 7:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for South Asian Studies

Continuing our Spotlight On Women Directors series, Nocturnes is a 2024 documentary on how moths convey a mysterious message.

In the dense forests of the Eastern Himalayas, moths are whispering something to us. In the dark of night, two curious observers shine a light on this secret universe. Together, they are on an expedition to decode these nocturnal creatures in a remote ecological “hot spot” on the border of India and Bhutan. The result is a deeply immersive film that transports audiences to a rarely-seen place and urges us all to look more closely at the hidden interconnections of the natural world. From directors Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan.

This screening is FREE and open to the public (must reserve free tickets/RSVP in advance)

Tickets: https://marquee-arts.org/event-page/tickets/?showingId=892704

Film website: https://www.sandboxfilms.org/films/nocturnes/

*Made possible with the generous support of the Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education.*

Delivering for Nutrition in South Asia: Connecting the Dots Across Systems

South Asia grapples with escalating levels of malnutrition in various forms, including undernutrition, overweight and obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies, alongside increasing incidence of diet-related non-communicable diseases. Malnutrition results from a complex interplay of factors incorporating household and individual decision-making, agriculture and food systems, healthcare services, education, and socio-ecological systems that determine access to services and […]

The post Delivering for Nutrition in South Asia: Connecting the Dots Across Systems appeared first on IFPRI.

Empowering Researchers in South Asia to Unlock Economic Insights: International CGE Modeling Training Program in New Delhi

New Delhi, May 3, 2024: The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the CGIAR Initiative on Foresight, in partnership with the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), and ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (ICAR-NIAP), successfully concluded today the weeklong ‘International […]

The post Empowering Researchers in South Asia to Unlock Economic Insights: International CGE Modeling Training Program in New Delhi appeared first on IFPRI.

Children in some areas of Pakistan are facing school, park and zoo closures, amongst other restrictions, as smog continues to affect the area.

Musk has been eyeing neighbouring India – a country of 1.4bn people – for a while, with a deal reportedly in talks.

Read more: Starlink satellites make South Asia debut with Sri Lanka licence

Water, Ecosystems and Energy in South Asia: Making Cross-Border Collaboration Work Research paper sysadmin 29 June 2016

A new paper sets out the factors that have made previous cross-border projects in South Asia successful, arguing that cooperation around water is feasible despite the region’s political differences and economic assymetries.

• The countries of South Asia share some of the world’s major river basins – the Ganga (or Ganges), the Brahmaputra and the Indus. These rivers and their tributaries flow through seven countries, support more than 1 billion people, irrigate millions of hectares of land and are of cultural importance to many of those who rely on them.
• River management presents common challenges across the region. These include physical factors such as droughts, flooding, cyclones and climate change, as well political and institutional factors impeding the development of solutions and policies to improve resource management and reduce vulnerability. Water is increasingly seen as a source of competition, with population growth, industrialization and urbanization exacerbating the pressures on supply.
• Although South Asian examples of regional cooperation in general are limited, there is a clear positive trend. In areas such as disaster response and cross-border power trading, regional and bilateral engagement is beginning to take place. Multilateral official arrangements exist for trade and other economic issues, but there is none on water or ecosystems. However, as the benefits from cooperation become proven, its desirability is likely to gradually enter mainstream policy thinking on water issues.
• This research paper sets out the factors that have enabled cooperation, and the processes adopted, in previous successful cross-border projects. It focuses on four categories of cooperation: development of early-warning systems for natural disasters, in particular floods; protection of cross-border ecosystems; sharing of learning, through the showcasing of innovative approaches in one country that can be adopted by others; and power trading, in particular the development of hydropower in Bhutan and its export to India.
• The paper argues that cooperation around water in South Asia is feasible despite political differences and economic asymmetries. Different forms of collective action, and common understanding of both the threats and the shared benefits from cooperation, are required to foster more partnerships within the river basin states.

Javier left Mexico eight months ago to be a missionary in South Asia. Here he shares why he thought it would be an easier job.

"Going into overseas ministry made me face reality", says 28-year old Vanilda Vaz from Brazil. She has been travelling through Latin America to tell as many people as possible about her work in South Asia.

South Asia study of foreign direct investments impact in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal on economic growth, domestic investment, and export; special emphasis on the role of infrastructure.

Bangladesh and India should pursue bilateral economic cooperation to enhance South Asian regional cooperation.

South Asian private sector participation in infrastructure development is examined, and recommendations are made for future development.

Study shows potential for smallholder water management innovations to boost crop yields and household revenue by tens of billions of US dollars

The post Farmer-led irrigation schemes could alter food security in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

New report underlines vulnerability of agriculture to climate hazards.

The post Press Release: Almost 75 Crore people in South Asia affected by climate hazards in last decade first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

IWMI and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation have awarded five organisations with funds to develop innovations for solar irrigation.

The post Grantees from South Asia awarded funds to develop innovations enhancing solar irrigation first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Next-generation system will enable proactive drought measures in South Asia.

The post IWMI launches South Asia Drought Monitoring System first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

UN agencies reported that almost 6,500 adolescent girls die in childbirth annually in South Asia, urging prioritization of girls' and adolescents' health in the region (!--ref1--).

IWMI and GWP partner with Bhutan’s Department of Water to advance efforts including mapping surface water bodies.

The post Cutting-edge mapping techniques are crucial for managing water storage in South Asia first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Art at an altitude of 3,500 metres? South Asia’s highest contemporary land art festival is back with its second edition in Ladakh with site-specific installations and sustainable sculptures

India must learn lessons from the changes in most of its neighbourhood

The political trajectories of India and Pakistan apart, social forces are seeking to reclaim their democratic space

New Delhi’s warm welcome for Trump 2.0 will be tempered by concerns over his social media posts and tough rhetoric on trade and tariffs

AU Registrar expresses interest in conducting joint courses with prominent American universities

'How is it to live in a place that does not have electricity or a telephone connection, where people do not have any concept of what the world is beyond the mountains?'

India suffers drop in money sent home by migrants as oil-driven economies cut jobs

When it comes to the birds of South Asia, Pamela Rasmussen wrote the book on it. Literally. Twice.

The post New Book: “Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide” appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

A bicycle journey for 200 km through Bangladesh for 3 days with 100 cyclists from the world contributing to its social development and also participants are to obtain a very unique experience.

Stay-at-home North Americans challenged to support coronavirus relief efforts

Festival marks thirtieth birthday of community group.

The BMJ has published a series of articles, taking an in-depth look at health in South Asia. In this collection, authors from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan collaborate to identify evidence-based solutions to shape health policy and interventions, and drive innovations and research in the region. In this podcast,...

East Indians -- Australia -- Languages.

Javier left Mexico eight months ago to be a missionary in South Asia. Here he shares why he thought it would be an easier job.

"Going into overseas ministry made me face reality", says 28-year old Vanilda Vaz from Brazil. She has been travelling through Latin America to tell as many people as possible about her work in South Asia.

With the merger we had set out to create a new agency breed — a creative, data and technology agency that can offer genuine end-to-end solutions to our clients.

I am very organised; my entire day is well planned. After a quick short walk in the morning, I reach office by 8.30 am. I like to review what I wish to accomplish at the beginning of my day and schedule all the meetings beforehand.

"I find my job very exciting; every day is new, as we are creating a brand in the Indian market which is a challenge in itself," says Rahul Vira, CEO, Skechers, South Asia.

Gain an overview of the landscape for Australian wine, particularly during COVID-19, in India and Sri Lanka.

Energy security is a nation’s ability to meet the energy needs of its inhabitants uninterruptedly at an affordable price.

Energy security is a nation’s ability to meet the energy needs of its inhabitants uninterruptedly at an affordable price.