Under The Weather


Written by Dr. Omar Farooq Khan • Cover Stories • June 2010

3-1 There is an undertone of serious urgency concerning various regional issues at all SAARC summits but on-ground implementation is always found to be wanting. Climate change is one such casualty.

All over the world, pollution and its effect on climate and environment has been a major topic of debate. Political bodies have expressed serious concerns regarding the effects of pollution in their respective countries. Over the years there have been radical changes in global climate. South Asian countries have also had their fair share of weather disruptions caused by greenhouse effects. Most of these calamities were a result of the unfriendly environment policies practiced by these nations.

This problem of environmental pollution was addressed at the 16th SAARC conference held on April 29 and 30, 2010 in Bhutan. An agreement by the name of Thimphu Statement on climate change was put forward by member nations. The crux of the agreement is that the environmental hazards created by pollution transcends all borders and SAARC countries need to work together to come up with effective strategies to counter such situations.

Many SAARC countries are facing major pollution issues. India for instance has one of the highest gas emission readings in the region, but has refused to cut down its emissions. Even the mountain ranges of Karokoram and the Himalayas are not immune to the climate changes caused by pollution. These ranges are facing increased glacier meltdowns and glaciers are retreating by an average of 23m every year. This will have both short and long-term results. Initially they will result in floods and high water levels in countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. In time this will change to absence of huge water quantities and the rivers in many countries will dry up. Such water shortages would result in crop destruction, creating food shortages and droughts.

The overall climate changes will also result in an increase in natural calamities like floods, heat waves, droughts and hurricanes for South Asian nations. Countries like the Maldives may even be engulfed by the surrounding oceans. Bangladesh is also threatened by its surrounding waters. Its low sea level coastlines are under the threat of submersion due to rising water levels. Officials' estimate 18% of Bangladesh's coastal area will be underwater and 20 million people will be displaced by 2050, as projected by some climate models.

Bodies like SAARC are trying to address such issues to establish a contingency plan for impending perils. But analysts appear quite skeptical about such plans and strategies. Unfortunately their concerns are genuine and no one can condone their lack of optimism in this respect.

In the past SAARC has had very little success regarding practical implementations of its strategies. In previous conferences, members had agreed on plans for extending cooperation, cultural exchange, increasing trade between nations and stopping criminal activities. But their executions left a lot to be desired. An oft-quoted reason for such disappointments has been a lack of trust between the member countries. Some experts also quote a serious lack of commitment within the organization. They say that member countries are not putting in enough efforts to put aside their differences. Examples of EU and ASEAN are being highlighted by them as frames of reference for SAARC to formulate and implement agreements.

In order to avert such disasters, actions like environment monitoring cells, utilization of eco-friendly technology, conservation exercises and utilization of modern farming methods need to be seriously looked into. A joint environmental task force, committed to implementing these measures is the only way forward in preventing future environmental disasters.