Climate Change Challenges for South Asia: The Need for a Regional Research Hub

South Asia, which is home to nearly a quarter of the world’s population, is on the brink of a major environmental crisis. Climate change is not a distant phenomenon here but a stark reality that is already disrupting food security, human health, and the socio-economic fabric of the region. The diverse landscape of the region—from the towering Himalayas to the fertile deltas and long coastlines—are highly sensitive to the impacts of climate variability. In recent years, the vulnerability of South Asia to extreme weather events has significantly increased, with rising temperatures and humidity, erratic monsoon patterns, and frequent landslides and floods threatening its agricultural systems, human livelihoods, and overall development becoming the norm. As the region grapples with these challenges, the need for immediate action to build resilience to climate disasters and enhance food security has become more urgent than ever.