With COP 29 in Baku having concluded, the spotlight turns to the commitments made and their implications for the global fight against climate change. These outcomes are critical for Southasia, a region housing a quarter of the world’s population.
On Sunday, 29 December, the Southasia Peace Action Network, or Sapan, will host a virtual discussion on ‘COP 29: Southasia’s Climate Challenges – A Call for Southasian Solidarity’. We will dissect the conference’s outcomes and explore the path forward for a region grappling with severe climate vulnerabilities.
Date: Sunday, 29 December 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. UKT / 4:00 p.m. CET / 8:00 p.m. PKT / 8:30 p.m. IST / 8:45 p.m. NPT / 9:00 p.m. BDT
Zoom registration link:
From the soaring Himalayas to the fertile plains of the Ganges and the fragile coral islands of the Maldives, Southasia’s environmental diversity is as breathtaking as it is vulnerable. The region is increasingly besieged by climate disasters such as floods, glacial melts, prolonged droughts, rising sea levels, and intensifying heat waves. However, the shared climate risks its nations face are compounded by economic constraints and varying levels of preparedness.
The Baku conference has reiterated the global call for climate finance to assist developing nations. Climate finance is a lifeline for Southasia, where the capacity to fund mitigation and adaptation measures remains limited. However, the diversity of environmental and socio-political contexts across the region adds layers of complexity to implementing global and regional agreements.
Why this event
This discussion with experts from the region is an opportunity to evaluate COP 29’s effectiveness in addressing Southasia’s unique challenges. It will focus on pressing questions like:
- Does COP 29 deliver on its promises of climate justice for developing and least-developed nations in Southasia?
- What role will climate finance play in fostering effective and equitable climate solutions?
- How can Southasia’s nations, with their varied needs and capacities, work together to implement actionable solutions?
By fostering dialogue on these issues, the event aims to strengthen regional and global solidarity in combating climate change.
Senior journalist Namrata Sharma in Kathmandu will host the event. Young activist Arjyashree Chakma will present the Sapan Founding Charter and its vision for fostering regional collaboration. Sapan’s traditional In Memoriam section will honour some comrades we lost since last month.
The centre-piece of the event is a panel discussion moderated by journalist Afia Salam in Karachi, bringing together leading voices in environmental advocacy, policy, and finance to analyse COP 29’s outcomes and their implications for Southasia. They include Harjeet Singh in India, Kunda Dixit in Nepal, Aisha Khan in Pakistan and Suborna Barua in Bangladesh. Climate activist Soumya Dutta will present closing remarks.
Speaker bios online here.
ALSO READ: Could ‘climate diplomacy’ be the googly – a gamechanger for regional cooperation? By Mandira Nayar / Sapan News
Southasia Peace Action Network is proud to support nonprofit journalism. Help Sapan News meet its NewsMatch challenge and raise $15,000 by year end. All donations to Sapan News are tax-deductible.
Great initiative