Abstract
This study stems from the hypothesis that there are gaps at local, national and regional levels concerning policy making and project formulation, related to climate change, sustainable development and human security. This chapter focuses on the South Asia region, with particular emphasis on India and Bangladesh, as these are two countries faced with high vulnerability to climate change. It is clear that the increased level of projected growth in the region needs to tread down a path towards a low carbon economy, in order to face up to the challenges of climate change. Inadequate regional cooperation, energy insecurity and weak governance are identified as key impediments to achieving a low carbon economy in South Asia. However, some progress has been made through the formation of climate change specific policy, establishment of forums for regional cooperation, and private sector initiatives, promoting sustainable practices. The step from policy and ideas to action needs to be taken. Barriers such as, political instability, lack of economic integration and limited natural resources need to be acknowledged and surmounted before any real progress towards sustainable development in the region can be achieved. The promotion of a low carbon economy is touted as a key step in the right direction. Emerging from this literature review is a series of examples and mechanisms that may help in the formulation of coordinated and integrated policy and mechanisms that would be needed to see real progress towards low carbon economy and an effective response to the challenges derived from climate change in South Asia.
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Notes
- 1.
For a comprehensive review see: World Bank (2004), ‘World Development Indicators 2004’. During this period South Asia had a population density of more than 300 persons/sq. km and a GNI per capita of less than 1500 $US, compared with Europe EMU with a population density of less than 150 persons/sq. km and a HNI per capita of more than US$ 20,000.
- 2.
For a comprehensive review, refer to: National Action Plan on Climate Change: Government of India, Pew Centre on Global Climate Change (2008).
- 3.
The SAFTA agreement was made under the South Asia Agreement on Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which provides the overall regional forum for political level dialogue (Ahmad et al. 2006).
- 4.
In the 2007 fiscal year Bhutan’s electricity export contributed to nearly 25 % of GDP and 60 % of government-revenues (ADB 2009).
- 5.
See: ADB (2009, p. 39): “South Asia’s primary energy demand will increase from 582.1 Mtoe in 2005 to 1264 Mtoe in 2030 at an annual rate of 3.2 %. South Asia is expected to account for 17.5 % of the TPED in Asia and the Pacific in 2030. In all the members in South Asia, per capita energy demand remains low, at below 2.0 Mtoeeven in 2030”.
- 6.
See: Shukla et al. (2008, p. 160): Carbon Tax (CT) scenario; presumes a stringent carbon tax ($10/t CO2, during Kyoto Protocol period, rising to $100/t CO2in 2050. Sustainable Society scenario (SS) follows a distinct ‘sustainability’ rationale, similar to that of the IPCC SRES B1 global scenario (IPCC 2000).
- 7.
Transfer of technologies from the R&D stage through to commercialisation.
- 8.
Transfer of technologies from one geographical location to another.
- 9.
Such as, taxes, subsidies, and emissions trading schemes.
- 10.
Proceedings of the Regional Workshop on Corporate Environmental Management: From Policy to Practice, Indian Institute of Management (2010, p. 7).
- 11.
CDP is an independent non-profit organisation that holds the largest database of primary corporate climate change information in the world. CDP collects and distributes information to investors, corporations and governments to motivate them to take action to prevent severe impacts on climate change.
- 12.
See: Jackson (2011, p. 162).
- 13.
Global Environment Facility.
- 14.
Clean Development Mechanism.
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Sarker, T. (2017). Understanding the Challenges Involved in Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy in South Asia. In: Leal Filho, W., Pociovalisteanu, DM., Al-Amin, A. (eds) Sustainable Economic Development. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45081-0_16
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