South Asian countries have been dealing with several issues of social, political, cultural, and economic nature among many others. The environmental issues however are slowly becoming more and more pronounced in the region, with the rise in natural catastrophes, energy crises, and scarcity of resources. Mainly consisting of developing nations of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, this region since the early 20th century, first, most of them as a colony and later as independent states, have been experiencing economic upheavals. Notably, most of the environmental issues surged post-1960s due to high economic activities, industrialization, population growth, urbanization, and poverty. The combination of all these factors has resulted in a situation more complex.
Mainly constituting middle-income countries struggling to grow their economies and manage challenges of political, social, and environmental sustainability; environmental issues in South Asia countries are highly interactive and interlinked with human activities. Let us look at some of the denominators influencing these issues which need to be addressed.
- Growing Population Pressure & Density
South Asian countries in general have an extensive population density of populations, and India will soon become the most populous country in the world. This puts the region at great risk of environmental disasters as a large population puts tremendous population strain on natural resources, for example increasing resource extraction, thereby negatively impacting our environment. The Intergovernmental Panel Discussion (IPCC) on climate change has said that most of the environmental crises are directly proportional to human activities and are anthropogenic in nature.
- Climate Change
South Asia is susceptible to climate change-related disasters. The history of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh shows how much they have suffered due to climate-change-induced flood disasters. India and Pakistan next are facing the brunt of extreme weather conditions- in form of ‘Heat Waves’, ‘Flood Crisis’ (one–third of Pakistan), ‘Melting Glaciers’ such as Nepal’s 20 glacier bodies, or Bhutan’s 25 glacial water bodies which have been declared unsafe. Next, there is also land erosion and landslides happening in India and Nepal, whereas there are rising sea levels impacting Maldives, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. A World Bank report states that approximately 750 million people in the last 20 years across South Asian societies have been facing negative repercussions. Lastly, in Afghanistan, farmers experience climate-induced drought, which has cost them their daily livelihood with approximately 19 million Afghans unable to feed themselves and almost 5 million people across India and Bangladesh.
- Pollution & Global Warming
Pollution is a key concern for South Asia Countries, especially as demographic pressure and urbanization are increasing by the day in the region. In a bid to perform on the economic front, the nations are heavily engaged in industrialization, infrastructural, and transportation development which in turn causes more extraction of and burning of coal, and biomass, disproportionate use of metals, soil erosion, and reduction in reserves of natural resources and minerals. All these directly or indirectly contribute to one or the other form of pollution. In fact, as per Air Quality Life Index- Bangladesh is the most polluted country in the world followed by India and Pakistan coming close at number 4. Evidently, there is an excess of carbon gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, sulfur, and insoluble and soluble materials present in the air which is emitted by vehicles and industries. It should be noted these are harmful to all plants, animals, and human health causing cancer and other diseases. Further such incessant anthropogenic means have led to global warming, especially more so related to the burning of fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal, and fire burning, apart from the emission of harmful gases.
- Energy Crisis
With the rise in human population, economic activities, infrastructural needs, and the industrial surge in South Asia, the last few decades have seen the demand for energy increase by 50%. It should be noted that at least 2/3rd energy needs are imported into the region. This then puts pressure on the cost recovery if the demand increases in the future, which is expected at the rate of 5% annually until 2050. Also, in South Asia, disruptions are common due to neighborhood conflicts, adversely impacting the region’s fuel imports and putting even greater pressure on the governments to ensure energy supply, something that Pakistan currently is grappling with in light of its economic slowdown.
South Asian countries are major contributors to the global economy. However, these nations are prone to severe economic crises, security threats, poor infrastructure, and mass migration, thereby inversely affecting the overall socio-economic status. Thus, it is necessary to maintain a balance and provide support, protection, and management in the context of sustainable development. Clearly, an urgent action plan is required to curb all the above-mentioned challenges- such as reduction in emission of greenhouse gases, decarbonization of the energy sector, engendering awareness among people to protect the environment at the local level, increased usage of renewable resources, and stringent initiation, formulation and implementation of new environment-friendly policies.