South Asian lawmakers call for stronger regional climate cooperation
Summary
South Asian lawmakers have called for stronger regional cooperation on climate change and energy, including a possible South Asia Climate Cooperation Council and shared disaster-preparedness mechanisms. The dialogue in Thimphu came amid growing concern over climate risks after Nepal’s devastating glacial-related disaster.
Key Points
- Parliamentarians from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh urged concrete institutional measures to turn existing climate agreements into working mechanisms.
- A proposed South Asia Climate Cooperation Council would aim to sustain political attention on climate and energy without duplicating existing regional bodies.
- Participants also backed a regional electricity grid, stronger early-warning systems and cross-border climate-risk data sharing.
- The Thimphu dialogue was hosted by Bhutan’s National Assembly and organised by the South Asia Regional Parliamentary Forum for Climate, Energy and Environment.
