South Asia must unite for climate resilience, shared prosperity: Rizwana
Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has called on South Asian nations to rebuild trust, strengthen regional connectivity, and pursue joint action as global disorder becomes the new reality, said a press release today (4 November).
While speaking as a guest of honour at the opening plenary titled “Sustainable Development in the Emerging World Disorder” at the SDPI Annual Conference” in Pakistan’s Islamabad, Rizwana said ,”The region must act collectively to confront shared crises such as air and plastic pollution, water insecurity, and escalating climate disasters.”
“Environmental protection and development are not alternatives. Sustainability must be at the heart of our future,” she said, urging regional cooperation on river governance, equitable water-sharing, and plastic waste management.
She further warned that South Asia is already facing both sudden and slow-onset climate impacts — from historic floods and heat waves to salinity, soil degradation, and declining agricultural productivity.
Bangladesh alone needs $230 billion to implement its National Adaptation Plan, she noted, highlighting a serious gap in global climate finance.
“If the funds don’t come, we cannot wait. We must act nationally and regionally,” she said.
Describing the conference theme as “profound and timely,” Rizwana Hasan said the world is witnessing instability at every level — global, regional, and domestic.
“The rule-based international order is in crisis. Multilateralism is losing ground. Inequality, geopolitical rivalry, and climate change are reshaping our world,” she observed.
She also pointed to rising public discontent across South Asia — from Sri Lanka to Nepal — as evidence that existing governance models are failing to meet people’s needs.
Despite these challenges, she expressed optimism in the new generation.
“They are informed, connected, and not easily deceived. They are already reshaping the future order,” she said.