South Asia Climate Documents

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Starting point for all South Asia climate change documents

One of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation’s (SAARC) areas of cooperation is on Environment, Natural Disasters, and Biotechnology.

The Heads of State or Government of the Member States of SAARC, at successive Summits since 1987, have reiterated the need to strengthen and intensify regional cooperation to preserve, protect and manage the diverse and fragile eco-systems of the region, including the need to address the challenges posed by climate change and natural disasters.

The Leaders noted that the development process and prospects of the Member States were being severely undermined by these challenges.

Regional Centers have also been established and constitute an important framework of SAARC Institutions, which address diverse aspects of environment, climate change and natural disasters.

These are:

(i) SAARC Environment Center merged with SAARC Energy Center (SEC) for the protection, conservation and prudent use of environment resources by adopting sustainable forest management practices through research, education and coordination among Member States; and

(ii) SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) to provide policy advice and facilitate capacity building including strategic learning, research, training, system development, expertise promotion and exchange of information for effective disaster risk reduction and management – the mandate of the Centre was expanded to include the development of a Natural Disaster Rapid Response Mechanism ( Fifteenth SAARC Summit, Colombo, 2-3 August 2008).

Click here for more information on South Asia’s climate change impacts and initiatives.

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Disaster Management in South Asia

SummaryDetailsSuggest an EditSummary The Disaster Management in South Asia: A Comprehensive Regional Framework for Action 2006-2015 presents a strategic plan developed in 2006 and endorsed by the SAARC Environment Ministers. South Asia, with a population of 1.3 billion, faces significant exposure to natural and human-induced hazards, resulting in major disasters. The framework addresses vulnerabilities linked [...]

Disaster Management in South Asia

Thimphu Statement on Climate Change

Adopted by Heads of State or Governments of the member states of SAARC at the Sixteenth SAARC Summit in April 2010, the Thimphu Statement recognizes the need for effective response formulated and implemented at regional and international levels to combat the adverse effects of climate change. Among other areas, the Statement undertakes to review and [...]

Thimphu Statement on Climate Change

SAARC Ministerial Statement on Cooperation on Environment – Delhi Statement

Adopted by the Eighth Meeting of the SAARC Environment Ministers in October 2009 in New Delhi, the SAARC Ministerial Statement on Cooperation on Environment commits to protect, promote, manage and enhance the environment of South Asia. The Ministerial Statement covers environmental planning and management, biodiversity and afforestation, climate change, and cross-cutting measures for cooperation.

SAARC Ministerial Statement on Cooperation on Environment – Delhi Statement

SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters

Signed at the Seventeenth SAARC Summit in the Maldives in November 2011, the SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters reaffirms its commitment to the objectives and principles of SAARC. Recognizing the frequency and scale of natural disasters, the agreement seeks to reiterate the commitment of the SAARC comprehensive framework to develop an efficient [...]

SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters

SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change 2009-2011

Adopted by the SAARC Ministerial meeting in the margins of the Fourteenth SAARC Summit in Dhaka, the SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change aims to identify and create opportunities for activities achievable through regional cooperation, providing impetus to regional level plans and supporting global negotiations. The Plan also covers a range of thematic areas, priority [...]

SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change 2009-2011

Dhaka Declaration and SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change

The Dhaka Declaration aims to promote advocacy programs and mass awareness on climate change, capacity building, exchange of best practices, and sharing of research results. The declaration also calls for the adoption of measures to initiate and implement programmes to protect lives and livelihoods from the impacts of climate change.

Dhaka Declaration and SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change

SAARC Declaration on Climate Change

SummaryDetailsSuggest an EditSummary The SAARC Declaration on Climate Change, adopted in December 2007 by the Foreign Ministers of member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), expresses deep concern about the detrimental impact of climate change on human lives, livelihoods, and sustainable development, particularly in South Asia. The document highlights the specific [...]

SAARC Declaration on Climate Change

Malé Declaration

Adopted by a special session of the SAARC Environment Ministers in June 2006, the Malé Declaration recognizes irreversible damage to the environment and ecosystem caused by the earthquake and tsunami. The Declaration highlights the need for rehabilitation and reconstruction in the affected areas, and underlines the need for communication of early warning through the SAARC [...]

Malé Declaration

Colombo Declaration on a Common Environment Programme

Adopted by the Fourth Meeting of the SAARC Environment Ministers in November 1998, the Colombo Declaration makes a range of commitments to expedite the implementation of the SAARC Action Plan on the Environment adopted in Malé in 1997. Among other measures, it calls for the exchange of information and experiences to promote activities in the [...]

Colombo Declaration on a Common Environment Programme

SAARC Good Agriculture Practices: Current Status and Future Opportunities

SummaryDetailsSuggest an EditSummary The book "SAARC Good Agriculture Practices for Vegetables and Fruits in South Asia: Current Status and Future Opportunities" contains the papers and proceedings of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Regional Consultative Meeting on Development of Country Specific Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) Standards and Harmonization of SAARC GAP for Vegetables [...]

SAARC Good Agriculture Practices: Current Status and Future Opportunities

Gender Mainstreaming Policy Brief

SummaryDetailsSuggest an EditSummary The policy brief on "Applying a gender lens to climate actions: why it matters" explores the gender-specific effects of climate change and how inequality can exacerbate the impacts of climate-induced disasters. Gender inequalities, fueled by societal norms and defined gender roles, affect not only women’s exposure to hazards but also limit their [...]