1st Edition
South Asia and Climate Change Unravelling the Conundrum
This book provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of the diverse aspects of climate change in South Asia. The region, home to almost 4% of the world’s population, is under serious threat from climatic disasters. The volume underscores the urgency of addressing cataclysmic events related to climate change and their ramifications on the economy, agriculture and livelihoods of the region. The book discusses the reasons causing climate change as well as highlights normative and ethical considerations involved in the battle against climate change.
With case studies from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, it explores issues such as extreme climatic events; energy use, fossil fuels, non-renewable resources and carbon dioxide emission in South Asia; internal migration and climate refugees; the ethical dilemma of sustainable development; technological advancements for extreme weather forecast; and responses to climate change in South Asia. Highlighting the need for striking a balance between developmental imperatives and environmental sustainability, the chapters also show the North-South divide in the research agenda and policies on climate change and the global politics that underlie climate policies. The volume juxtaposes a scientific analysis of factors responsible for climate change with an analysis of the human cost of climate change from the perspective of social sciences. It discusses the challenges faced by developing countries while also offering recommendations and solutions.
This book will be of interest to scholars and researchers of climate studies, geography, public policy and governance, sustainable development, development studies, environmental studies, political studies, international relations, political economy, economics and sociology. It will also be useful to practitioners, thinktanks, policymakers and civil society organisations working on environmental management.
Part I: Climate Change in South Asia: Emerging Issues and Trends
1. Contemporary Issues of Climate Change in South Asia: A Synthesis
Mausumi Kar
2. Extreme Climatic Events: A Review of Trends, Vulnerabilities and Adaptations in the South Asian Region
Satyabrata Mandal, Pradip Patra, Anwesha Halder and Lakshmi Narayan Satpati
3. Energy Use and Carbon Dioxide Emission in South Asia: A Decomposition Analysis
Ujjaini Mukhopadhyay and Ratnakar Pani
Part II: Climate Change Induced Human Migration: Concerns for Environmental Refugees
4. Nature and Characteristics of Climate Change-Induced Human Migration in South Asia
Manisha Deb Sarkar
5. Impacts of Climate Change on Migration and Economic Growth: South Asian Perspectives
Moushakhi Ray
6. Climatic Refugees: Internal Migration in the Face of Climate Change in India
Srijan Banerjee
Part III: Responses to Climate Change from South Asian Nations
7. India’s Commitment to Counter Climate Change in South Asia: A Critical Evaluation
Jayita Mukhopadhyay
8. Evaluating the Viability of Shrimp Aquaculture to Impede Climate Change in Sundarbans: Experiences from Bangladesh
Anindya Basu, Gouranga Nandy and Nabendu Sekhar Kar
9. Sri Lanka’s Natural Vulnerabilities: A Political Case Study of the 2004 Tsunami, Its Aftermath and Responses
Sreya Maitra
Part IV: Adaptation Strategies to Combat the Challenge: From Theory to Praxis
10. Ethical Dilemma of Sustainable Development as Combat Mechanism to Climate Challenge
Sarbani Guha Ghosal
11. Technological Development for Monitoring/Forecasting Extreme Weather over South Asia
Sanjib Bandyopadhyay and Ganesh Kumar Das
Index
Biography
Mausumi Kar is Associate Professor of Economics, Women’s Christian College, Kolkata, India, and Guest Faculty of International Economics at University of Calcutta, India.
Jayita Mukhopadhyay is Associate Professor of Political Science, Women’s Christian College, Kolkata, India, and former Guest Faculty, Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University, India.
Manisha Deb Sarkar is former Associate Professor and former Head, Department of Geography, Women’s Christian College, Kolkata, India, and former Guest Faculty at University of Calcutta, Jadavpur University and West Bengal State University, Barasat, India.
'This volume on climate change in South Asia, edited by Kar et al., is a significant addition to the available literature on climate change in one of the most vulnerable and populous regions of the world. In particular, the emphasis on extreme weather conditions and recurrent natural disasters is an excellent and timely intervention. Strong evidence with analytical rigor makes it an invaluable reference to researchers and policy makers.'
Sugata Marjit, Distinguished Professor, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Kolkata; Former Director, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta; and Former Vice-Chancellor, Calcutta University, India
