A decade after the Paris Agreement, the climate crisis has only intensified. South Asia bears the brunt as monsoon floods, landslides and heatwaves. These shocks unfold amid a fractured global order — multilateralism under strain, climate pledges weakened, and trade protectionism rising. The withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, yet again, has tested the credibility of global processes. Yet no single actor, however powerful, can halt collective action. Others must and are stepping forward.
Small island-states, emerging economies and coalitions of the willing have taken the lead. Increasingly, this mantle is passing to South Asia, home to nearly two billion people facing an extraordinary diversity of climate risks. Inaction is not an option.
There have been wide consultations (as COP30 Special Envoy for South Asia) with government and civil society representatives across Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. We have listened to localised concerns, recognised many areas of convergence for messages that negotiators are taking to COP30 in Brazil, and identified several opportunities for regional climate cooperation.
South Asia’s concerns and priorities
We realised that South Asia’s response is pragmatic and collaborative: regional coalitions, investment in renewable energy, climate-resilient agriculture and integration of climate adaptation into development planning. Its climate leadership may be emergent, but it is driven by necessity, experience and the moral imperative to protect its people and signal to the world that action cannot wait. The discussions yielded five concerns and priorities of South Asian countries.
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First, implementation remains the Achilles heel of climate action. The gap between what is promised in action and finance, and what is delivered, is glaring. Whether it is in implementing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) or delivering finance, the challenge remains. So far, only 65 countries have submitted enhanced NDCs. Further, a recent study by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) revealed that out of the 203 initiatives assessed (launched since 2015), approximately 5% of the initiatives have achieved their stated goals. This underscores the need for the Global South to harness regional cooperation to create impactful and targeted initiatives.
Climate pledges require robust governance, including a clear plan and timeline for reporting progress. Willing countries can, first, strengthen a regional forum to build a common stance and advance shared action that can be recognised at platforms such as the G-20, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), and BRICS. Moreover, ensure governance structures are inclusive, giving voice to the underrepresented, such as subnational governments, local communities and women. Also, strengthen regional cooperation by sharing knowledge, aligning priorities and scaling technology solutions across borders. Initiatives such as India’s Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and Nepal’s Sagarmatha Sambaad focused on mountain vulnerabilities, show how focused partnerships can advance both national and regional goals.
Second, climate adaptation must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with emission mitigation. According to the ADB, South Asia could experience an increase in days exceeding 35°C — from around 100 to approximately 200 annually — by 2100. The region-specific economic and non-economic impacts are diverse — Nepal’s glacial lake outburst flood, coastal threats in the Maldives, India facing sweltering heatwaves, and Sri Lanka’s emerging drylands and water stress.
The support that is needed
What is required is adequate technical, institutional and financial support to develop and implement plans domestically. Mainstreaming locally-led adaptation practices can also complement scientific innovation and strengthen local ownership. Internationally, deliberations must proceed to reach consensus on fundamental, simple, and non-burdensome indicators under the Global Goal on Adaptation. These indicators must be multi-dimensional and adaptable for use at regional and national levels, focusing on tracking progress rather than penalising countries with limited capacity.
Third, ambitious action must begin by investing in trust. The past is marred by delayed finances, broken promises and diluted commitments from developed countries. The current geopolitics is not conducive to an ambitious climate outcome. Further, an easy exit from a climate agreement not only leads to increased emissions but also undermines trust in the process. Analysis by the CEEW shows that developed countries are not on track to meet their 2030 NDC target. Hence, developed countries must fulfil their existing pledges and build momentum with ambitious NDCs aligned with 1.5°C, reinstating faith in multilateralism.
Fourth, deliver climate finance that is predictable (sustainable funding), adequate (meets the needs and balanced with mitigation), fairly distributed and accessible (easy, low-transaction cost access with priority for vulnerable countries), and non-debt inducing (grants and highly concessional financing instruments).
For this, the Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T ($1.3 trillion) must be underpinned by clear pathways: who delivers, how much, by when, and with what accountability. Without clarity, the $300 billion adaptation target by 2035 is meaningless. South Asian countries, particularly the Least Developed Countries, must call for a tripling of adaptation finance with operational clarity. And, South Asia’s needs are urgent. Dedicated regional allocations from multilateral funds such as the Green Climate Fund, the Loss and Damage Fund, and the Adaptation Fund can simplify and amplify access to predictable finance. Most importantly, design and launch a ‘South Asian resilience finance facility’ to mobilise and channel innovative finance to support domestic priorities and fast-track nature-based solutions.
Fifth, climate transition cannot be left to nation-states alone; non-state actors must become engines of scale. Non-state actors such as sub-national entities, the private sector, civil society, youth, academic institutions, as well as businesses can supplement state efforts toward enhancing ambition. The private sector can unlock finance. Sub-national entities can align with domestic goals and deliver. Civil society can conduct independent assessments to expedite the process of bridging domestic capacity gaps and, regionally, develop a regional compendium to share promising traditional knowledge, practices, and systems across the region. Youth can mobilise urgency, innovation and intergenerational equity into climate solutions. Businesses can mainstream sustainability into markets and value chains. If done rightly, it can reinforce a cycle of verified action that builds trust and accountability within the multilateral climate governance.
Cut off from technology flows
Ultimately, transformation hinges on the convergence of finance, technology and innovation. There are several examples of innovative solutions being deployed; however, fewer examples demonstrate their ability to deliver systemic transformations. Most of the South Asian countries are still largely excluded from international technology flows. A recent report by the CEEW shows fewer than one in three initiatives focus exclusively solely on Africa, Asia, or Latin America — most span multiple regions or are often clubbed with countries in the Global North. Financially, it is imperative to channel capital towards the climate agenda through blended finance instruments, debt-for-nature swaps and market mechanisms with an explicit focus on vulnerable regions. Digital innovation, including artificial intelligence, big data, digital public infrastructure (DPI), blockchain and remote sensing, can unlock new forms of data cooperation and efficiency.
The time for promises is now over. Delivery will be the only currency of trust at COP30. That delivery must rest on three mutuals: mutual clarity (about responsibilities and pathways), mutual cooperation (that recognises both vulnerabilities and opportunities), and mutual implementation (turning promises into practice, across borders and sectors). South Asia is leading, innovating and demanding that multilateralism be restored to credibility through delivery.
Arunabha Ghosh is Special Envoy to COP30 representing South Asia, and CEO, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). Jhalak Aggarwal is Programme Associate, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). The views expressed are personal
