Climate Analytics South Asia

Assessment of Electric Mobility Targets for Nepal’s 2020 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)

This report provides an analysis of Nepal's transportation and energy policy and market landscape. In addition, it helped inform Nepal's 2020 NDC targets on e-mobility and informed corresponding reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Assessment of Electric Cooking Targets for Nepal's 2020 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)

This report reviews existing policies and markets to help inform Nepal's 2020 NDC targets on clean cooking as well as reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the report offers recommendations to meet the 2020 NDC targets.

Coal phase out and energy transition pathways for Asia and the Pacific

This report, prepared by Climate Analytics for the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, provide insights into how the Asia and the Pacific region can transition away from coal to a renewable based efficient energy system compatible with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.

Decarbonising South and South East Asia

This report and shows that South and South East Asian countries can shift their energy systems from fossil fuels to renewables to fuel economic growth, boost sustainable development and overcome energy poverty while avoiding life-threatening pollution and environmental degradation.

It includes seven country profiles: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Synthesis of the LDCs’ NDCs

This analysis, prepared at the request of the Chair of Least Developed Countries Group, covers the NDCs of the 47 LDCs through a systematic review of their mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, and means of implementation components.

Deadly Heat Stress to Become Commonplace Across South Asia Already at 1.5°C of Global Warming

The study calculates the impact of an additional half degree of warming between 1.5°C and 2°C for hundreds of millions of people in South Asia, a region that is already experiencing lethal heat events. It finds that governments can virtually halve exposure to potentially lethal temperatures if global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C are successful.

From Paris To Makkah: Heat stress risks for Muslim pilgrims at 1.5°C and 2°C

This study, led by scientists from Climate Analytics, an international climate science and policy institute, is first to show that just half a degree of extra warming between 1.5°C and 2°C makes a big difference in terms of heat stress risk posed to Muslims carrying out religious rites in Saudi Arabia during summer, where the mercury frequently climbs over 45°C even now.

Projections of Precipitation and Temperature over the South Asian Countries in CMIP6

The latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) dataset was analyzed to examine the projected changes in temperature and precipitation over six South Asian countries during the twenty-first century. Results presented in this study give detailed insights into CMIP6 model performance over the South Asia region, which could be extended further to develop adaptation strategies, and may act as a guideline document for climate change related policymaking in the region.

Water availability in Pakistan from Hindukush–Karakoram–Himalayan watersheds at 1.5°C and 2°C Paris Agreement targets

Highly seasonal water supplies from the Himalayan watersheds of Jhelum, Kabul and upper Indus basin are critical for managing the world’s largest contiguous irrigation system of the Indus basin and its dependent agrarian economy of Pakistan. Here, we assess changes in the contrasting hydrological regimes of these Himalayan watersheds, and subsequent water availability under the Paris Agreement 2015 targets that aim of limiting the mean global warming to 1.5 °C, and further, well below 2.0 °C relative to pre-industrial levels.

Assessing the robustness and uncertainties of projected changes in temperature and precipitation in AR4 Global Climate Models over the Arabian Peninsula

In this study, the results of an ensemble combining the Global Climate Models data from Couple Model Intercomparison Project 3 (CMIP3) have been employed for the Arabian Peninsula region. Considering the vulnerability of the region to climate change impacts, the results call for immediate actions in developing the long-term strategies to deal with the adverse impacts of climate change up-to the end of the 21st century at a regional level.

South Asia is paying a high price for its dependence on imported fossil energy

South Asia is home to a quarter of the world’s population. The region’s power demand is growing rapidly, and so is its reliance on fossil fuels to meet it – but this strategy is beginning to backfire, and is costing countries dearly.

Facing the facts – the need for loss and damage finance can no longer be denied

For years, developing countries have been calling for financial support in their efforts to address loss and damage – the unavoidable impacts of climate change that countries cannot adapt to. By the end of COP26, it became clear that the elephant in the room – failure on the part of developed countries to systematically provide L&D finance – can and will no longer be ignored.

Nepal’s ambitious climate target has socio-economic prosperity at its heart

Last year, a number of low-income, climate vulnerable countries stepped up their Paris Agreement commitments, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These nations recognise that leapfrogging to climate-friendly development models would not only help save the planet and reduce risks posed by global warming, but that it also presents unique opportunities for social and economic progress. However, unlocking the full mitigation potential of these ambitious developing countries hinges on wealthy nations delivering on their climate finance promises.

Renewed hope for tackling climate change - could it boost South Asia cooperation?

Following the recent net zero announcements from big emitters, and as the newly elected US president Biden sets to work enacting his ambitious national and international climate agenda, it is high time that South Asia uses the current global wave of optimism in the fight against climate change to boost regional cooperation.

COVID-19 another shock for vulnerable countries facing multiple crises

The coronavirus pandemic adds yet another shock to the multiple challenges that more than a billion people living in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) already face in day-to-day life. It is much more than a health crisis. It has the potential to create devastating health, social, economic and environmental crises that will leave a deep, long-lasting mark. However, it is an opportunity to adopt and implement sustainable solutions during the recovery process, also for LDCs, without losing sight of the climate crisis.

Glacial melt spells more trouble in the Himalayan LDCs

The recent landmark International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) report on glacial melt in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya (HKH) region paints a drastic picture, indicating that the glaciers will melt by one third even if the global temperature rise is limited to 1.5°C, a goal of the Paris climate agreement. However, the picture becomes even bleaker for the region’s Least Developed Countries, in which the report projects glaciers will recede by some 50% by the end of the century, spelling disaster for the poorest people living on the roof of the world.