Workshop on security risks of climate change in SAARC region begins today in Colombo

Workshop on exploring security risks of climate change within the countries of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) begins today in Colombo.

Scholars, government representatives from the SAARC region, policy makers and military veterans from South Asian countries will meet in Colombo from 30th November to 1st December, 2017, to discuss a range of climate change effects and the regional response at the international workshop.

The workshop in joint cooperation with Consortium of South Asian Think Tanks (COSATT) in Nepal and Institute of National Security Studies, Sri Lanka (INSSSL) will focus on the challenges and effects of climate change on national and regional security in South Asia. It will particular emphasis on the role of the Security Sector.

The workshop titled ‘Climate Change and Resources Security: Challenges for Security and the Security Sector in South Asia’ is organized by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Regional Project Energy security and Climate Change Asia-Pacific (RECAP) (Hong Kong), along with COSATT of Nepal and INSSL of Sri Lanka.

Experts from Europe and the US will also share the experience and debates in their home countries.

“Climate change and its impacts are regional and global events. Mitigation and adaption can therefore only be successful by regionally coordinated efforts. South Asia is a good example as climate change has already severe cross-border effects,” Hong Kong’s Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Regional Project Energy Security and Climate Change Director Dr. Peter Hefele said. “This platform is for a regional dialogue and to develop ideas for increased understanding and shared efforts among the member states of SAARC.” Climate Change will create new challenges for armed forces around the world and hence new concepts have to be developed and transnational cooperation to be strengthened.

The shifting geopolitical environment in South Asia and the need for revised national security concepts as well as a revision of strategic and operational concepts for security forces and the deepening of civil military cooperation to increase the effectiveness of disaster response management will be focused at the workshop.

Delegates from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Singapore, Germany and Australia are expected to attend the conference.