Leveraging the ICT niche, OWSA intends to develop, document and disseminate key climatology knowledge using multi-channel media, and work towards multi-stakeholder consensus on climate change and for the realisation of MDGs
There has been much debate on the causes and consequences of climate change over the last decade. The changes in the earth’s climate are generally attributed to global warming caused by the concentration of greenhouse gases and an excess of human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, land use patterns and use of ozone depleting materials. The consequences would undeniably impact the lives of our children and their children, making today’s choices most critical and difficult.
Moving beyond the concerns of environmentalists to the larger issue of human development, climate change as a global concern becomes intrinsic to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), bearing strongly on poverty reduction, health, nutrition, food security, access to resources, education, human rights, and the relationship between developed and developing countries. A key dimension of Goal 7 of MDGs pertains to environmental sustainability.
Climate change impact on South Asia
Pursuit of development goals remains a priority in South Asia, given that most countries of the region lag far behind. The recent report by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP), the Asian Development Bank and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) states that India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan are unlikely to meet most of the eight identified goals. In addition, in the area of ensuring environmental sustainability and reducing emission of greenhouse gases (towards mitigating climate change) all South Asian countries have either not made any progress, or have regressed.
South Asia, home to three of the ten most populous countries of the world
