BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION IN SOUTH ASIA: STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES AND CHALLENGES

Author: Segufta Hossain

DOI Link: https://www.doi.ogr/10.56888/BIISSj2022v43n3a4

ABSTRACT

Interconnected characteristics of environmental problems of a region demand cooperation among the countries of that region. The South Asian region is considered as the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change-induced hazards, at the same time, the countries are also facing enormous environmental crises which are not confined within the borders of any particular country. To address the challenges of regional environmental cooperation in South Asia and strengthen it, an evaluation of existing cooperation is of great importance. It is in this background, the present paper aims to evaluate the existing regional environmental cooperation in South Asia with a view to identifying its strengths, weaknesses and challenges. Increasing recognition of the importance of environmental issues resulting in increased attempts for regional cooperation, the presence of a broad spectrum of regional environmental cooperation initiatives and Track I-Track II cooperation have been found as the strength of the existing regional initiatives. Major weaknesses include lack of concrete action, political and financial challenges and lacking in selection of appropriate programmes. On the other hand, geostrategic challenges, Inter-state relations and the hegemonistic status of a particular country have been found to be the major impediments to regional environmental cooperation in the South Asian region.