South Asia at risk of rising heat and floods, World Bank warns

More than 460 million people in South Asia may face severe floods (file photo)

The World Bank has warned that nearly 90 percent of people in South Asia will be at risk of severe heat and severe floods by 2030. The organization said this in a new research report.

The organization says that the region of the world is rapidly moving towards more climate-damaging situations due to dense population and warming.

The report titled ‘From Risk to Resilience: Helping People and Farms Adapt in South Asia’, released on Monday, said that by 2030, nearly 90 percent of people in South Asia will be at risk of extreme heat waves and billions of people will be at risk of severe floods.

Based on research conducted on Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, the report also said that South Asia is now one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world due to dense population, rising temperatures and geographical location.

People in the region are expected to face more frequent and more intense weather events in the coming decade. The report states that by 2030, 1.8 billion people, or 89 percent of the region's population, will be at risk of extreme heat. In addition, 462 million people could face severe flooding.

To address the risks, the report emphasizes strong early warning systems, support for vulnerable households, and effective policies to increase people's adaptive capacity.

The World Bank report says that while most households in coastal and riverine areas receive cyclone warnings, less than half of them receive timely warnings before floods or other hazards.

The study also shows that when climate risks arise, it is possible to quickly expand well-informed and targeted social protection programs. Because these programs are effective in protecting the poor and vulnerable.

However, the report warns that due to the financial constraints of countries in the region, government initiatives alone are not enough; private sector participation and appropriate policies will also be crucial to make adaptation more realistic.

News TRT World