It’s no fairy-tale, but a harsh reality that climate change is a growing threat to both India and Bangladesh, above all to the whole Southern Eurasia. Maintaining the status quo of living together-apart and longstanding antagonism between these two countries will certainly not help to tackle a common threat, which outweighs the other disparities that may exist.
Like Bangladesh, India is also affected by the impacts of climate change. Impacts are already being felt by unprecedented heat waves, cyclones, floods, salinisation of the coastline and effects on agriculture, fisheries and health (Mehra, 2009) Destruction of India’s climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries will inevitably put a knock-on affect on its global ambition of economic growth and huge development imperatives.
Being the largest country in the South East Asia and living with the impacts of climate change; India seems to acknowledge that the sub-continental challenges caused by climate change will most likely to be cross-border migration and the water scarcity. Nonetheless, it is still unclear how India will cope with the regional challenges generated by climate change beyond 2030 (Indian National Intelligence Council, 2009).
It says power and responsibilities go hand in hand, being an economic power house in the South East Asia India’s behaviour towards its neighbours particularly Bangladesh suggests otherwise. India’s piece-meal diplomacy, ongoing geo-political disputes, lack of economic dynamism within the region, ignorant behaviour and lack of effective regional institutions to adapt and mitigate the climate change impacts are making things more difficult in cross-border engagement and cooperation. As a result, both countries are fighting alone in the face of looming threat of climate change.
One of the most pressing issues in the region is the fresh water related challenges in the river basins, which will definitely dominate the socio-economic and political arena for many years to come. In 2009, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) assessed three trans-boundary river basins which included the largest in South Asia: the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) river basin (which spans Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India and Nepal), the Indus river basin (in Afghanistan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan) and the Helmand river basin (which covers Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan). In their report, it was highlighted that over-exploitation, climate change and inadequate cooperation among countries threaten some of the world's greatest river basins, which sustain around 750 million people.
It is absolutely paramount that there is a need for fresh approach in cohesion and solidarity among bigger and smaller nations in combating climate change and water scarcity in the region. Particularly with Bangladesh [the ground zero of climate change], India shares so many common ecological and environmental issues, for example mangrove forests of Sundarban, hill forests, trans-boundary river basins, tidal flooding, cross-border pollution, land and maritime boundaries, and cross-border natural resources. These are complex and inter-related issues; therefore India cannot ignore the fact that the negative impacts on these issues wouldn’t create any problems for them. If you ask Indian side, most likely the answer will be clear unequivocal ‘yes’, it is affecting them as much as much as it is affecting on Bangladeshi side.
‘India’s look east ties’ (Ved, 2010) policy towards Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is great for them to achieve their dream of economic growth and prosperity but the question is - what India is willing to do within their own backyards? It is shocking that India's trade is just 5% with its neighbours (Economist, 30th July, 2011), which manifest that the economic super power in the South East Asia is not keen to facilitates intra-regional trade, thereafter establishes a vibrant and prosperous mutual economic region that may then empower smaller countries further developing on their strategic adaptation and implementation to the effects of climate change.
Strengthening existing agreements are easier than creating new one, therefore I think the possible way forward in closer cooperation is to promote and strengthen of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Environment Plan. 16th SAARC summit (28 - 29 April 2010) in Thimphu; Bhutan was one of the important milestones towards promoting and strengthening regional cooperation where member states welcomed the signing of the SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment. 16 statements on climate change were adapted in Thimphu and member states agreed that those declarations should be undertaken. Time and again deep concern was expressed in various SAARC summits over the global climate change and its impact on the region, however in retrospect, things had move forward at a snail's phase with regard to regional cooperation.
Nevertheless, most recent visit by the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh from 6-7 September 2011 demonstrates India’s willingness to engage to find newer avenues for cooperation. India and Bangladesh need more this kind of joint initiatives to improve first of all bilateral relationship, also being in the forefront of further development of the SAARC Environment Plan - a very common and important cause that none of the countries can afford to ignore.
India respects China's growing power and influence, which regard as a threat to its own interest in the region. India will inevitably fall behind China if it doesn't response to the call for regional cooperation; therefore India has got more chance of winning than losing if they become a true and trustworthy partner with its neighbours.
