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Air Pollution Knows No Borders, Neither Do Solutions

South Asian countries are unleashing solutions to fight air pollution and accelerate action to achieve National Ambient Air Quality Standards and are considering an aspirational goal of <35 ?g/m3 for annual PM2.5 concentrations by 2035 (¡°35 by 35¡±). At the second Regional Science Policy Dialogue on Air Quality Management in Bhutan in June 2024, policymakers and scientists from the countries of Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalayan Foothills region reaffirmed the need for multi-sectoral and transboundary approaches that ¡®know no borders¡¯ to tackle pollution.

A 2023 World Bank report, Building a Future for Women in South Asia's Plastics Waste Management, shows that women in the informal waste management sector are among South Asia¡¯s most vulnerable workers. They struggle to compete with men and fare worse when faced with economic disruption. But in many cases, women are also defying social norms are championing the fight against plastics pollution. Creating sustainable work for women in the informal economy must remain at the heart of waste management, plastic pollution, and public health.

South Asia is set to witness a quantum leap in energy needs, given that it will add 600 million more people over the next 30 years. Two-thirds of energy used here is imported and fossil fuels account for about 80 percent of energy production. Read how a regional electricity market would integrate countries, increase synergies among clean energy resources, reduce C02 emissions, and pave the path for cleaner, cheaper, and more accessible energy supply.

UK-World Bank Strengthen Partnership for Climate Resilience in South Asia

The UK government has pledged up to $63 million over the next seven years to finance research and analysis, build institutional capacity and expertise to adapt to climate change, strengthen stakeholder and institutional partnerships, and promote greater collaboration for transboundary climate actions and water resource management in South Asia. ľ¹ÏÓ°Ôº will implement the program which initially will focus on Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, but is expected to expand to parts of the wider Indo-Pacific.

Editorial Series on Climate Cooperation in South Asia

South Asia is among the world¡¯s most vulnerable regions to climate change and disasters. These risks and challenges are not limited by national borders. Cross-border cooperation is needed to strengthen the region¡¯s collective resilience, reform and harmonize climate policies. Our latest Editorial series, in collaboration with ICIMOD and The Third Pole, presents various perspectives on cross-border approaches for strengthening climate cooperation in the region.

World Bank Group¡¯s TechEmerge Resilience India Challenge is a $1 million global initiative to crowdsource and deploy technology solutions to prepare, respond, and increase resilience to climate impacts and disasters in areas that face constraints of remoteness, data, and resource deficiency. As a part of the Challenge, a low-cost wi-fi enabled community radio is connecting signal dark villages in Uttarakhand in India.

Women at the forefront of revitalizing Bhutan's villages

The Buddhist Circuit Development Program in South Asia focuses on unlocking the untapped potential of South Asia¡¯s cross-border heritage as a driver of inclusive growth and prosperity. Read how women in Bhutan are revitalizing traditional villages and at the same time creating income generating opportunities at their doorsteps.

South Asia Hydromet Forum

In South Asia, people are experiencing the effects of a warming climate. Almost 750 million people -- half of South Asia¡¯s population -- were affected by at least one climate-related disaster in the last two decades. The South Asia Hydromet Forum (SAHF) supports regional engagement to promote collaboration and enhance capacity at the regional and sub-regional levels towards improving Hydromet, Early Warning and Climate Services in South Asia.

ľ¹ÏÓ°Ôº approved $1.03 billion of financing to help improve regional trade in Bangladesh and Nepal. This project will help reduce trade and transport costs, and transit time along the regional corridors.

South Asia's digital opportunity

How can South Asian nations leapfrog and transform into dynamic digital economies, societies, and governments, with concerted actions at national and regional levels. Our 10th #OneSouthAsia Conversation explored these challenges and opportunities.

Cooperation to protect the Sundarbans

April, 2022: The Sundarbans landscape is the largest mangrove forests in the world and home to one of the most biodiverse ecosystems. But over 13 million people who inhabit this stretch between India and Bangladesh live on the edge of poverty. This unique ecosystem is increasingly under threat from human activities, natural disasters of greater frequency and magnitude, and climate change. India and Bangladesh face similar challenges and aspirations and regional cooperation to protect this ecosystem is imperative.

Jan 24, 2022 - Bangladesh and Nepal are developing National Single Windows to speed up exports and imports. The windows will accept electronic trade documents, reducing clearance delays and shipping costs. Plans for the World Bank projects benefitted from United Kingdom and Australian funding to improve trade facilitation in the subregion.