The Climate Challenges of South Asia’s Megacities

South Asia is home to over 1.8 billion people, many of whom live in extreme poverty in megacities or urban centers with over 10 million inhabitants. These urban centers are increasingly suffering from the pressures of climate change and contribute immensely to environmental degradation in the region. These environmental stresses exacerbate the dynamics of violent conflict by affecting livelihoods, widening social fissures, and increasing the displacement of communities dependent on natural resources — with religious, ethnic and political minorities at the receiving end of the worst impacts.

On April 27, USIP held a discussion on the growing stress faced by urban centers in South Asia due to climate change. Experts discussed how megacities are contributing to environmental degradation and societal conflict, as well as addressed what policies might best combat these challenges and reflect on President Biden’s latest climate change summit.

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The United States Institute of Peace is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical, and essential for U.S. and global security. In conflict zones abroad, the Institute works with local partners to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict. To reduce future crises and the need for costly interventions, USIP works with governments and civil societies to help their countries solve their own problems peacefully. The Institute provides expertise, training, analysis, and support to those who are working to build a more peaceful, inclusive world.