Dhaka, Sept. 19 -- South Asia will be one of the worst affected regions in the climate crisis. Melting Himalayan glaciers in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and India will contribute to rising sea levels and increased flooding in downstream and coastal countries, including in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The industrial regulation of transboundary rivers can result in water scarcity and desertification. While the primary focus of climate justice has been on the obligations of industrialized states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, South Asian states need to address the challenges to the environment emanating within the neighborhood.

In its recent Advisory Opinion on climate change, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) affirmed th...