India, Oct. 27 -- David Poinard

Across South Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific region, climate disruption is no longer a distant theoretical threat. It is an immediate, lived reality. From catastrophic urban flooding and heatwaves to unpredictable monsoons and acute water stress, environmental shocks are becoming faster, more frequent, and immensely disruptive.

When these climate calamities strike, their impact extends far beyond immediate physical destruction. They trigger interconnected operational failures that directly threaten human lives and public health. A sudden deluge or severe cyclone does not simply raise water levels; within hours, it severs power grids, submerges municipal pumps, contaminates drinking water, and creates br...