Human development in South Asia
Human development in South Asia

This new report by MHHDC addresses governance from the point of view of empowerment. It analyses governance of political, economic, and social institutions from the perspective of how people are being empowered in South Asia.

Related:

Report: Key indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2012
Report: Asian development outlook
Report: Asia-Pacific human development report 2012
Report: Bhutan national human development report 2011
Report: Poverty in Asia and the Pacific
Report: A review of studies on poverty in Pakistan
Report: Multidimensional poverty index (MPI) at a glance
Report: Food price escalation in South..

Latest News from Down To Earth

Lost in woods

Environmentalists see red over wildlife bill in Bangladesh. A rift has been created between the Bangladesh government and activists. Reason: a bill that gives powers to the government to declare forest areas protected while pushing for co-management of forests by authorities and communities. Activists say the bill, if passed, would put forests and wildlife at risk.

Bhutan: pursuit of happiness

Karma Tshiteem is the secretary of the Gross National Happiness Commission, the novel name of Bhutan’s Planning Commission. He tells Aditya Batra how the concept has fared in the new democracy.

Government Policies and Action Plans

Draft national climate change policy for Sri Lanka

This draft of the National Climate Change Policy for Sri Lanka contains a a vision, mission, goal and a set of guiding principles followed by broad policy statements under Vulnerability, Adaptation, Mitigation, Sustainable Consumption and Production and Knowledge Management.

Bhutan renewable energy policy 2011

The Renewable Energy Policy intends to provide the necessary direction for the promotion and development of Renewable Energy that not only contribute in meeting the current requirements but also shape future energy security options for Bhutan.

Climate Change

Draft National Climate Change Policy, 2011: Pakistan

Climate Change

The national climate change policy provides a framework for addressing the issues that Pakistan faces or will face in future due to the changing climate.  In view of Pakistan’s high vulnerability to adverse impacts of climate, in particular extreme events, adaptation effort is the main focus of this policy document.  The vulnerabilities of various  sectors to climate change

Publication Date: 
01/04/2011
Ministry of Environment (Pakistan)
Tags:
Climate Change, Pakistan, Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, Technology Transfer, Disaster Preparedness, Extreme Weather Events

Bhutan national human development report 2011: sustaining progress - rising to the climate challenge

Climate Change

The 2011 Bhutan National Human Development Report (NHDR) focuses on the human development conditions that characterise Bhutan's vulnerability to climate risks-accelerating human development progress and closing gaps in achievements figure among the most important responses to climate change.

Publication Date: 
01/09/2011
UNDP
Tags:
Climate Change, Bhutan, Human Rights, Development, Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, Poverty, Ecosystems

Nepal climate change policy 2011

Ministry of Environment
Climate Change, Nepal, Low Carbon Economy, Climate Adaptation, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Technology Transfer, UNFCCC, Green House Gases

Scoping mission and preliminary assessment on climate change adaptation in Sri Lanka

Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia
Climate Change, Climate Adaptation, Sri Lanka, Information, Knowledge

Adapting to climate change: strengthening the climate resilience of the water sector infrastructure in Khulna, Bangladesh

Asian Development Bank
Climate Change, Bangladesh, Water Supply, Drainage, Urban Waterlogging, Climate Adaptation, Climate Impacts, Surface Water

Minding the money: governance of climate change adaptation finance in Nepal

Oxfam Nepal
Climate Change, Nepal, Finance, Climate Adaptation, Adaptation Fund, Governance

National climate change adaptation strategy for Sri Lanka 2011 to 2016

Ministry of Environment (Sri Lanka)
Climate Change, Climate Adaptation, Sri Lanka, Climate Impacts, Food Security, Planning, Biodiversity, Health, Urbanisation, South Asia

Pollution

Seeking solutions to air pollution, health and congestion in South Asian cities

Air Pollution

This document contains the presentation by Anumita Roychowdhury of Centre for Science and Environment, at Second country media briefing on “Challenges of Air Quality and Mobility Management in South Asian cities” held in Colombo on 27 April 2011, jointly organized by CSE and TVE Asia Pacific.

Publication Date: 
27/04/2011
Anumita Roychowdhury
Centre for Science and Environment
Tags:
CSE, CSE Study, South Asia, Delhi, Urban Transport, Transport, India, Health Effects, Urban Air Quality, Congestion, Air Pollution, Air Quality and Health

Challenges of understanding and combating air pollution in Sri Lanka

Air Pollution

This document contains the presentation by O A Ileperuma of University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka at Second country media briefing on “Challenges of Air Quality and Mobility Management in South Asian cities” held in Colombo on 27 April 2011, organized by CSE and TVE Asia Pacific.

Publication Date: 
27/04/2011
O A Ileperuma
Centre for Science and Environment
Tags:
Air Pollution, CSE, Colombo, Sri Lanka, South Asia, Health Effects, Urban Air Quality, Vehicular Pollution, Transport, Air Quality and Health

Alarm over air pollution & public health, languishing vehicle technology & mobility crisis in South Asian cities

Centre for Science and Environment
Air Pollution, Health Effects, South Asia, Diesel, Vehicular Pollution, Delhi, Colombo, Fuel Quality, Vehicular Standards, India, Sri Lanka, RSPM (PM 10), Congestion, Urban Transport, Transport, Air Quality and Health

Urban air pollution: an analysis of the environmental kuznets curve in Asian cities

Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities
Air Pollution, Asia, India, RSPM (PM 10), Urban Air Quality, Environment

Breaking records in 2010: air quality, climate change and transport in Asia - a year in review

Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center
Urban Air Quality, Climate Change, Transport, Asia, India, South Asia, Air Quality Standards, Public Transport, Urban Transport, Congestion Pricing, Air Quality Management, Pedestrians, Air Pollution

Morbidity costs of vehicular air pollution: examining Dhaka city in Bangladesh

South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics
Air Pollution, Vehicular Pollution, Health Effects, RSPM (PM 10), PM 2.5, CNG, Bangladesh, Dhaka, South Asia

Air quality in Asia: status and trends 2010

Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center
Air Pollution, RSPM (PM 10), Nitrogen Dioxide, Air Quality Monitoring, Air Quality Standards, WHO, Asia, India, South Asia

Food Safety and Toxins

Bt brinjal event EE1: the scope and adequacy of the GEAC toxicological risk assessment

Health

According to this independent scientific study by Lou Gallagher, the safety claims made for Bt brinjal, are not supported by existing data and says that its consumption could result in adverse health effects.

Publication Date: 
04/01/2011
Lou M Gallagher
Institute for Independent Impact Assessment in Biotechnology
Tags:
Bt Brinjal, Health Effects, India, Toxicity Studies, Food Safety, Chronic Toxicity, Acute Toxicity, Vegetables, GM Crops, Pesticides And Toxins, South Asia, Health

Bt brinjal event EE1: the scope and adequacy of the GEAC toxicological risk assessment

Institute for Independent Impact Assessment in Biotechnology
Bt Brinjal, Health Effects, India, Toxicity Studies, Food Safety, Chronic Toxicity, Acute Toxicity, Vegetables, GM Crops, Pesticides And Toxins, South Asia, Health

Food security, farming, and climate change to 2050

International Food Policy Research Institute
Food Security, Climate Change, South Asia, India, Agriculture, Climate Impacts, Green House Gases, Fossil Fuels, Carbon Dioxide, Crops, Economic Development

Covering note for inter-academy report on GM crops

Indian Academy of Sciences
GM Crops, India, Bt Brinjal, GMOs, Biotechnology, Food Safety, South Asia, Agriculture

Summary of monitoring of pesticide residues at national level

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Pesticide Residues, Food Safety, India, Vegetables, Milk, Milk Products, Maximum Residue Level (MRL), Chlorpyriphos, Fish, Rice, Wheat, Spices, Tea, Honey, South Asia, Pesticides And Toxins

Forest, People and Wildlife

The disappearing act: the illicit trade in wildlife in Asia

Wildlife

Southeast Asia, with its linkages into the larger Asian market that includes China, Indonesia, and India, is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots as well as one of the world’s hotspots for the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife parts.

Publication Date: 
01/06/2011
Vanda Felbab-Brown
The Brookings Institution
Tags:
Wildlife, Wildlife Trade, Asia, India, Biodiversity Conservation, Ecosystems, Biodiversity

Environmental & social management Framework: second phase of the adaptable program loan on strengthening regional cooperation for wildlife protection in Asia

Royal Government of Bhutan
Wildlife, South Asia, Asia, India, Environment Management, Bhutan, Wildlife Management, Forest Conservation, Forest Policy, Biodiversity

Report on forest carbon stock in community forests in three watersheds

Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources
REDD, Community Forest Management (CFM), Nepal, Watershed Development, Biomass, Forest Management, South Asia, Forests

The Global Tiger Recovery Program - Initial Draft

Global Tiger Initiative
Wildlife, Ecosystem Services, India, Climate Change, Carbon Sequestration, Nepal, Watershed Development, Food Security, Poverty, Poaching, Protected Area Conservation, Wildlife And People, Tiger, Tiger Conservation, South Asia

Forest resource assessment in Nepal

Forest Resource Assessment (FRA) Nepal project
Forest Resources, Nepal, Forest Management, Forests, Forest Products, Trees, South Asia

Books

Mobility crisis: agenda for action 2010

We have more roads and flyovers than ever before to address our transportation worries. But, unfortunately, roads in cities like Delhi are chock-a-block with bumper-to-bumper traffic, due to the huge ratio of cars as compared to buses. It is time to set new terms of action. Make the city more walkable. This book discusses in detail ways and means of dealing with pollution and congestion.

Water first: issues and challenges for nations and communities in South Asia

This book brings together current knowledge and cutting edge interdisciplinary perspectives from renowned scholars on the histories, politics, ecologies and cultures of water in South Asia. It explores the complexities of the issues and challenges thrown up by contemporary water management practices in the South Asian region.
Films on South Asia