Dear Friends and Colleagues,
As we conclude the first quarter of 2025, it’s heartening to see the meaningful progress we’ve made together in advancing climate action across South Asia.
The Media Fellowship Stories on Non-Economic Loss and Damage have powerfully illuminated the human dimensions of climate change—stories that too often go untold. Through this fellowship, CANSA reaffirms its commitment to supporting independent journalism as a catalyst for climate justice.
Across the region, momentum is building around Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). In India, civil society consultations for NDC 3.0 were launched last week—the first of a series of inclusive dialogues planned for the coming quarter. Similar discussions are taking place in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, where government and civil society actors are convening to raise ambition. Notably, Nepal hosted national workshops and roundtables with a strong focus on integrating urban climate resilience into NDC 3.0. Bangladesh and Pakistan also brought together key stakeholders to spotlight the need for climate-resilient cities and provinces as a central pillar of their national commitments.
We’re also witnessing progress in strategic climate governance. From revitalizing India’s National Steering Committee (NSC) on climate policy and advocacy, to supporting Janathakshan in Sri Lanka as they intensify campaigns against fossil fuel dependency, we are driving crucial dialogues and action at multiple levels.
Our network’s grassroots strength continues to shine through. Chrysalis in Sri Lanka is advancing water security solutions, YPSA in Bangladesh is fostering community-based adaptation, and CANSA recently joined Sphere India in a national consultation on building a resilient India by 2047. In Bangladesh, CPRD contributed to a national dialogue on a just energy transition for the RMG sector, calling for inclusive strategies and grant-based support.
It gives me great pleasure to share that Ruchi Chaudhary has been elected to the CAN International Board Committees for Governance & Strategy and Node Development. Please join me in congratulating her on this well-deserved recognition.
As we reflect on these milestones and prepare for the work ahead, let us continue to deepen our collaborations, amplify marginalized voices, and push for the systemic change our region so urgently needs.
In solidarity,
Sanjay Vashist
Director, Climate Action Network South Asia
Beyond Numbers: Climate Change and Non-Economic Losses
A media fellowship program is highlighting the deep, often overlooked human costs of climate change in South Asia. This quarter a total of ten powerful, well-researched, and diverse articles, were produced under Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) media fellowship programs with Nepal Investigative Multimedia Journalism Network (NIMJN) Nepal and The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) Sri Lanka. They shed light on how communities in these countries are experiencing and responding to these challenges.
In Nepal’s Mustang, ancient monasteries and homes are crumbling, while Samjong’s residents remain displaced by water scarcity. Rising heat threatens maternal health, and the trauma of past disasters—like the Melamchi floods—persists without psychosocial support. In Sri Lanka, Kalpitiya’s villages are vanishing to the sea, Kalutara faces worsening floods, and climate change fuels a growing dengue crisis. Meanwhile, the Rathugala Adivasi community struggles to preserve bee honey harvesting, a tradition at risk. These stories reveal how climate change is not just about economic losses—it’s about lost heritage, identity, and well-being.
Read these stories here.
The intersecting crises of modern slavery and climate change demand urgent global attention. While these phenomena may appear distinct, they are deeply inter-connected and disproportionately affect the world’s most disadvantaged and marginalised communities. Climate change has forced millions of people to leave their homes and relocate, putting them at higher risk of explo-itation and modern slavery. This report, produced by Anti-Slavery International, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP) and CANSA, highlights the need for a more holistic approach to climate action that explicitly recognises the linkages between climate-induced mobility and modern slavery.
Launch of Civil Society Consultations for India’s NDC 3.0
India’s Civil Society Dialogue on Updating NDC 3.0, was the first of a series of meetings, jointly hosted by Vasudha Foundation, Development Alternatives and CAN South Asia on 27th March 2025 in Delhi. It brought together civil society, think tanks and key stakeholders, to discuss and shape the future of India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). With the 2025 update on the horizon, this event focussed on reviewing the progress made under the 2022 NDC, identifying opportunities to scale up ambition, and discussing key areas such as adaptation, mitigation, and climate finance.
Workshop on Delivering Pakistan’s NDC Focussed on Enhancing Subnational Engagement at the Provincial Level
Recognising that Provinces play a crucial role in implementing Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), overseeing sectors like disaster resilience, water management, and transportation, a workshop titled “Delivering NDCs at the Provincial Level” was held to strengthen subnational engagement in NDC formulation and execution. Organized by SDPI, PRIED, and the British High Commission, the event united government officials, climate experts, development partners, and representatives from civil society and the private sector.
The national dialogue on Just Energy Transition (JET) for Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry, held on March 25, 2025, served as a vital platform for gathering stakeholder inputs. These insights are being integrated into Bangladesh’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) submission process, aligning with the country’s commitment to inclusive and transparent climate action. This approach reflects Bangladesh’s dedication to ensuring that diverse perspectives inform its climate policies
Our partner Janathakshan has been working to intensify the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation treaty campaign in Sri Lanka. As Sri Lanka faces devastating floods, droughts, and landslides, Sri Lankans were called on to join the movement to act on climate change urgently. With our dependence on fossil fuels driving the climate crisis, it is important to act, else future generations will bear the consequences.
It would help protect our communities from the worst impacts of climate change; lead in global climate action; create green jobs and transition to renewable energy.
The petition: https://fossilfueltreaty.org/sri-lanka-petition was signed by almost a thousand students and faculty of premier Sri Lankan education institutions, and members of civil society organizations.
“It’s high time to decouple our energy needs from climate impacts.” Dr. Janaka Hemathilaka, CEO, Janathakshan GTE Ltd.
Let’s embrace Sustainable Consumption and commit to a Net Zero future. Sign the petition now.
The CANSA India NSC is actively engaging with government ministries to ensure inclusive climate policy. In two meetings this quarter, members focused on strengthening partnerships, shaping India’s NDCs, and advocating for Just Transition, renewable energy, and climate finance. A February review of budget provisions emphasized expanding solar access for smallholder farmers through schemes like PM-KUSUM. NSC aims to influence NDC 3.0, prioritizing loss and damage, adaptation, and stronger ministry engagement. Upcoming activities include online discussions, a field visit to smart agriculture sites in Ahmedabad, and an NDC policy analysis. A delegation will also engage key officials for structured collaboration.
The CANSA senior leadership team participated in the CAN Annual Strategy Meeting in Rio, in early February this year. The meeting brought together members from across all the CAN regional and country nodes to work to refine our collective vision for the next five years. The discussions reaffirmed CAN’s commitment to climate justice, systemic change, and people-powered transformation.
With the reconstitution of the working committees at the meeting, Ruchi Chaudhary, CANSA’s Program Manager has been nominated to two Committees on the Board of CAN International.
Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, President of COP30, addressed the participants at the meeting.
Key priorities include: Just Transition & Climate Justice – Supporting fair transitions at local and global levels; Ending Fossil Fuels & False Solutions – Phasing out extractive industries and greenwashing; Resilience & Reparations – Strengthening adaptation, climate finance, and loss & damage advocacy; Economic & Financial Justice – Transforming global financial systems, advocating debt relief, and fair trade; Multilateralism & Civic Space – Reforming institutions for inclusivity and protecting human rights.
Budget 2025: India’s Roadmap to Climate-Resilient Growth and Global South Leadership
This pre-Budget blog by Nakul Sharma explores crucial aspects where Budget 2025 could make an impact and set international benchmarks for India as the “Voice of Global South.”Read blog here.
CANSA participated in an insightful consultation on Visioning for 2047: Identifying Emerging Priorities and Strengthening Collaboration for a Resilient India, on 21 February 2025. The session supported by HCL Foundation and UNICEF India, brought together leading experts, policymakers, and practitioners to shape India’s pathway toward a climate-adaptive, risk-informed, and resilient future.
Key Focus Areas:
On March 25, 2025, Md Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of the Centre for Policy Research and Development, participated as a discussant in a national dialogue on Just Energy Transition (JET) for Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry.
Organized by Safety and Rights Society and OXFAM, the event addressed the imperative of adopting renewable energy sources to meet international compliance standards and maintain global competitiveness. Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, Chairman of the Labour Reform Commission, emphasized the necessity of worker participation and support for those affected by the transition. Shafiqul Alam, lead energy analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, highlighted concerns about job security but suggested that proper planning could lead to job creation. Md Shamsuddoha advocated for an inclusive national strategy benefiting all stakeholders and recommended that the government seek grant-based financing to support the transition. Razekuzzaman Ratan, president of Samajtantrik Sramik Front, criticized factory owners for prioritizing expenses on energy and raw materials over fair wages for workers.
Sri Lanka’s draft Provincial Action Plans (PAPs) mark a step toward decentralized climate action. To support targeted climate investments, the Building Resilience project helped agrarian communities and government officials develop Community Climate Resilience Building Plans (CCRBPs) in 16 Grama Niladhari Divisions in the North-Western and Northern provinces. These plans prioritize local actions on water and food security, guiding government and climate finance investments.
The project and communities co-financed 38 Community Action Plans, addressing water insecurities that impact agrarian livelihoods and food security. This collaboration strengthens resilience and reduces social conflict.
So far, an estimated 7,790 people (47% female) have benefited. More broadly, CCRBPs provide a model for implementing PAPs through community-driven processes.
Led by IWMI, CEPA, and Chrysalis, the project is funded by the UK’s FCDO through the British High Commission in Colombo under the Conflict Stability and Security Fund.
Community consultation to identify issues as part of the ‘building resilience’ project
Shakera Begum, from Dakshin Mithachhari Union in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, embodies resilience in the face of climate challenges. Living in a cyclone-prone area with infertile land, she struggled to support her family on her husband’s limited income.
Joining the Resilient Homestead and Livelihood (RHL) project by YPSA, funded by GCF and PKSF, she received training in salt-tolerant vegetable farming and goat rearing. Despite setbacks, she sold four goat kids for 20,000 BDT in early 2025, covering her children’s education expenses and reinvesting in livestock. Her vegetable cultivation also earned 14,500 BDT, providing nutritious meals for her family.
Now a role model in her community, Shakera’s success showcases the power of climate-resilient practices in transforming lives. Her journey proves that determination and sustainable solutions can help vulnerable families overcome adversity and build a better future.
Shakera Begum harvesting vegetables from her homestead garden
| We hope you enjoyed this edition. Thanks to all those who submitted their stories. We look forward to hearing from more of you for our forthcoming issues. |
