Impacts of climate change is a great leveler as even advanced countries such as United States, Europe, Japan and emerging economies like India are reeling under rising coastal flooding, large precipitation events and heat wave that resulted in loss of lives and livelihoods. However it is Small island developing countries that face existential threats due to climate impacts.

The Conference of Parties 24 in Katowice, Poland is set to lay out rules of climate action under Paris Agreement for all the Parties by adhering to the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibility. The rules should drive developed countries to vacate the carbon space more quickly for developing countries to meet their development goals without losing sight of sustainability.

While rapid development to eradicate poverty, energy deprivation and ecosystem restoration is on the cards, developing economies need to rely and deploy local solution rather than conventional ones that created climate change in the first place. It is applicable to all emerging economies but more relevant to countries in South Asia considering their climate vulnerability and low adaptive capacity towards climate change. Thus governments in South Asia must consider Eco Village Development (EVD) as a model to shape their agricultural and renewable energy sector.

The effectiveness of the EVD as an alternate pathway towards sustainable development of village as a unit, has been established through the demonstration villages set up in diverse socioeconomic, geographic and climatic conditions across Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India. The international climate policy space need to take cognizance of the fact that local solutions accompanied with community mobilization, involvement of women and children and appropriate training and capacity building brings lasting changes. EVD solutions provide alternative income source and strengthens agriculture based livelihoods.

EVD promotes climate action by reducing GHG emission and building adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities. Sub national governments which have the mandate to implement climate policies need to integrate EVD principles and solutions into state action plan on climate change. Apart from allocation of state budget for replicating EVD, international climate finance needs to be tapped. Active involvement of private sector is essential in order to replicate EVD.