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Regional Environmental Hub for South Asia
Kathmandu, Nepal

South Asia

Introduction
Central to U.S. policy in South Asia is the objective of improving political stability by engaging and enhancing dialogue with and between the countries of the region. Toward this end, the South Asia Regional Environmental Hub located at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu will identify issues and opportunities to promote and improve cooperation on global and regional environmental issues.

The Hub will work with governments, public sector agencies, international organizations, businesses, NGO's, and others with an initial focus towards:

• regional oil spill response capabilities
• management of coastlines and forests
• clean alternative energies
• air and water pollution

Regional Environmental Issues
The developing countries of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and the Maldives) are home to almost a quarter of the world's population, of whom over 600 million live in poverty -- the largest concentration anywhere in the world and more than in all of sub-Saharan Africa. Urbanization has accelerated beyond the ability of nearly all governments to provide even the most basic of environmental services, such as sewage treatment and waste management. Consequently, the region faces a host of serious environmental problems that have led to increased incidences of disease, lowered natural resource-based production, and a drop in the overall quality of life. The challenge of addressing these problems is now formidable and will only become more difficult in the future as the population grows.

Environmental Emergencies: Environmental emergencies, such as oil and hazardous substance spills, are all too common in South Asia. Oil spills from tankers exiting the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman through the Arabian Sea are particularly threatening to the shores of India and Pakistan. Activities on improving environmental emergency preparedness and response may provide an opportunity to promote regional cooperation. EPA, NOAA, and the U.S. Coast Guard have conducted successful training for foreign technical agencies in several regions of the world susceptible to oil spills, most notably in the Middle East under the Peace Process Initiative. One objective of the Hub is to develop a plan of action for a regional training approach which could be pursued with the countries of South Asia.

Water Use Management: During every dry season there are skirmishes over the distribution of water. Some of these have led to intractable disputes and strained national unity and contributed to regional tensions. Addressing them is important for securing increased political stability as well as improving agricultural production and flood control, and as part of a broader clean power strategy. Recent agreements between India and Nepal and India and Bangladesh on water sharing arrangements are encouraging first steps.

There is a growing consensus that regional cooperation on the use of the great rivers of South Asia, particularly the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus, will be essential to solving some of the region's environmental problems. U.S. interest in river development projects in South Asia is to ensure that they proceed in a socially, economically and environmentally sound manner. The Hub should analyze the potential for the establishing a regional structure to promote regional water cooperation in South Asia and determine what role, if any, the U.S. should play in it.

Energy Alternatives/Clean Air: Throughout South Asia substantial subsidies for coal, kerosene and diesel have led to artificially low energy prices. Major policy reforms to promote a transition to energy efficient regimes and increased use of clean, renewable energy sources will be essential toward achieving sufficient reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as well as improving air quality in the region. U.S. sponsorship of alternative energy projects may be one possible approach. Additionally, the possibilities for sharing U.S. expertise in clean air monitoring protocols with countries in the region should be considered.

Regional Mechanisms: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the official multi-government body in the region, is key to approaching environmental issues on a regional level. The organization has become increasingly active in the last year. The U.S. seeks to enhance its interaction with SAARC and is currently pursuing an agreement that will serve as an umbrella for increased dialogue as well as training and assistance programs. The depth and variety of the SAARC countries' environmental challenges call for the exchange of assistance, training, and expertise across a broad spectrum. An Environmental Exchange program under SAARC auspices could facilitate regular meetings between U.S. government agencies, academic, industry, and private organizations and their South Asia counterparts. The Hub will actively promote such environmental dialogue and explore the possibility of U.S. government assistance to SAARC's environmental activities.

State Department Regional Environmental Contact Officer:
Kathmandu, Nepal
Debbi Seligsohn
Pani Pokhari
Phone: 977-1-1272357
SeligsohnD@Kathmanduc.us-state.gov

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