Episode 27: Building resilient coastal communities in South Asia

South Asia is home to one-quarter of the global population who reside in only 3.5 per cent of the world's land area, making it the most populous and most densely-populated region in the world.

It is also one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change: a recent study found that Chittagong in Bangladesh and Ahmedabad in India are two of the fastest-sinking coastal cities, leaving millions of people vulnerable to rising sea levels.

This episode takes place during COP15, the UN's Biodiversity Conference, and explores how climate change is threatening coastal cities, including megacities like Mumbai, Karachi, and Dhaka, and how community initiatives such as the Fishing Cat Conservancy are responding to adapt and build resilience.

The discussion also considers whether there are alternative models to foster regional cooperation and to encourage working together on a common climate agenda.

Speakers:

• Yusuf Jameel, Research Manager, Project Drawdown
• Ashwin Naidu, Founder, Fishing Cat Conservancy
• Dhanasree Jayaram, Assistant Professor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education
• Anum Farhan, Programme Coordinator, Environment and Society Programme, Chatham House