Current Affairs of 11 November 2025

What South Asia Wants from COP30

Context

• South Asia, home to nearly two billion people, stands at the frontline of escalating environmental disasters, monsoon floods, landslides, glacial melt, and extreme heatwaves.
• This crisis unfolds amid a world where multilateralism is under strain, climate pledges are weakened, and trade protectionism is rising.
• Yet, despite the fractures in global cooperation, collective action remains indispensable.
• In this shifting landscape, South Asia’s role is expanding, not only as a region of vulnerability but as a centre of climate leadership shaped by necessity, experience, and a moral imperative to act.

The Global Context: Eroding Trust and Emerging Leadership

• Global climate governance has been weakened by broken promises and political withdrawal, including the repeated exit of the United States from the Paris Agreement.
• Such actions have undermined trust and tested the credibility of international processes. Yet, smaller and more vulnerable states have stepped forward to fill the void.
• Small island nations, emerging economies, and coalitions of the willing have become the new drivers of climate ambition.
• Within this dynamic, South Asia has emerged as a pragmatic and collaborative force.

South Asia’s Climate Priorities

• Implementation- The Achilles Heel of Climate Action

  • The greatest gap in global climate governance lies between pledges and performance. Promised action and finance often fail to materialize.
  • Out of 203 initiatives launched since 2015, only 5% have achieved their stated goals. This failure highlights the need for regional cooperation to strengthen delivery.
  • South Asian countries are calling for robust governance, clear timelines, and inclusive participation that gives a voice to local communities, women, and subnational governments.
  • Platforms such as the G-20, BIMSTEC, and BRICS can serve as regional anchors for a common climate stance.

• Adaptation on Par with Mitigation

  • In South Asia, climate adaptation must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with emission mitigation.
  • The region faces a future where days exceeding 35°C may double by 2100, intensifying existing vulnerabilities.
  • Nepal’s glacial lake outburst floods, coastal erosion in the Maldives, India’s extreme heatwaves, and Sri Lanka’s emerging drylands reveal the diversity and urgency of threats.
  • To respond effectively, countries require technical, institutional, and financial support for adaptation plans.

• Rebuilding Trust through Ambitious Action

  • Trust is the cornerstone of global climate cooperation, yet it has been eroded by delayed finance, diluted commitments, and geopolitical tension.
  • Developed nations are off-track to meet their 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets, weakening faith in collective processes.
    Fulfilling existing pledges, aligning new commitments with the 1.5°C goal, and ensuring accountability are essential to restore credibility.
  • Without genuine delivery, every unkept promise widens the divide between developed and developing worlds and undermines multilateralism itself.

• Climate Finance- From Promises to Predictability

  • For South Asia, finance is the lifeblood of action. Effective climate finance must be predictable, adequate, fairly distributed, easily accessible, and non-debt inducing.
  • Vague targets such as the $300 billion adaptation goal by 2035 will remain meaningless without clear pathways outlining who delivers, how much, by when, and with what accountability.
  • The proposed Baku to Belém Roadmap to $1.3 trillion must be grounded in operational clarity.
  • South Asia’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are calling for a tripling of adaptation finance and dedicated regional allocations from funds such as the Green Climate Fund, the Loss and Damage Fund, and the Adaptation Fund.

• Mobilising Non-State Actors as Engines of Scale

  • The climate transition cannot be achieved by nation-states alone. Non-state actors, including local governments, the private sector, civil society, youth, academia, and businesses, must become engines of scale.
  • The private sector can unlock new sources of finance; subnational entities can implement and align with national goals; civil society can conduct independent assessments; youth movements can inject innovation and intergenerational equity; and businesses can integrate sustainability into markets and supply chains.
  • This distributed model of action reinforces a cycle of accountability, innovation, and trust, helping rebuild confidence in multilateral processes.

The Path Forward: From Promises to Delivery

• The time for rhetoric has passed. Delivery is now the only currency of trust. Effective climate action must rest on three foundations:
• Mutual clarity — defining responsibilities and transparent pathways;
• Mutual cooperation — acknowledging both vulnerabilities and opportunities;
• Mutual implementation — turning promises into practice across borders and sectors.
• South Asia’s climate leadership demonstrates that even in an era of political division, progress is possible through collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• The region’s message to the world is unequivocal: multilateralism must be restored to credibility through delivery.

Conclusion

• In an age where the global climate regime struggles with credibility, South Asia stands out as a voice of pragmatic hope.
• Its leadership embodies collective responsibility, regional solidarity, and moral urgency.
• By prioritising implementation, adaptation, trust, finance, and participation, South Asia signals a transformation in climate diplomacy, one that values action over rhetoric and inclusion over isolation.

What South Asia Wants from COP30 FAQs

 Q1. What makes South Asia a key player in global climate action?
Ans. South Asia is a key player because it faces severe climate risks affecting nearly two billion people and has developed pragmatic, collaborative responses driven by necessity and moral responsibility.

Q2. Why is implementation called the Achilles heel of climate action?
Ans. Implementation is called the Achilles heel because there is a wide gap between climate promises and actual delivery, with very few initiatives meeting their stated goals.

Q3. How does South Asia aim to balance adaptation and mitigation?
Ans. South Asia aims to balance adaptation and mitigation by integrating locally-led adaptation strategies with scientific innovation and ensuring that adaptation receives equal priority in global discussions.

Q4. What kind of climate finance does South Asia demand?
Ans. South Asia demands climate finance that is predictable, adequate, fairly distributed, easily accessible, and non-debt inducing, supported by clear timelines and accountability.

Q5. Why are non-state actors important in the climate transition?
Ans. Non-state actors such as civil society, youth, businesses, and local governments are important because they can drive innovation, expand financing, ensure accountability, and reinforce trust in climate governance.

Source: The Hindu

Celebrating a Sage King, a Celebration of India-Bhutan Ties

Context

• Bhutan’s former King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck (K4), father of the current monarch Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (K5), turns 70 on November 11, 2025.
• Revered as the “Bodhisattva King,” he ruled from the age of 17 until his abdication in 2006, guiding Bhutan into modernity with wisdom and integrity.
• Celebrations marking his milestone birthday are being held in Thimphu, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending to honour Bhutan’s deeply respected former ruler.
• This article highlights the 70th birthday celebration of Bhutan’s former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (K4) and how the event reflects the deep-rooted friendship between India and Bhutan.
• It explores the historic leadership of K4, the strengthening of bilateral ties under PM Modi’s Neighbourhood First policy, the pivotal role of hydropower cooperation, and Bhutan’s security partnership with India, built on trust, respect, and shared strategic vision.

India and Bhutan: A Bond Strengthened by Trust and Vision

• PM Modi’s visit to Bhutan for former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck’s 70th birthday underscores the deep and enduring friendship between the two nations.
• Modi, who made Bhutan his first foreign visit in 2014, continues to prioritise this partnership under the Neighbourhood First policy.
• During his reign, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (K4) strengthened Bhutan’s ties with India, recognising India as a trusted partner and protector of Bhutan’s sovereignty.
• He invited India’s Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to build the country’s road network and pioneered the idea of hydropower generation for export to India — creating a sustainable source of national income and further deepening bilateral cooperation.

Hydropower: The Cornerstone of India–Bhutan Partnership

• Hydropower cooperation has long been a key pillar of India–Bhutan relations, symbolising mutual trust and economic interdependence.
• During PM Modi’s current visit, he and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (K5) will inaugurate the 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu II hydroelectric project, which has already begun generating power and boosting Bhutan’s economy.
• Funded initially by India, the project’s costs are repaid through electricity sales to India at mutually adjusted rates.
• While this government-to-government model has been successful, future projects will involve private investment — with Indian companies like Tata Power and Adani Power collaborating with Bhutanese firms.
• Beyond hydropower, India’s development assistance to Bhutan extends to infrastructure, education, community projects, and heritage restoration, reinforcing an enduring partnership grounded in progress and shared prosperity.

Bhutan’s Security Vision and India’s Enduring Gratitude

• King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (K5) continues to consult his father, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (K4), on key national security matters, including Bhutan’s territorial integrity and the preparedness of the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA).
• K4 possesses deep insight into both India’s democratic system and China’s strategic motives, making his guidance crucial to Bhutan’s foreign and security policies.
• India remains particularly grateful for Operation All Clear (2003), when K4 personally led the RBA in expelling Indian insurgent groups from Bhutanese territory, enabling Indian forces to capture them across the border.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence at K4’s 70th birthday celebration in Thimphu thus symbolises not only honour for a revered monarch but also the strength and trust underpinning India–Bhutan relations.

Celebrating a Sage King, a Celebration of India-Bhutan Ties FAQs

Q1. Who is Jigme Singye Wangchuck and why is he revered in Bhutan?

Ans. Known as the “Bodhisattva King,” Jigme Singye Wangchuck modernised Bhutan with wisdom, integrity, and compassion during his reign from 1972 to 2006.

Q2. What does PM Modi’s visit to Bhutan signify?

Ans. It reflects India’s commitment to its Neighbourhood First policy and reaffirms the close friendship and mutual respect shared between the people of India and Bhutan.

Q3. Why is hydropower cooperation central to India–Bhutan relations?

Ans. Hydropower projects, like Punatsangchhu II (1,020 MW), symbolise economic interdependence and mutual growth, providing Bhutan revenue and India clean, renewable energy.

Q4. How did K4 contribute to Bhutan’s security and India–Bhutan cooperation?

Ans. K4 led Operation All Clear (2003) to expel Indian insurgents from Bhutan, strengthening bilateral security cooperation and India’s trust in Bhutan’s commitment.

Q5. What are India’s future plans for hydropower projects in Bhutan?

Ans. Future projects will involve private investment, with Indian companies like Tata Power and Adani Power partnering Bhutanese firms for sustainable energy collaboration.

Source: TH