Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis of the National Human Rights Institutions in South Asia 2 displaced internally by weather-related disasters in the last five years.7 According to World Bank estimates, the annual economic losses from climate change in region will average USD 160 billion by 2030, and South Asia could see climate migrants totalling 40 million by 2050.8 1.1. Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Initiatives Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (CCMA) refer to strategies aimed at addressing the causes and effects of climate change.9 Mitigation focuses on reducing or preventing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming.10 This includes transitioning to renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and implementing carbon capture technologies. International frameworks like the Paris Agreement drive global mitigation efforts, setting targets to keep global temperature increases below 2°C.11 On the other hand, adaptation involves adjusting systems, communities, and economies to cope with the current and anticipated impacts of climate change.12 This includes infrastructure development for flood protection, drought-resistant agriculture, and early warning systems for extreme weather events. Adaptation initiatives are particularly crucial for vulnerable regions such as small island nations, where rising sea levels and extreme weather pose existential threats. Throughout all regions of the world, the most common approaches to climate change mitigation include reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro), enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable land use practices like reforestation.13 Adaptation strategies, on the other hand, focus on increasing resilience to climate impacts by building climate-resilient infrastructure, improving water management, developing drought-resistant crops, and creating early warning systems for disasters.14 Integrating both approaches, many initiatives now adopt nature-based solutions, such as restoring ecosystems that provide natural protection against climate risks while also sequestering carbon. Raoul Wallenberg Institute, A Bibliometric Analysis of Research at the Nexus of Climate Change, Human Mobility, and Human Rights (2023) <https://rwi.lu.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/64828d9890605746195582.pdf>. 7 8 The World Bank, ‘South Asia Climate Roadmap’ (2021) <https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar/publication/south-asia-climate-roadmap>. United Nations Development Programme, ‘What Is Climate Change Mitigation and Why Is It Urgent?’ (2024) <https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/what-climate-change-mitigation-and-why-it-urgent>. 9 10 Ibid. NRDC, ‘Paris Climate Agreement: Everything You Need to Know’ (2024) <https://www.nrdc.org/stories/paris-climate-agreement-everything-you-need-know>. 11 12 United Nations Development Programme (n 9). 13 Ibid. 14 Ibid.