The foundation has three centres in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. ORF provides potentially viable inputs for policy and decision-makers in the Indian Government and to the political and business communities of India. ORF started out with an objective of dealing with internal issues of the economy in the wake of the 1990s reforms. However, today its mandate extends to security and strategy, governance, environment, energy and resources, economy and growth.
This article discusses three major 2025 reports—the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, the Climate Inequality Report, and the COP 30 decision on the Global Goal on Adaptation—and highlights a core policy conundrum: effective climate action depends on the eradication of poverty, achievement of developmental aspirations, and reducing inequality. This aligns with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities, which recognizes poverty eradication as a primary goal of developing countries. Poverty and climate vulnerability reinforce each other, as the bulk of multidimensionally poor people are located in regions with high climate risks and lack adaptive capacity. Unless climate action is specifically targeted towards disadvantaged sections, it can worsen poverty, inequality, and vulnerability. A low-carbon transition can lead to further concentration of wealth, higher poverty rates, and greater climate vulnerability if inequality is left unaddressed.
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) comprising of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal is meant to bridge the South Asia and Southeast Asia region. The 2030 SDG Goal 2 agenda aims to ‘End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’. The countries are putting the SDG 2 into practice by changing the priorities and capacity of the food system to ensure that nutritious food is available, affordable and accessible to everyone. What is needed may be a transformative action to beat the gaps in achieving the SDG. Some countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Thailand have made headway in reducing malnutrition. Investing in women empowerment and agency, water and sanitation, and healthy diets are key to achieving food security. A holistic approach to improve women’s health and nutrition that is scalable and replicable for other countries to learn is required. Investment in agriculture, being the most important economic sector for the BIMSTEC countries could pave way for availability, and accessibility of food and address malnutrition. This might also accelerate progress across SDGs on poverty, health, gender, inequality, and global climate change.
The paper highlights the critical need for agricultural adaptation in response to the escalating challenges of climate change. As rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and shifting ecosystems threaten food production, adopting resilience-building strategies becomes imperative. Harnessing climate-smart technologies, including precision agriculture, drought-resistant crop varieties, and digital innovations, is another key approach to mitigating climate risks. Strengthening the adaptive capacity of farmers, particularly smallholders and marginalized communities, is essential for building resilient food systems. The discussion focuses on the transformative potential of agroecological principles, which emphasize biodiversity, ecosystem services, and resource-efficient farming practices. Additionally, it underscores the importance of investing in soil health through regenerative techniques that enhance soil fertility and water retention. Given the complexity of these challenges, interdisciplinary collaboration among policymakers, researchers, farmers, and private sector stakeholders is vital. And further explores the importance of resilience-building practices such as embracing agroecological principles, investing in soil health, harnessing climate-smart technologies, strengthening adaptive capacity, and promoting climate-resilient livelihoods. It emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of sustainable agriculture and the necessity of collaborative efforts across stakeholders to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. By integrating these strategies into agricultural systems, stakeholders can enhance resilience, mitigate risks, and ensure the long-term sustainability of food production in a changing climate landscape.
