Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation to Improve Food Security in South Asia

Both food security and agriculture contribute to, and are affected by, global climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that food production systems account for up to 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, these systems are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, with extreme weather events such as rising temperatures, flooding, drought, secondary salinity, and land degradation threatening food security in South Asia. Additionally, the spread of weeds, pests, and diseases due to shifting climates exacerbates these challenges. The strain on agriculture and food security from accelerated climate change is further worsening by rapid population growth. Globally, more than 820 million people suffer from hunger, and by 2050, food production will need to double to meet global demands. This intensification of farming, combined with climate change, will lead to greater reliance on reactive chemicals, water, and energy inputs—potentially damaging agroecosystem services and becoming increasingly difficult to manage. South Asia, with its high population growth, is particularly vulnerable to climate impacts such as flooding, salinity, droughts, and solar dimming. Rising sea levels and coastal erosion could result in the loss of 17% of land surface and 30% of food production by 2050.

Agriculture and food systems must undergo innovative transformations to address these challenges. A comprehensive Climate Change Adaption Framework is essential for fostering a supportive policy environment, sharing information on climate impacts, and adapting climate-smart agriculture to enhance food security in South Asia. This book, based on the outcomes of the 2022 International Conference on Climate Change and Food security in South Asia, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, explores key challenges and innovative solutions for mitigating and adapting to the impact of climate change on food security.

Dr. Rafiq Islam is the Director of the Soil, Water, and Bioenergy Program at The Ohio State University South Centers, Ohio, USA. He has more than 30 years of research experience on sustainable agriculture, soil health, water quality, marginal land restoration, and biofeedstock production. He is a Fulbright teaching scholar and has received several awards including U.S. Congressional recognition for his global contribution. So far, he has published more than 119 peer-reviewed articles (h-index 34), 15 book chapters, and edited several books. E-Mail: islam.27@osu.edu

Dr. AHM Mustafizur Rahman is a professor in the Department of Soil, Water and Environment, Dhaka University, Bangladesh. He has more than 30 years of basic and applied research experience in soil microbiology especially biological nitrogen fixation properties, rice ecosystems, plant genotypes, climate change and food security. He is a fellow of French CNRS and other international organizations. Over the years, he has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles in high impact journals and edited several books. E-Mail: dmrahman.agni@gmail.com.

Dr. Heulin Thierry is currently serving as the Emeritus Research Director of CNRS, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France. Over the years, he served in various capacities to improve the science, technology, genomics, and other environmental issues in France. He was the member of the Scientific Council of the INEE-CNRS. He has supervised 44 graduate students for their academic degrees, and published more than 125 peer-reviewed journal articles (h-index 45) and several academic and edited books. E-Mail: Thierry.HEULIN@cea.fr

Dr. Mannava Sivakumar worked as the Director of the Climate Prediction and Adaptation Branch in the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. His fields of specialization focused on Agroclimatology, Natural Resources Management & Sustainable Development. He has received several awards and recognition for his contribution on global climate effects. He is currently serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Weather and Climate Extremes Journal. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, 53 books and proceedings, and 40 book chapters. E-Mail: mannavas@gmail.com