This briefing paper examines the linkages between climate change, food security and trade in South Asia.

The paper clarifies that the South Asian region is particularly vulnerable to climate change owing to overly utilisation of natural resources. At the same time, South Asian countries are largely dependent on agriculture for employment and subsistence. As a result, trade policies at the national and regional levels are an important tool for ensuring food security.

The document underlines that no single country in the region has significant comparative advantage for production of all cereals. However, efforts to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in environmental goods and services may reduce the costs and increase the availability of climate-related technologies and goods.

Recommendations encompass:

there is a dire need to design suitable trade policies at national level  
agreements should be implemented at regional level along with a process of trade liberalisation by facilitating market access of exported products
participatory approach should be followed by policymakers when planning and implementing food security policies and programmes to achieve food security
inclusive growth model should be approached for regional balanced growth
governments should frame region-based policies for protecting environmental degradation and these should be implemented assiduously