The search for synergies in climate resilient development among India, Africa and ASEAN is both geopolitically important and timely as the Global South seeks to exert its voice, define its prerogatives and take a leadership role in a world shaken by erratic policy actions now affecting all countries. These actions affect climate but go beyond to broader development issues of economics and trade. So, it is important for us to consider the concept of resilient development and, within that frame, place emphasis on climate. We can define resilient development as the capacity to cope with and recover from current shocks and stresses, and in so doing, develop the capacity to be better able to deal with these and other shocks in the future. Seeking synergies implies that working together in some areas will result in outcomes which are greater and more effective than the mere sum of the existing actions.
The total combined population of these countries is about 3.4 billion or nearly 43% of the global population[1]. However, their share of global GDP in nominal terms is only about 10% and in PPP (which adjusts for local purchasing power) about 18%[2] .In terms of human development, India (0.63) and ASEAN (0.72) are considered medium to high human development, while SSA (average 0.55) is low to medium human development[3]. These countries, therefore, have a need for both growth and development as they face shocks and stresses such as climate change and others. We will shortly consider the room for synergies, but first, let us take stock of the climate emergency.
The statistics are well known, but just to remind readers that 2023 was once considered the hottest year ever (global average) at 1.48 °C above preindustrial levels until the data for 2024 came in at 1.55 °C above preindustrial levels, making it the hottest year ever[4]. This parallels the highest ever level of CO2 emissions in 2024 with no signs of peaking[5]. You can well imagine the dismay and frustration of people like me who have been involved in climate change efforts since 1990. In Paris in 2015, the world agreed that it would seek to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees in support of the cry of the small island states, whose mantra at that meeting was “1.5 to stay alive”. Increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, droughts, agricultural and human pests and viruses’ outbreaks are in ample display.
Synergies in Climate Resilient Development
Synergistic strategies for climate resilient development among India, ASEAN and SSA must recognise the diverse levels of economic and human development, cultures, geographies, and ecologies, together with varying levels of vulnerability and resilience. The various challenges that might be encountered as we seek synergies will be discussed shortly. Let’s first identify some significant opportunities. The overall strategy suggested here is for India to utilise its existing relationships with SSA and AU, together with its ties with ASEAN, to forge the synergies that it must see in its own interest, as the ASEAN and SSA countries must see how their interests are being met more effectively at lower cost and more sustainably. Summarised below in sections 2.1 to 2.6 are some key areas in which rapid synergistic action might be feasible. Any synergistic intervention to support climate resilience must also be just and take into account the differentiated situation of women, marginalised or disadvantaged groups, and their capacity to cope and recover will be different.
Technology Capacity: The countries co-develop low-cost, scalable technologies for water conservation, climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and disaster early warning systems. This is supported by institutional strengthening like the establishment of regional climate tech hubs (e.g., a solar R&D hub in India, a drought-resilient agriculture centre in East Africa and a coastal resilience lab in ASEAN. They then work together to promote open-source platforms for sharing data and models on climate impacts. Synergies are built because shared vulnerabilities (e.g., monsoon variability, droughts, sea-level rise) require regionally contextualised innovation, not Northern-centric technologies.
Funding: Establish a South-South Climate Resilience Fund, jointly financed by India, the African Union, and ASEAN support small and medium climate adaptation projects in key sectors such as agriculture, energy and transport. Leverage India’s experience with green bonds and public–private partnerships to structure financing mechanisms and align these with BRICS-led alternatives like the New Development Bank for funding green infrastructure. Synergies will arise because the global climate finance commitments are inadequate, and South-led solutions can reduce dependence on Global North donors.
Food, Water, and Health Security Systems: Build a tri-continental food resilience network through shared gene banks, drought-resistant crops, and knowledge on agroecology. To support this, create climate-resilient water governance frameworks for shared rivers, lakes, and aquifers (e.g., Mekong, Nile, Ganges systems). Develop joint One Health strategies to address climate-linked zoonotic diseases and environmental health challenges. Synergies result since climate shocks affect food and health systems unevenly but with cascading regional effects (e.g., crop failures, migration, disease).
Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Exchange: Establish regional centres of excellence for climate adaptation training and cross-cultural learning on ecological stewardship. Organise interregional fellowships and youth programs to foster next-gen climate leadership. Share indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge — e.g., millet farming (India/Africa), mangrove management (ASEAN), community water systems (Sahel). Since capacity gaps are a major bottleneck, sharing rooted knowledge systems builds cultural legitimacy and local effectiveness. Integration of insights from the regions’ rich wisdom traditions, Ubuntu, Advaita Vedanta, and Buddhism, can lead to a consciousness-based approach to climate-resilient development, such as demonstrated by the consciousness-based food systems approach being led by UNDP.
Climate Diplomacy and Policy Coordination: Coordinate positions in multilateral forums (e.g., UNFCCC, COP meetings, G20, WTO) to push for climate justice, loss and damage finance, and equitable carbon space. Create a South Solidarity Pact for Resilient Development, outlining shared adaptation priorities and policy standards. A unified voice from the Global South can shift global governance from donor-recipient dynamics to equitable partnerships.
South–South Climate Resilience Compact: To institutionalise collaboration, India, the African Union, and ASEAN can initiate a “Climate Resilience Compact” with rotating leadership, common goals, and annual joint progress reviews. This will not only build resilience to climate shocks but also assert a new global leadership model based on solidarity, sustainability, and shared wisdom from the Global South. This can later serve as a model for other inter-regional compacts within the G-20, BRICS, UN, Latin America, East and Central Europe, etc.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Ensuring synergies and resilience
Underlying these specific initiatives outlined above should be a new, integral international relations framework developed by the region’s IR scholars. Such a framework should integrate relevant elements of existing IR theories, such as Realist, Basic Human Needs, Critical and Constructivist theories, infused with quantum IR and complex adaptive systems thinking, to produce a new coherent theoretical understanding much better suited to climate diplomacy. This new framework must bring together modern scientific and IR theories with deep spiritual insights from the region. Such insights will include a better understanding of who we are as humans and how we should live and act collectively, as in “I am because we are”.
[1] Worldometer . 2025 . https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/
[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)
[3]https://hdr.undp.org/content/human-development-report-2025
[4]https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/wmo-confirms-2024-warmest-year-record-about-155degc-above-pre-industrial-level
[5]https://www.co2.earth/daily-co2
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