Sustainable agriculture

The kingdom’s Gross National Happiness philosophy, which places equal weight on economic progress and environmental stewardship, faces a practical test here.

With the region still recovering from previous shocks, the latest ADB analysis serves as a timely reminder of the region’s exposure to distant geopolitical events.

Government officials say the newly endorsed measures will be implemented through coordinated efforts across ministries, provincial authorities, and disaster-management agencies. The aim is to create a comprehensive national framework that integrates climate risk reduction into infrastructure planning, agriculture policy, and disaster response systems.

Food security is at stake in a nation self-sufficient in rice production. The unregulated market risks artificial shortages, where hoarding drives spikes despite ample harvests. Without intervention, experts warn of potential vulnerabilities to climate shocks or global disruptions, as the system lacks resilience.

Groups like Greenpeace India praised it for upholding the precautionary principle amid rising pollution levels, noting cement plants contribute significantly to air toxins like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, linked to acid rain and respiratory ailments.

Humanitarian assistance has declined sharply amid global funding shortfalls, leaving millions more exposed.

Over 30 exporters, nine importers and around 50 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) from Assam participated in the conclave, reflecting growing interest in the region’s export potential.

The study, based on 26 environmental, technological, socio-economic and institutional indicators, concludes that resilience to climate stress varies sharply across regions – demanding tailored interventions rather than one-size-fits-all policymaking.