Action on climate change is central to Australia’s national development priorities. Australia’s International Development Policy recognises that measures to adapt and build resilience to climate impacts are urgently needed to defend against climate-induced loss and damage. We are committed to considering climate risk in our programming and aligning our investments with partners’ NDCs and National Adaptation Plans.

Australia’s development programming in South Asia will enhance state and community resilience through a focus on water security and managing the impacts of climate change, as disasters grow more severe and outpace our collective ability to manage risk (for both mainland and maritime countries). Australia will work with partners to deliver investments that can cope with and adapt to risks, including on environment, the blue economy, water resource management and climate change.

Australia will help improve partner government capacity to mitigate and/or adapt to the impacts of climate change, building on the legacy of the Sustainable Development Investment Portfolio, which aimed to improve the management of water, energy and food resources in three major Himalayan river basins. The South Asia Water Security Initiative (SAWASI) will provide technical assistance and training to India, Nepal and Pakistan to improve access to climate resilient and safe water and sanitation services for disadvantaged communities in South Asian cities and strengthen city-level water governance.

Global programs supported by DFAT, including the Green Climate Fund, Climate Resilient Communities and Australian Water Partnership, will also contribute to the achievement of this objective. The regional program will explore co-contributing to these programs to expand their reach and impact in South Asia.

Our climate-related investments will contribute to South Asia’s connections with Australia and regionally. Through Australia Awards scholarships and short courses, we will advance this connectivity to create more opportunities for the region’s future leaders in climate resilience and green energy transition.

Australia will enhance women’s participation in climate resilience interventions by integrating GEDSI across all regional climate change related investments. This will create more equitable and sustainable outcomes. It will also ensure our work to improve water security and management and our related policies, strategies and service delivery are inclusive and integrated across the region.

We will continue to share our government, civil society and private sector expertise with South Asia. For example, we will share learning through agencies such as ACIAR and CSIRO and through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to deliver support that strengthens climate resilience. Our focus will include policy engagement and investment in agriculture, biodiversity, natural hazards mitigation, resilient farming systems, flood prevention, food and water security.

Key development financing partners include the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the World Bank Group, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. Given the scale of resources mobilised and coordination required between programs, our support will prioritise targeting areas in which we can most effectively add value, build on existing initiatives, partner strategically, and invest with purpose and for the long term.