In this episode the discussion centers on the escalating climate crisis in Asia, with a particular focus on South Asia. Herb introduces the topic by highlighting Asia’s immense diversity-in geography, population, and climate vulnerability-and underscores how extreme weather events, such as record-breaking heatwaves and catastrophic floods, are increasingly reshaping lives across the continent. He notes that the Himalayas, often called the “third pole,” are losing glaciers at an alarming rate, threatening water security for billions, while the region faces mounting geopolitical tensions that complicate collective climate action.
This video was recorded on May 14th, 2025, and published on May 18th, 2025, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.
Dr. Peter Carter expands on these themes by detailing the severity and expansion of drought across South and Southeast Asia, referencing the SPEI World Drought Monitor. He points out that the region has faced consecutive years of record heat, with scientific attribution studies confirming that climate change has made these events far more likely and intense. Carter also discusses the reduction in aerosol cooling due to decreased pollution in China, which has inadvertently led to increased regional warming, and emphasizes the grim outlook as emissions and temperatures continue to rise globally, with coal use persisting in major economies.
Paul Beckwith adds a geopolitical and demographic perspective, stressing that water scarcity-exacerbated by rapidly melting Himalayan glaciers and shifting precipitation patterns-has become a flashpoint for conflict, particularly between India and Pakistan. He explains how the Indus Waters Treaty is under strain, raising the risk of regional instability in an area with a very young population and significant nuclear arsenals. Beckwith also highlights the accelerating loss of glacier mass, the potential for future water shortages, and the broader implications of shifting climate patterns, such as changes in the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The discussion concludes with reflections on the urgent need for adaptation, international cooperation, and more effective climate planning, as well as an invitation for viewers to engage with future episodes focusing specifically on India.
Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute
Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University
Herb Simmens - Author, Co-founder of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition (HPAC), Climate Emergency Board Member and former college instructor.
Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader
Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.
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