GS-II: International Relations | Climate Change | India–China Relations | Disaster Management
Context
- Frequent extreme weather events are increasing climate risks in India and China: El Niño delayed India’s monsoon, followed by intense rainfall causing severe flooding in States such as Assam and Odisha, while several Chinese provinces also experienced devastating floods.
- Editorial argues that climate resilience can become a new area of bilateral cooperation: Given shared climate vulnerabilities, disaster resilience offers a relatively low-risk avenue for rebuilding India–China engagement.
India and China are experiencing similar climate extremes
- Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events: Higher atmospheric temperatures and rapidly warming oceans are contributing to short-duration, high-intensity rainfall events.
- Rapid urbanisation has increased vulnerability to floods: Replacement of wetlands, forests and permeable surfaces with concrete, along with outdated drainage systems, poor waste management and inadequate green spaces, has aggravated waterlogging and flooding.
- Coastal and inland cities face multiple climate risks: Coastal megacities confront extreme rainfall, storm surges and sea-level rise, while inland cities experience heatwaves, droughts and flash floods in quick succession.
- The economic and social costs of climate inaction are rising: Extreme weather disrupts supply chains, causes economic losses, reduces productivity and increases public health risks.
Improving bilateral relations creates opportunities for climate cooperation
- Recent diplomatic engagement indicates renewed interest in climate cooperation: The April 2026 visit of China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change to New Delhi suggests that climate remains an important area of engagement.
- Climate resilience offers a less contentious area of cooperation: Unlike green technology and critical minerals, disaster mitigation and urban resilience are relatively less affected by geopolitical competition.
India and China have an existing foundation for climate cooperation
- Earlier bilateral agreements supported practical cooperation on climate issues: Between the early 1990s and 2020, several Joint Statements, Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) promoted collaboration on climate change.
- Cooperation extended to climate-induced disasters and scientific exchanges: Areas included floods, earthquakes, droughts, extreme weather events, hydrological, oceanic and seismic data sharing, and governance exchanges.
- Strategic Economic Dialogues promoted sustainable urban development: Discussions covered sustainable urban planning, waste management, sewage treatment, water efficiency and capacity building.
- Sister-city agreements created opportunities for local-level cooperation: Practical collaboration was envisaged through:
- Delhi–Beijing
- Mumbai–Shanghai
- Chennai–Chongqing
- However, diplomatic disruptions prevented meaningful implementation.
Both countries possess complementary strengths in climate resilience
- China has developed data-driven urban resilience planning: Urban planning incorporates transport, housing and drainage systems into long-term resilience strategies.
- India has demonstrated success in community-based climate adaptation: Early warning systems, heat action plans, cool roofs and nature-based solutions have strengthened local resilience.
- State and non-state actors can deepen cooperation: Municipal governments can exchange best practices on sponge cities, drainage modernisation and waste management.
Rural resilience and Himalayan ecosystems provide additional areas for cooperation
- Climate-resilient agriculture can strengthen food security: Joint learning on resilient rural livelihoods and agricultural practices can improve adaptation strategies.
- Scientific collaboration can improve climate adaptation planning: Planning agencies and academic institutions can cooperate on hydrological modelling and integration of regional and indigenous knowledge.
- The shared Himalayan ecosystem requires coordinated management: Addressing challenges arising from melting glaciers is important, although agreements on shared water resources have remained inactive since 2022.
Financing remains a major challenge for climate adaptation
- Both countries continue to rely primarily on public finance: Climate adaptation policies remain heavily dependent on government funding.
- Private sector participation needs to be strengthened: Greater use of blended finance, municipal bonds and credit enhancement can help bridge financing gaps.
- Knowledge sharing can improve climate finance ecosystems: Evidence-based studies and exchanges on financing models can strengthen institutional capacity and regulatory frameworks.
- Joint efforts can shape climate resilience across the Global South: Cooperation can help develop stronger standards, metrics and fiscal frameworks for climate adaptation.
Significance
- Climate resilience provides a low-risk platform for rebuilding bilateral trust: Cooperation in disaster management is less affected by strategic competition.
- Joint action can strengthen disaster preparedness and adaptation: Shared experiences can improve resilience against common climate risks.
- Collaboration can contribute to Global South climate leadership: India and China can jointly promote climate resilience standards and adaptation frameworks.
Challenges
- Geopolitical tensions continue to limit cooperation in several sectors: Collaboration in green technology and critical minerals remains difficult.
- Previous climate agreements have seen limited implementation: Diplomatic disruptions weakened practical cooperation despite multiple agreements.
- Climate adaptation financing remains inadequate: Limited private sector participation and regulatory constraints continue to restrict investment.
- Institutional mechanisms on shared water resources remain inactive: Bilateral agreements on Himalayan water resources ceased functioning in 2022.
Way Forward
- Strengthen cooperation on disaster mitigation and urban resilience: Climate resilience should become a priority area for bilateral engagement.
- Promote scientific research and knowledge exchange: Collaboration should focus on hydrological modelling, climate adaptation and resilient urban planning.
- Revive institutional mechanisms on shared environmental challenges: Existing agreements on water resources and climate cooperation should be operationalised.
- Expand innovative climate financing mechanisms: Greater private sector participation through blended finance, municipal bonds and credit enhancement should be encouraged.
- Build partnerships involving governments, cities and academic institutions: Multi-level cooperation can improve implementation and knowledge sharing.
Conclusion
- Climate change presents an opportunity for constructive India–China engagement: As climate impacts transcend national borders, greater cooperation on resilience and disaster management can provide a practical, low-risk and mutually beneficial pathway for improving bilateral relations.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q. India and China face similar climate vulnerabilities despite geopolitical differences. Discuss how climate resilience and disaster management can serve as avenues for bilateral cooperation while strengthening regional climate governance.
