Kathmandu has been beautified like never before to welcome the delegates from all South Asian nations for 18^th South Asian Association for regional Cooperation (SAARC) Conference- head of States level conference on 26-27 November, 2014. Greenary (rather artificial and temporary) has enhanced beauty of roads and infrastructure of the capital-Kathmandu. The delegates have already praised the beauty of Kathmandu and arrangements for the conference. While the delegates are busy admiring the beauty of the organizer, I tried to gain some insights on environmental actions proposed by SAARC nations during its previous conference. I was happy and demotivated at the same time.

South Asian countries are highly vulnerable to climate change. Maldives, Nepal and Bangladesh are amongst the most vulnerable countries. These countries face impacts like flood, landsides, avalanches, forest fire, GLOF producing subsequent impact upon agriculture and livelihood in all cases. Though there have been agreements to combat climate change the execution of the agreement have been almost zero.

The 16^th SAARC conference in Bhutan in 2010 celebrating 25 glorious years of SAARC concentrated on Climate change and majors to minimize its risk. The conference ended with 37 point declaration with the slogan "Towards a Green and happy SAARC" made following declaration of environmental concern:

-focus on water management and conservation and development of cooperative projects at regional level in terms of exchange of best practices and knowledge, capacity building and transfer of eco-friendly technology.

-The Leaders, deeply concerned by the extent of environmental degradation in the region, reiterated the importance of sustainably managing environment and development through adoption of eco-friendly approaches and technologies and that South Asia should become a world leader in low-carbon technology and renewable energies. They welcomed the signing of the SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment and called for its early ratification and implementation.

-The Leaders, concerned by the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, called for effective regional programmes in early warning, preparedness and management including response and rehabilitation while remaining within their respective national laws and procedures. They called for further negotiations and early finalization of the SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters.

But it was not the first time SAARC nations raised their environmental concerns. In 2008 during 15^th SAARC Conference in Dhaka the countries agreed to go hand in hand in environmental concerns. The highest concern was on the impact of climate change on Hindu Kush Himalayas and its subsequent impact upon livelihood, prone to famine, disaster and food scarcity. The countries agreed to tackle collaboratively in these issues.

However though there has been a glimpse of concern over environmental issues and some promising agreements among the countries these declarations have failed to come out of the declaration chart.

This year so far there has not been heard of the environmental concern in the conference except the delegates mentioning in their speech. Today, November 17, 2014, the delegates are signing the declaration. Hopefully they will raise the environmental concern and more importantly execute the declaration in future.

Source: Kantipur daily, Nov 26, 2014 and Ministry of external affairs, Government of India