Colonel Nalin Herath Presents Insights on Climate Security at
Regional Conference in Dhaka
February 28, 2025
The Acting Director General and Director (Research) at the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS), as well as the Director of Media and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, Colonel Nalin Herath, recently delivered a compelling presentation at the regional conference titled "Droughts, Floods and Fault Lines: Climate Security in South Asia." The conference, held at the Renaissance Hotel in Dhaka, was organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) on February 24–25, with support from the European Union.
The event brought together policymakers, experts and key stakeholders from six South Asian nations-Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh-to engage in high-level discussions on the intersection of climate change and regional security.
Attending the conference with the aegis of Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Colonel Herath spoke on "Powering Peace: Renewable Energy for Climate Security in South Asia," emphasizing the financial aspects of addressing climate change. He elaborated on blended finance models, pay-for-performance (P4P) mechanisms, climate bonds, green bonds, public-private partnerships and the Energy as a Service (EaaS) model. Additionally, he explored the potential of cross-border renewable energy networks and the establishment of a South Asia Power Pool (SAPP) to enhance regional energy integration.
Recognizing the challenges to implementing these concepts, Colonel Herath identified financial and economic barriers, technical and infrastructure limitations, political and regulatory hurdles and socio-cultural constraints. He underscored that overcoming these challenges is crucial for advancing sustainable and secure energy solutions in the region.
The conference opened with remarks from Bernd Spanier, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, who highlighted the significance of the event. He noted the valuable participation of security force representatives, stressing the importance of collaboration between civil society and security institutions in addressing climate-related threats.
Prominent speakers at the conference included Air Vice Marshal Mahmud Hussain (Retd), Former Ambassador and distinguished expert at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University (BSMRAAU), Dr. Salma Malik, Professor and Director of External Linkages, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Lobzang Dorji, PhD Research Scholar, Bhutan, DCAF-Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, Bharat Bhushan, South Asia Editor and Associate at the Australian National University, Iffat Anjum, Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) and Major General Binaj Basnyat (Retd), Strategic Analyst, Nepalese Army.
In his opening and closing statements, Major General ANM Muniruzzaman (Retd), President of BIPSS, addressed human displacement and climate change as existential threats. He warned that by 2050, an estimated 20 to 30 million people in Bangladesh could be displaced due to climate-related factors. Therefore, he urged stakeholders to invest in climate resilience, sustainable development and international cooperation to have collective mechanisms in order to mitigate security threats posed by climate change.
The sessions were moderated by distinguished professionals, including Mizan R. Khan, Technical Lead, IDC Universities Consortium on Climate Change, Farah Kabir, Country Director, Action Aid Bangladesh, Parvez Karim Abbasi, Assistant Professor of Economics, East West University and Shafqat Munir, Senior Research Fellow, BIPSS.
The conference witnessed active participation from Tri-Force members, police personnel, academics, retired diplomats, former civil and military officials, journalists and other stakeholders. Their contributions enriched the discussions, fostering meaningful exchanges on the pressing issue of climate security in South Asia.
