India’s Role in Ethical Environmental Cooperation in South Asia

Year : 2025 | Volume : 14 | Issue : 02 | Page : 36 48
    By

    Divyaraj Singh Solanki,

  • Hemant Sunder Saurabh Singh,

  1. Student, Department of Political Science, Delhi University, Delhi, India
  2. Student, Department of Political Science, Delhi University, Delhi, India

Abstract

South Asia is one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in the world, facing serious environmental challenges, such as climate change, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, water shortage and transboundary pollution. These threats have had considerable and far-reaching consequences that relate to the countries in question. The best way forward for regional environmental governance is therefore a mix of national and regional collaboration. In addressing these challenges, India is the largest and most powerful country in South Asia and has great potential to help address these challenges. But there are still questions about India’s responsibility, how much she can do for it, and how national interests might conflict with regional sustainability. This paper investigates India’s role in ethical environmental cooperation in South Asia, its commitments, weaknesses and policy efforts, as well as the environmental issues in South Asia, the need for collaborative action, and India’s legal, historical and international obligations encumbered in the field of sustainability. It also discusses the ethical challenges facing India’s role in biodiversity conservation, climate finance and transboundary implications for the environment, and assesses India’s participation in regional environmental agreements, its leadership in renewable energy diplomacy, and the frictions created by political and economic rivalry – particularly with China. Since India does both a moral and a strategic duty of leading sustainability in regional environmental co-operation, to achieve sustained development a fair burden-sharing mechanism and inclusive governance mechanism must be established. Ethical diplomacy and scientific/economic collaboration can play an essential role in achieving the long-term sustainability of the environment in South Asia and the paper suggests policy recommendations for strengthening India’s role as a responsible environmental leader while maintaining fair and effective cooperation with neighboring states.

Keywords: South Asia, Environment, Ethical Dilemmas, Biodiversity, Climate Change

[This article belongs to Research & Reviews : Journal of Ecology ]

How to cite this article:
Divyaraj Singh Solanki, Hemant Sunder Saurabh Singh. India’s Role in Ethical Environmental Cooperation in South Asia. Research & Reviews : Journal of Ecology. 2025; 14(02):36-48.
How to cite this URL:
Divyaraj Singh Solanki, Hemant Sunder Saurabh Singh. India’s Role in Ethical Environmental Cooperation in South Asia. Research & Reviews : Journal of Ecology. 2025; 14(02):36-48. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjoe/article=2025/view=209230


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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 14
Issue 02
Received 21/03/2025
Accepted 29/04/2025
Published 30/04/2025
Publication Time 40 Days
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