A window into what we are reading at the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program

Thirst for Relief: Prolonged Drought Intensifies Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis

Afghanistan is the world’s sixth most affected country by climate-related threats—and its present acute challenge is water scarcity, intensified by climate change. The country is heavily reliant on agriculture, which makes up a third of its GDP.

A prolonged drought has severely impacted farmers, forcing them to only grow one crop per year. The country has “little functioning irrigation, [so] Afghanistan relies on snow melting in the mountains to keep its rivers flowing and fields watered during the summer.” Yet, higher temperatures are now reducing river flow.

The Taliban administration is addressing this crisis by constructing a long canal for irrigation. But that solution is years away. In the meantime, with limited foreign aid, many farmers struggle with reduced income—and 15.3 million Afghans are facing food insecurity.

READ | Water and (in-)Security in Afghanistan as the Taliban Take Over

Global Ripples: India’s Rice Export Ban Sends Shockwaves Worldwide

Last month, India banned the export of non-basmati white rice. Domestic reasons—including rising food prices, inflation, and fear of shortages due to El Niño disruptions during the festive season and elections—drove the country to take this step.

India is the world’s biggest rice exporter, contributing almost 40% of global rice trade in 2022. So the ban has led to a global increase in prices, affecting countries dependent on Indian rice. The measure particularly affects the poor in nations like Bangladesh, Nepal, Benin, Senegal, Togo, and Mali.

Global factors like Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the possibility of other major rice-exporting countries (Thailand, Vietnam, and Pakistan) implementing similar bans due to El Niño concerns exacerbate the effects of India’s ban. Its ripples could also lead to worldwide shortages and price increases in various food items and even fuel.

READ | Groundwater Scarcity, Pollution Set India on Perilous Course

Empowering Women in Climate Resilience: Legal and Policy Strategies in Asia-Pacific

Gendered impacts of sudden disasters highlight how climate change exacerbates gender inequalities. While global and regional frameworks acknowledge the need for gender-responsive action in climate change and disaster management, few national laws directly link gender equality commitments to these areas.

Gender has traditionally not been a mainstay of climate-related policies. A new Relief Web report states that “the lack of women in environment-related decision-making processes is also contributing to a lack of focus on gender-based vulnerabilities in the policy sphere.”

Active engagement of women’s groups and integration of their priorities are crucial in climate change and disaster risk management. A national framework approach combining gender equality and climate policies is essential for addressing the underlying drivers of gender inequality.

READ | To Fight Climate Change, Educate and Empower Girls