Nearly 1.8 billion people in South Asia, including Sri Lankans, are expected to face extreme heat risks by 2030, according to a new World Bank report.
The report, titled “From Risk to Resilience: Helping People and Firms Adapt in South Asia,” identifies South Asia as the most climate-vulnerable region among emerging markets and developing economies.
By 2030, about 89% of the region’s population will be exposed to severe heat, with outdoor work already limited to just six safe hours per day in 2021—expected to worsen to seven or eight hours daily by 2050.
More than 60% of surveyed households and businesses in South Asia have experienced extreme weather over the last five years, and over 75% anticipate similar events in the coming decade.
Despite these risks, adaptation remains limited by income constraints and market failures. Although 80% of households and 63% of firms reported taking some adaptive action, most rely on basic measures like rainwater harvesting and housing reinforcements.
Only 1.1% of households have used weather insurance as a climate adaptation tool, highlighting the lack of access to advanced coping mechanisms.
Heat exposure has also increased off-farm wage work and migration in some areas, suggesting economic displacement caused by climate stress.
World Bank Vice President for South Asia, Martin Raiser, emphasized the need for urgent policy action, including expanding access to finance, improving land and labor markets, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure.
Franziska Ohnsorge, Chief Economist for South Asia, noted that private sector adaptation could reduce one-third of projected climate damage, but only if governments remove regulatory barriers and support adaptive capacity.
Overall, the report underscores that while grassroots adaptation is underway, it remains insufficient without targeted, large-scale public policy interventions.
