South Asian University (SAU), established in 2010 under the SAARC charter, strives to address regional challenges to foster shared prosperity. The region’s unique climate-related challenges necessitate a dedicated Centre to address issues such as climate change, energy transition, and sustainability. The impacts of climate change in South Asia are severe, affecting biodiversity, human health, and livelihoods. This urgent situation requires effective tools, skills, and collaborative interventions involving a variety of stakeholders.

While India hosts several institutions addressing climate change and sustainability, there is a noticeable absence of an integrated regional approach. South Asia, as a region also faces significant gaps in skills and knowledge, which hampers effective climate negotiations at regional and international levels. Globally, similar Center’s have however proven successful, underscoring the need for specialized academic, research and outreach Center in the region to harness international expertise and resources.

Envisaged objectives of the Center include the following, among others: 

1. focus on climate change, green transition, and sustainability. It aims to integrate academic programs, skills training, and public policy initiatives to combat climate impacts effectively in the region. The Centre will operate autonomously, fostering partnerships and collaborations across South Asia and beyond. It will provide education, training, and technical knowledge production, serving as a hub for research, innovation, and advanced training.

2. feature a Technology & Innovation Hub to showcase green technologies and best practices, and a Climate Data Analytics & Modelling Hub for policy applications. It will produce policy reports, case studies, and training programs, with the goal of becoming a leading Centre in the region within three to five years (2028-2030).

3. collaborate with stakeholders across South Asia to address climate and sustainability issues through research, capacity development, technology integration, and policymaking, drawing from global best practices and developing new ones in the region. The Centre would aim to build a regional culture of sustainability that can serve as an aspirational model for communities and organizations in the Global South.

4. position SAU as a thought leader in the South Asian academic, research, and advocacy ecosystem in the areas of climate and sustainability, making it a respected partner and contributor to regional ecosystem and the broader knowledge community, and 

5. adopt an innovative operational model, seeking funding from partners and collaborators of choice including governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, and industry partners, among others. It would ideally be a revenue Centre, attracting grants and support from various agencies, and engaging high-profile professionals and experts in its activities.

The above note is assistive in nature and invited experts are requested to reflect along the lines to help shaping of this initiative with their ideas, insights, reflections and domain experiences. 

The objectives enumerated are also indicative and do not attempt at providing an exhaustive list for purposes of fruitful discussions during the Focus Group Meeting.