Photo : BIMSTEC

DHAKA, Oct 26, 2025 (BSS)- BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey has urged stronger regional cooperation to address climate-induced security risks, stressing the need for greater adaptation efforts, better access to climate finance and technology, and inclusive multi-stakeholder partnerships across the Bay of Bengal region.

Speaking at the 7th Berlin Climate and Security Conference 2025 held in Berlin on October 23, Pandey said addressing climate change is no longer a matter of choice but “a strategic necessity for peace, stability and sustainable development,” which requires coordinated action at national, regional and global levels.

The BIMSTEC Secretary General was participating in a high-level panel titled “Beyond Borders: Regional and Plurilateral Climate Security in Action,” which explored how regional organisations can complement multilateral efforts to confront climate-induced threats through context-specific cooperation, said a BIMSTEC press release here today. 

Highlighting the severe impact of unpredictable weather and shifting climate patterns on BIMSTEC member states, Pandey said such phenomena undermine food, health and human security across the region.

“The importance of regional organisations such as BIMSTEC cannot be overstated,” he noted, adding that BIMSTEC’s work complements global multilateral frameworks and directly contributes to collective resilience.

He pointed to BIMSTEC’s achievements in advancing cooperation in key sectors such as disaster management, environment and climate change, mountain economy, energy, agriculture and food security.

Pandey urged for “stronger emphasis on adaptation, enhanced access to climate finance and technology, promotion of local and community-based solutions, and strengthening of multi-stakeholder partnerships” to effectively address climate change-induced security risks.

Reaffirming BIMSTEC’s commitment to regional and global collaboration, the Secretary General said the organisation will continue to forge meaningful partnerships with non-member states and international institutions to realise “a secure, sustainable and climate-resilient future for the region.”

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) brings together seven countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand – to promote regional cooperation in seven core sectors including agriculture and food security, connectivity, environment and climate change, people-to-people contact, science and technology, security, and trade and investment.