Jonah Rexer on Advocata Conversations | Ep.16

Jonah discusses the economic imperatives and strategic approaches to climate change adaptation in South Asia, specifically focusing on the findings from the report To Resilience. Jonah highlights that by 2030, 90% of South Asians will face extreme heat, with 20% exposed to flooding. In Sri Lanka, temperatures have risen by 1.5 degrees Celsius since the 1960s. The economic consequences are severe: Heat is estimated to cause a 5% to 10% loss in labour productivity for every degree Celsius increase. Agricultural productivity losses are estimated at approximately 7% per degree Celsius. Under business-as-usual scenarios, Sri Lanka could see a 7% drop in GDP by 2050. Jonah notes that exposure is unequal; urban poor populations are often 20% to 30% more exposed to heat than wealthier areas. However, in rural areas, richer households may be more likely to live in flood-prone regions due to soil fertility.