On February 24, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosted a conversation with Saleem H. Ali, University of Queensland’s Chair in Sustainable Resource Development, entitled “Data Diplomacy in South Asia: Water, Natural Hazards, and Regionalism.”

Effective regional planning in the Indus Basin argues for increased transboundary data sharing on environmental indicators. Many analysts believe that sharing hydrological data across political borders is essential to ensure more accurate and effective risk management mechanisms. The impacts of climate change and recent natural disasters in South Asia suggest that regional cooperation is not merely a peace-building ideal but a pragmatic strategy to address impending environmental challenges and non-traditional security threats facing the region broadly. Professor Ali discussed water insecurity, data sharing, and regionalism, drawing on insights from his recently co-authored book Environmental Diplomacy: Negotiating More Effective International Agreements.