Synergies and struggles: Water security and climate action in South Asia’s quest for SDG 6 and SDG 13

South Asia, home to nearly a quarter of the global population, faces significant challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This review paper analyzes the region’s progress in addressing water scarcity, inadequate sanitation, and climate vulnerabilities through a combination of bibliometric analysis, policy reports, and case studies. The bibliometric analysis focuses on literature from 2016 to 2024, selected from the Scopus database using keywords related to SDG 6 and SDG 13. Tools such as Biblioshiny, VOS viewer, and Excel were employed to visualize trends, collaboration patterns, and gaps in the research landscape. The analysis reveals an increasing volume of research on water and climate issues in South Asia (55 % increase in research publications on SDG 6 and SDG 13 between 2016 and 2024). Keyword co‑occurrence chi‑square tests highlighted significant thematic clusters around “water management” and “climate resilience,” and linear regression revealed an average annual growth rate of 8.2 % in SDG publications. Moreover, while cross-border collaboration within South Asia is improving, significant gaps remain in areas such as climate data monitoring and the implementation of integrated water resource management (IWRM), hindering effective policy formulation and progress tracking toward SDG targets. Water access and sanitation continue to represent major challenges throughout the region. Despite the increase in research, water access remains uneven: 92 % of urban South Asians have safely managed drinking water compared to 64 % of rural residents, and only 58 % of rural households have improved sanitation. Cross‑border collaboration within South Asia grew by 32 %, yet gaps persist in integrated water resource management (IWRM) and real‑time climate monitoring. Extreme weather events, floods displacing over 5 million people annually, and droughts affecting 12 % of cropland, further strain infrastructure. We recommend targeted investments in climate‑resilient water and sanitation systems, adoption of IWRM strategies, and a regional data‑sharing platform to support evidence‑based policy and advance progress toward the 2030 SDG targets.