Climate change in Bangladesh is a pressing and multifaceted issue that poses significant challenges to the nation's environment, economy, and social fabric. Situated in South Asia and home to a population of over 160 million people, Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change due to its geographical location, topography, and high population density. Here is a comprehensive description of climate change in Bangladesh:
1. **Geographical Vulnerability:** Bangladesh's low-lying geography makes it highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, as it is crisscrossed by numerous rivers and deltas. Rising sea levels, increased cyclonic activities, and changing precipitation patterns all contribute to a heightened risk of coastal inundation, erosion, and flooding.
2. **Rising Sea Levels:** One of the most immediate and severe consequences of climate change in Bangladesh is the rising sea levels. This phenomenon threatens the livelihoods and homes of millions of people living in coastal areas, as saltwater intrusion into arable land has detrimental effects on agriculture, particularly rice cultivation, which is a staple crop in the country.
3. **Cyclones and Storms:** Bangladesh is prone to cyclones and storms, and climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of these natural disasters. These events often result in massive damage to infrastructure, loss of lives, and displacement of communities, which further exacerbates the country's vulnerability.
4. **Changing Rainfall Patterns:** Climate change has brought about erratic and unpredictable rainfall patterns, including prolonged dry spells and excessive rainfall during the monsoon season. These variations significantly impact agriculture, leading to decreased crop yields, food shortages, and water scarcity issues.
5. **Impact on Agriculture:** Agriculture is a major contributor to Bangladesh's economy, providing livelihoods for a significant portion of the population. Climate change-induced events like floods, droughts, and salinity intrusion have a direct negative impact on crop production and food security, threatening the nation's economic stability.
6. **Health Concerns:** Climate change in Bangladesh also presents health challenges. Increasing temperatures and altered weather patterns create favorable conditions for the spread of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue and malaria. The frequency of heatwaves also poses risks to vulnerable populations.
7. **Displacement and Migration:** The combination of rising sea levels and extreme weather events has led to the displacement of communities in Bangladesh, forcing many to migrate to urban areas in search of better livelihoods and safety. This has placed additional strain on already congested cities and limited resources.
8. **Efforts and Adaptation:** The Bangladeshi government, along with international organizations and NGOs, has taken measures to address climate change impacts.
4. Objective
1. Climate change is a paramount concern for this generation and possibly all of human history.
2. Bangladesh is actively pursuing a low-carbon growth path, aiming to enhance resilience to
climate change while promoting national development.
3. Bangladesh is among the top 10 most vulnerable nations to climate change, facing a possible
threat of submersion by the end of the century.
4. Government and non-governmental organizations play pivotal roles in addressing climate
change in Bangladesh.
5. The study in question combines a literature review on climate change, with a specific focus
on its effects in Bangladesh, and includes recent research conducted by the author.
6. Introduction(contd.)
• Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels emitting additional green house gas
emissions from soils, forests, and wetlands, leading to more warming.
• A one-meter rise in sea level could, for instance, flood 17% of Bangladesh's land area
• Recent studies have found that up to 12% of the world GDP is already at risk from
existing climate patterns
• Former Secretary-General of UN, Ban Ki-moon affirmed that climate change is an
"unholy brew“.
8. Climate changes in Bangladesh
• Bangladesh is projected to be 0.5 to 0.2°C warmer than today by the year 2030.
• A one-meter rise in sea level could, for instance, flood 17% of Bangladesh's land area
• Cyclones, drought and earth-quake are more frequent
• Rising salinity in biggest Mangrove-forest threatens the ecosystem of Sundarban.
• Greenhouse gas is pilling up in the atmosphere.
• Increasing greenhouse gas is depleting the ozone layer and thus giving access to many
harmful entities.
10. Result of Bangladesh’s climate change
• Bangladesh is set to disappear under the waves as mentioned by US government's NASA
space agency.
• The country has already begun to feel the effects of the climate change as flood periods
have become longer and the cyclones, droughts and earth quakes.
• Bangladesh is on course to lose 17% of its land and 30% of its food production and as a
result poverty will increase
• Since 1970, according to a statistics, about 39 million people have been displaced by
major natural calamities like flood and cyclone in the country till 2009.
11. Result of Bangladesh’s climate change(contd.)
• Rising sea level and salinity in Sundarban extinct the Bengal tiger and hundred of bird
species.
12.
13. Challenges of Bangladesh’s climate change
• Bangladesh situated in largest delta in the world with five major river system.
• Due to geographical situation Bangladesh is generally is very flood prone area.
• Bangladesh is the most densely populated country with increasing birth rate.
• The population of Dhaka is growing at a rate of 4.4% per year, one of the highest in the
world.
• Bangladesh has a scare funding for fighting with climate change.
14.
15. Conclusion with Preventive measures
• Improved surveillance and good public health information must be the top priority of
Government, will help disaster management.
• International Co-operation needed to effectively handle this global problem.
• Rehabilitation and proper management of climate migrant necessary from Government
side.
• A fund with good amount of money for managing the expense of climate change is
obligatory.
• Raising public awareness and controlling environmental degradation must be put-forth.
