It is alarming to learn from a World Bank report that because of climate change, cyclone-induced flooding could cause damage worth US$ 570 million in Bangladesh’s coastal areas every year. Now-a-days, we can notice how seasonal features are gradually changing in the country. We are experiencing hotter summers, unpredictable monsoons, and unexpected heavy rains that lead to numerous hazards such as flooding and landslides.
The new World Bank report, released on Monday, highlights the country’s journey to reducing vulnerability to climate change and recommends further actions towards improving the resilience of its coastal region. With increasing climate risks, Bangladesh needs to continue investments to strengthen climate resilience to protect whatever the development it gains. However, a rapidly growing population, environmental degradation, and increasing climate risks are putting pressure on the existing natural and infrastructure systems in the coastal zone which is home to about 40 million people.
Meanwhile, it has been estimated by different international bodies that by the year 2050, one in every seven people in Bangladesh will be displaced by climate change. Especially, with a projected 19.6 inch rise in sea level, Bangladesh may lose approximately 11 per cent of its land by then and up to 18 million people may have to migrate because of sea-level rise alone.
Hence Bangladesh is a country with a vast coastline; the negative effects of saltwater intrusion are enormous. The latest study by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Ohio State University on “Coastal Climate Change, Soil Salinity and Human Migration in Bangladesh” says Chattogram and Khulna are likely to see the highest intra-district additional migration, estimated to be between 15,000 and 30,000 migrants per year. On the other hand, according to a draft UN assessment, tens of millions of people in the belt will face starvation, drought, and illness in the coming decades.
However, the World Bank recommends strengthening the resilience of the coastal region, recognising local knowledge and utilising state-of-art modeling tools. Currently, with an ongoing programme of $1.9 billion, it is helping Bangladesh to build climate resilience through multipurpose cyclone shelters, embankments, early warning systems, weather services, and afforestation.
Apart from that, we can reduce the harmful effects of climate change by carefully excavating canals and rivers, planting trees, and reducing fuel consumption. Furthermore, everyone should be serious about addressing this terrible situation.
