WHILE releasing its annual report 2016, BRAC — the country’s one of the most prestigious Non-government organisation has made the disclosure that some 27 million people are “predicted to be at risk” due to sea-level rise in Bangladesh by 2050.
Not only two-thirds of the country is less than five metres above sea-level, but also incidence of floods with more damaging patterns are increasingly destroying homes, croplands and fast demolishing our various infrastructures. Moreover, approximately 10,000 hectares of land are lost every year due to river-bank erosion resulting in shrinking of agricultural land by 1 percent annually. However, from incessant rains to flooded rice fields, the economic impact of global warming has been keenly felt – at least in this year’s repeated environmental setbacks. Instead of getting panicked it’s urgent we collectively thrive to increase awareness campaigns throughout the country. Coupled with the government initiatives we also have to create newer coping strategies to address rising sea levels.
Not to forget, in the face of a steady 1.2 percent population growth demand for food is also rising, and regular loss of land due to environmental disasters induced by climate change will automatically lead to food shortage. More specifically, rising seawater is wreaking havoc in our coastal localities. Data from Scientific study show that sea-level in south-western Bangladesh increased by roughly 7 millimetres per year from 1980 to 2003, well above the global average of 3 millimetres.
The point, however, how seriously are we taking the challenges right now?
We surely have the government’s concerned ministry, NGOs and other stakeholders to tackle the situation, but there is a clear lack of coordinated approach. Additionally, a process of facilitated adaptation mechanism should be implemented to give disaster prone farmers means for surviving and adapting. Providing education and skills for their children is essential. Part of the education should also incorporate lessons on becoming more resilient to climate change.
Rather sanguinely, in the face of growing climactic threats the local communities have already become more resilient despite all odds. The picture is not all too bleak, since a number of joint efforts are implementing under Community Climate Change Projects in many areas. These groups is reported to have raise homes to prevent daily inundation, help residents find climate-adaptive alternative to livelihoods, support harvesting and storing of safe freshwater. There are many other steps that people have been asked to learn to live though climate induced challenges. There is no doubt we have to make future planning in the light of the BRAC report that deserves actions at all level.
