THE Daily New Nation on Thursday carried a report that said climate experts believe about 15 percent people of Bangladesh would be displaced from their homesteads by 2050 due to the impact of climate change. The environmentalists profoundly said that global warming would trigger catastrophic exodus which might make more than 10 million climate refugees in coastal-belt and riverside areas of the country. Bangladesh is a frontline state in the fight for survival against the impact of global warming, but its preparedness to combat the climate change impact is not visible yet. Bangladesh is less responsible for emitting greenhouse gased than the developed nations but faces greater consequences. The lack of preparedness to combat the impact, shortage of fund and technical knowledge, limited international assistance, and dearth in coordination between government and NGOs have to be addressed before the disaster hits.
The warming climate will lead to sea levels rising and more extreme heat and more intense cyclones, threatening food production, livelihoods, and infrastructure as well as slowing the poverty reduction. Cyclone Sidr had exposed 3.45 million households to inundation. A potential return of a similar cyclone in 2050 could expose 9.7 million people to more than 3 meters of inundation affecting agriculture and lives. Experts said one in every seven people of the country will be displaced due to climate extreme events by 2050. About 160 million people were displaced globally due to climate change-induced natural disasters during 2008-2013. So, Bangladesh has genuine reasons to be worried.
To be fair, the very advanced nations, who are still dithering over the issue, need to see reason and accept their responsibility in the matter and grant funds to help the climate refugees and nations. The polluters should make a firm commitment to allocate adequate funds in order to help out the most vulnerable nations in their struggle to save themselves as well as the world at large from an impending cataclysm. At the same time the people of the country are highly resilient to facing all kinds of adversity, including climatic ones.
About 20 million people in the coastal areas of Bangladesh are already affected by salinity in drinking water. Rising sea levels and more intense cyclones and storm surges could intensify the contamination of groundwater and surface water causing more diarrhoea outbreaks. The government, NGOs, researchers and people of Bangladesh are taking actions to tackle the adverse impacts of climate change around the country and across a range of ecosystems and vulnerability types. Is it enough for us?
The warming climate will lead to sea levels rising and more extreme heat and more intense cyclones, threatening food production, livelihoods, and infrastructure as well as slowing the poverty reduction. Cyclone Sidr had exposed 3.45 million households to inundation. A potential return of a similar cyclone in 2050 could expose 9.7 million people to more than 3 meters of inundation affecting agriculture and lives. Experts said one in every seven people of the country will be displaced due to climate extreme events by 2050. About 160 million people were displaced globally due to climate change-induced natural disasters during 2008-2013. So, Bangladesh has genuine reasons to be worried.
To be fair, the very advanced nations, who are still dithering over the issue, need to see reason and accept their responsibility in the matter and grant funds to help the climate refugees and nations. The polluters should make a firm commitment to allocate adequate funds in order to help out the most vulnerable nations in their struggle to save themselves as well as the world at large from an impending cataclysm. At the same time the people of the country are highly resilient to facing all kinds of adversity, including climatic ones.
About 20 million people in the coastal areas of Bangladesh are already affected by salinity in drinking water. Rising sea levels and more intense cyclones and storm surges could intensify the contamination of groundwater and surface water causing more diarrhoea outbreaks. The government, NGOs, researchers and people of Bangladesh are taking actions to tackle the adverse impacts of climate change around the country and across a range of ecosystems and vulnerability types. Is it enough for us?
