Bangladesh is recognised internationally for its cutting-edge achievements in addressing climate change. As reported by this daily on Thursday, Bangladesh has been spending $2 billion a year since 2010 due to address climate change. However, despite the considerable progress that Bangladesh has made over the last decade, the country faces continuous challenges associated with climate change.
Climate change affects the whole world but because of the geographic location, Bangladesh has long been in the eye of the storm. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in the world. Here the curse of climate change hits in the forms of rising sea level, natural disasters, economic breakdown, prolonged monsoon, frequent changes in weather pattern and temperature and so on. Reportedly, by 2050, with a projected 50 cm rise in sea level, Bangladesh may lose approximately 11 percent of its arable land, affecting an estimated 15 million people living in its low-lying coastal region.
We should realise the need for formulating coherent and
research-backed policy, legal and institutional framework
to address climate migration
One of the most adverse and prolonged impacts of climate change has been noticed in the form of climate-migration. It is apprehended that climate change may displace some 143 million people by 2050. Experts are of the opinion that by 2050, one in every seven people in Bangladesh will be displaced by climate change.
Human settlements have been affected in Bangladesh due to extreme climate events over past years. One of the most adverse and prolonged impact of climate change in Bangladesh has been observed in the form of climate-migration. Hence, we should realise the need for formulating coherent and research-backed policy, legal and institutional framework to address climate migration. We need to devise Immediate measurers to protect people from environmental risks and stop unwanted migration due to climate change. Also, there is a need to prioritise the districts vulnerable to climate change and establish a district-level funding mechanism focusing on capacity building of women, young people and children.
