Coastal resilienceBangladesh confronting climate change head on

Published 11 November 2016

Three decades ago, Bangladeshi scientists recognized that global warming would produce more destructive cyclones, heavier rain, and rising sea levels. Combined with the fact that 10 percent of the country is less than two meters above sea level, it was evident that something needed to be done to prevent future catastrophes and protect the lives of Bangladeshi citizens. A new book, which demonstrates how Bangladeshis are confronting climate change head on.

David Hulme from the University of Manchester has co-authored a new book, which demonstrates how Bangladeshis are confronting climate change head on by playing key roles in international agreements and dealing with the environmental damage caused by cyclones and floods.

Three decades ago, Bangladeshi scientists recognized that global warming would produce more destructive cyclones, heavier rain, and rising sea levels. Combined with the fact that 10 percent of the country is less than two meters above sea level, it was evident that something needed to be done to prevent future catastrophes and protect the lives of Bangladeshi citizens.

U Manchester says that scientists and government officials took a two-pronged approach. Firstly, they prioritized international climate change talks, sending skilled teams that mixed the best experts from the Bangladeshi government, charities, universities, and the private sector. The country played a key role in the Paris Climate Agreement, which came into force on 4 November and makes all countries responsible for reducing greenhouse gases - not just those in rich western nations.

Secondly, they accelerated programs to deal with environmental challenges, which they knew would be made worse by climate change. For example, new rice varieties have made the country self-sufficient, but even newer strains will deal with higher heat and salt intrusion. Local people also realized that the millions of tons of silt deposited annually in the country presented an opportunity to raise the land to match the rise of sea levels.

“When 500,000 Bangladeshis fled to huge concrete cyclone shelters to escape Cyclone Roanu in May this year, it was hardly reported in the western media,” said Hulme. “Shelters and warning systems have already cut the death rate from super cyclones by 98 percent, but because few people died and the shelters were designed and built by Bangladeshis, not by aid agencies, few outsiders are aware of the striking progress that the country has made.”

 Read more in Manoj Roy, Joseph Hanlon, and David Hulme, Bangladesh Confronts Climate Change: Keeping Our Heads above Water (Anthem Press, November 2016)