Hello Dear Steemians,
Here I am MH Shoumik Coming with my Very First blog about Upmewhale Writing Contest! Global Warming and Climate Change, What Can Be Done? In this post I am going to tell about many important information and analysis of Climate Change. I also describe the present situation of Bangladesh for this affair.
What is Climate Change?
Climate change, the effects of greenhouse effect and global warming, is out to alter the global map with its devouring prospects of sending a number of countries under the waves. Unfortunately yet unavoidably, Bangladesh stands at the forefront of climate forays. Its land, water and water are being severity affected by undesirable climatic change. Alarmingly, the dangers are to be intensified unless the trend is reversed. However, local initiative will hardly be enough to offset the grave concerns of unintended climatic changes in Bangladesh. The changes will also impact the socioeconomic conditions of the country, putting the future of the nation on the line. Some ominous signs are already there for the concerned to respond with required amount of fervour.
| Anthropogenic Causes | Natural Causes |
| Chemical Fertilizer | Sunspot and Solar Cycle |
| Deforestation | Ocean Currents |
| Increase Vehicles | Forest Fire |
| Emissions of GHG | Volcanic Eruptions |
| Industries | Meteorites |
| Emissions of CO2 | Methane Emissions Form Animals |
Climate Change Impacts in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of the world’s most populated countries, being home to over 160 million. It has been placed at the 7th position among the countries vulnerable to natural disasters due to climate change. Cyclones, floods and droughts have long been part of the country's history and these occurrences have intensified in recent years. Over the past few decades, rapid reduction of biodiversity has become a global concern and Bangladesh is no exception. Due to country’s tremendous population pressure, rural poverty and unemployment problem, the natural resource base has been alarmingly decreasing. To alter this situation and to preserve the ecosystem and biological diversity, various strategies, policies and institutional initiatives have been taken by different government and non-government agencies. Bangladesh is signatory to many international treaties, laws, legislations and policies related
to conserving biological diversity. Bangladesh has signed five major conventions and agreements related to
biodiversity conservation. Bangladesh has placed confronting the challenge of climate change at the core of its development agenda through different policy initiatives. These initiatives, from climate change adaptation measures to ecosystem preservation legislation, mean that the current and the future generations of Bangladeshis are better prepared to address climate change risks and that they can reverse the impacts of environmental degradation.
Natural Impacts of Climate Change
Impact of Climate Change in Bangladesh is an extremely crucial issue and Bangladesh is one of the most
vulnerable nations to the impacts of Global Climate change in the coming decades. Bangladesh is watered by a
total of 57 trans-boundary rivers coming down to it: 54 form neighboring India and 3 from Myanmar, and situated
at the bottom of the mighty GBM river system (comprising the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna). Nearly
a quarter of Bangladesh is less than seven feet above sea level. More than one thousand people are living per km
with the national population increasing by 2 million people each year.
Global warming & Sea-level Rise
★ Bangladesh is identified as being at specific risk from climate change due to its exposure to sea-level
rise and extreme events and concentrated multidimensional poverty.
★ Bangladesh’s population at risk of sea level rise is predicted to grow to 27 million by 2050.
★ Vulnerability to cyclones is also expected to increase, but multiple opportunities can converge to
facilitate adaptation.
★ Bangladesh lost an estimated 5.9% of GDP to storms form 1998-2009.
Flood
On Climate change, the Earth’s temperature is likely to increase by 2 to 4.5°C by the end of the century. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), sea levels are expected to rise by 0.18 to 0.59 meters during that time. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that if polar ice continues to melt in step with global average temperature, sea levels could increase by 0.49 to 0.79 meters by
- IPCC findings also states that a 45 cm sea-level rise will inundate almost 17% of the territory of Bangladesh and will displace 3.5 million population of coastal regions
Cyclones
The scientific evidence indicates that warmer sea surface temperatures tend to generate longer and more intense cyclones. Nearly every year, cyclones hit the country’s coastal regions in the early summer (April-May) or late rainy season (October-November). Between 1877 and 1995, Bangladesh was hit by 154 cyclones, including 43 severe cyclonic storms, 43 cyclonic storms, and 68 tropical depressions. Since 1995, 5 severe cyclones have hit the country’s coast.
Draught
Every five years, Bangladesh is affected by the major country-wide droughts. However, local droughts occur regularly and affect crop production. The agricultural drought, linked to soil moisture scarcity, occurs at different stages of crop growth, development and reproduction. Monsoon failure often brings famine to the affected regions and as a result crop production reduces drastically.
River Bank Erosion
The rivers of Bangladesh drain the run-off from the upstream catchment area of 1.7 million sq. km. Most of the huge quantity of water flows during monsoon. As a consequence, floods are common phenomena in Bangladesh of which 18-22 percent of area is submerged by river and train water during the monsoon season. Floodplains are located in the north-western, central, south central and north-eastern regions because of the existing rive network of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Profile Bangladesh accounts for just 0.35% of global emissions
7th most vulnerable to natural disasters due to climate change Bangladesh has pledged an unconditional 5% greenhouse gas emissions cut by 2030.
The gases which cause greenhouse effect are known as greenhouse gas. Of the gases that are contributing to an enhanced greenhouse effect. Carbon di-oxide (CO2) makes up the largest portion, followed by methane. Nitrous oxide, and the Chloral-fluoro-carbons (CFC). The main human activities that affect the sources and sinks of CO2 are fossil fuel use and changes in land use such as deforestation. The share of various greenhouse gases in the greenhouse effect is CO2-49%, methane 18%, CFC-14% nitrous oxide 6% and other gases 13%. It may be mentioned here that the naturally occurring greenhouse effects is essential for the existence of the earth. What is the issue today, however, is not this naturally occurring greenhouse effect but the enhanced greenhouse effect in recent times. According to the latest assessment Report form the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are unprecedented in at least the last 8,00,000 years. Their effects together with those of other anthropogenic drivers, have been detected throughout the climate system and are extremely likely to have been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.” The report indicated that during the 21st century the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 0.3 to 1.7°C (0.5 to 3.1°F) for their lowest emissions scenario and 2.6 to 4.8°C (4.7 to 8.6°F) for the highest emissions scenario.
Greenhouse Effect: Global warming loop
CO2 emissions of various countries
Before the industrial revolution, levels of atmospheric CO2 were around 280 parts per million (PPM). By 2013, that level had breached the 400 PPM mark for the first time. On 3rd June 2019 it stood at 414.40 PPM.
Rank ➡️ Country ➡️ Percentage
1 China 25%
2 United States 16%
3 European Union 10%
4 India 06%
5 Russia 05%
Climate Change Impacts:
Bangladesh has been recognized for over a decade as being one of the world’s most climate vulnerable countries, due to its location on the delta of their major rivers and its dense and relatively poor population.
Food Insecurity
In the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia, there could be a decrease of about 50% in the most favorable and high yielding wheat area due to heat stress if CO2 levels are doubled. In terms of risks of increasing heat stress, current temperatures are already approaching critical levels during the susceptible stages of the rice plant in Bangladesh is march-June.
Seawater inundation has also become a major problem for traditional agriculture. In a low crop-productivity scenario, Bangladesh would experience a net increase in poverty of 15% by 2030.
Agriculture and Fisheries
Bangladesh economy is highly reliant on agriculture, with two thirds of the population engaged (directly or indirectly) on agricultural activities. The adverse effects of climate change on agricultural production would have a devastating impact on the national economy. Additional impacts of climate change such as-extreme temperature, drought, and salinity intrusion also contribute to the declining crop yields in Bangladesh. Changes in the temperature and rainfall patterns have already affected crop production throughout the country while the available area for arable land continues to decline. The salinity instructional the coastal area is
creating serious implications for the coastal land traditionally used for rice production.
Urban areas
Direct impacts may occur through the increased foods, drainage congestion and water logging as well as infrastructure damage during climate change induced natural disasters. The important urban sectors that suffered severely by the previous foods in Bangladesh include infrastructure, industry, trade, commerce and utility services.
Forestry
Bangladesh has a wide diversity of ecosystems including Mangrove forests at the extreme south of the country. The “Sundarbans” a world heritage, is the largest Mangrove Forest in the world, comprising of 10,000 square kilometers of land area along the Bay of Bengal. This area is home to a total of 425 identified species, the most significant one being the famous Royal Bengal Tiger. Therefore, it requires special attention for protection against the effects of climate change within could potentially destroy the delicate ecosystem of the forest recourses in Bangladesh.
Coastal areas
Salinity intrusion form the Bay of Bengal already penetrates 100 Kilometers inside the country during the dry season while climate change in its gradual process is likely to further deteriorate the existing scenario. Since most of the country lays less than 10 meters above sea level with almost 10% of the population of the country is living below 1-meter elevation-the entire coastal area is highly vulnerable to high fides and storm surges. Moreover, the Bay of Bengal is located at the tip of the north Indian Ocean, where severe cyclonic storms as
well as long tidal ways are frequently generated, hitting the coast line with severe impacts because of the shallow, conical shape of the Bay near Bangladesh.
Bangladesh could lose up to 15% of its land area under the sea water with just 1-meter rise
in the sea level.
★ 30 million people living in the coastal areas of Bangladesh are at risk of becoming refugees because of climate change impacts.
★ Nearly one fourth of the total population lives in the coastal areas of Bangladesh prone to coastal floods and tidal surges, river-bank erosion, salinity and tropical cyclones.
Human Health
Where cholera is endemic, outbreaks are correlated with warming. Based on an 18 year climate record there have been outbreaks at ENSO events (Ei Nino Southern Oscillation events) and the
intensity of these events is likely to increase under climate change. Increasing temperature, rainfall
and humidity can all increase the time to infection for diseases like diarrhea. Salinity intrusion can cause various impacts. Increase in hypertension has been identified in pregnant women at the coasts compared those inland.
Agricultural production and food security
The international panel on climate change (IPCC) estimates that by 2050, rice production in Bangladesh could
decline by 8% and wheat by 23% against a base year of 1990. In southeastern Bangladesh alone, an estimated 14000 tons of grain production could be lost annually due to sea level rise by 2030 and 2,52,000 tons by 2075. Because of the effects of climate change use of inputs like fertilizers pesticide and irrigation way increase and H will increase in finger production costs.
Rising sea levels
Global sea level are projected to rise as much as is and a half fact by 2100, according an article by the national
aeronautics and space administration (NASA) sea level rise is caused primarily by two factors related to global warming (1) the added water from melting ice sheets and glaciers and (2) the expression of seawater as its worms.
Water security
Higher atmospheric water vapor rising Eva proation, and changes in sol moisture and runoff will ultimately
reduce fresh water availability ground water will reduce day by day.
Ecosystem and Biodiversity
Higher salinity in the coastal belts could. Change the entire ecosystem of the Sundarbans. It will affect the rich biodiversity of the forest. In winter, it will cause greater miniature stress which will affect the Sal forest ecosystem degradation of forest quality might cause a gadwall reduction of rich diversity of the forest flora and fauna of the Sundarbans ecosystem.
Future Projection of Climate Change Impacts in Bangladesh
Crop production & food security
Rainfall patient are changed due to climate change. Crops yields are expected to drop significantly. Crop Production will decrease 30% in 2100. Production of rice & wheat will reduce 8%, and 32% within 2050 respectively.
Salinity
There are 13% area are salinity at Bagehot, Khulna & Sathkhira. The southwestern coastal districts of Bangladesh at present which will increase 16% in 2050 and 18% in 2100.
Coral Bleaching
Corals are vulnerable to thermal stress. If the sea surface temperature increases 1-3°C then corals bleaching will occur frequently.
Mangrove Forest
About 75% area of mangrove forest, Sundrabn (6000 sq. km) will submerse if the sea level will increase 45 cm. If the sea level rise 1 in then the islands of Bay of Bengal and whole Sundarban will destroy including its fauna & flora.
Fisheries
Death rate of Shrimp’s fingerlings will increase, if the water temperature is more than 32°C (CEGIS)
★ Diseases of fish may increase.
★ Carps culture may reduce due to saline water entrance in the ponds and open water bodies.
★ Production of sweet water fish will shrink and extinct if the sea level rise.
Climate Refugee or Migration
In Bangladesh every year, rivers engulf enormous apiculture fields and homesteads, make the peoples homeless those who have no way to live in the locality migrate ot urban areas and live is slum with unhygienic conditions.
Health
★ More floods are contaminating water. Increasing water borne diseases such as cholera, Diarrhea etc.
★ More droughts are decreasing food production, increasing malnutrition.
★ More greenhouse gases are increasing air pollution and rising respiratory diseases.
★ Injuries, disabilities, psychosocial stress and death are becoming sever for more floods, fires, droughts, heat waves & cyclones.
★ High salinity in water will affect human health.
Sea level Rise
If the sea level rise-
★ Low-lying non-embankment coastal area may be completely inundated.
★ It will increase the risk of coastal salinity.
★ Scarcity of saline free drinking water will increase highly.
★ Current agricultural practice will change.
Increased Evaporation
Global average water vapor concentration and precipitation are projected during the 21st century.
Biodiversity
If the global temperature rises by 2nd Centigrade, 30% of all land species will be threatened by an increased risk of extinction.
Climate change and Bangladesh
One of the most significant impacts of climate change is the rise of sea-level. The has risen by 17 to 21 centimeters
over the past-century (IPCC Fifth Assessment Report: Climate change Report. 2013). Bangladesh is precariously exposed to the adverse impacts of climate change for being located not he sea-shore. The rise in sea-level poses a big threat to the lives and livelihood of the huge population of the coastal areas of Bangladesh. According to IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), Bangladesh would experience a net increase in poverty of 16 percent by 2030. The government is attaching highest importance to the issue of tackling climate change induced disasters and the country’s preparedness to protect lives and livelihoods of the people. Bangladesh has prepared and adopted National Adaptation programme of Action (NAPA). 2005, (revised 2009) and the Bangladesh Climate change
Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP), 2009 as a dynamic document that incorporated and substantially expanded the NAPA. Bangladesh has already drafted a road map for National Adaptation Plan (NAP) as a means of
identifying medium- and long-term adaption needs and developing and implementing strategies and programmes to address those needs. Besides various development programmes under the annual development programmes and revenue budget. GOB has established three fund to tackle the adverse impact of climate change.
★ Bangladesh Climate change Trust Fund (BCCTF): A climate change Trust Fund CTF) was established by enacting a law in FY 2009-10 and a budgetary allocation of Tk. 700 Crore was made from the Government’s allocated a total of Tk. 2,900 crore for this fund. The main objective of this fund is to implement the BCCSAP, 2009. A total of 340 projects have been approved by the board and are now being implemented by concerned ministries and organizations using the resources from this fund. Among
these projects 31 have been already completed.
★ Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF): Bangladesh Climate change Resilience Fund (BCCRF) is a coordinated financing mechanism by the Government of Bangladesh, Development partners and the World Bank to address the impacts of climate change. The fund was established in May 2010 with financial support from Denmark, European Union, Sweden and United Kingdom. Switzerland, Australia and United States subsequently joined the fund. As of now, and amount of over US$187 million has been pledged for this fund.
★ Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience Bangladesh: The Pilot programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) of the Strategic Climate Funds (SCP) established under the Multi-donor Climate Investment Fund (GIF) aims to help countries transform to a climate resilient development path, consistent with poverty reduction and sustainable development goals. Bangladesh’s PPCR investment plan was designed under the leadership of the government, in coordination with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), members of the World Bank Group (IBRD, IDA, and IFC), key Bangladeshi stakeholders
and other development partners.
Adaptation and Mitigation
Adaptation and mitigation activities are necessary to face the recent challenges due to climate change. The activities of other ministry and department also have direct and indirect on environment climate change. As a result to ensure a secured and sustainable environment preparation of an integrated investment plan is necessary according to the policies, strategies projects etc. of Ministry of Environment as well as other
relevant ministries. Ministry of Environment implementing a project titled strengthening the Environment,
Forestry and climate change capacities of the Ministry of Environment & Forests and its agencies with the technical assistant of world Agriculture and Food Organization (FAO). We need to ensure food and water security, protect infrastructure, and manage the disaster risk in order to tackle the challenges of climate change. The following are the measures can be taken to fight climate change.
i) Adaptation in Agriculture: For waterlogged areas, we should improve drainage system. We should cultivate adaptive crops. We should utilized modern technology in agriculture. Integrated wetland farming, improved fish farming, mangrove and inland plantations, and agro-ecosystem-based crop production technologies are needed to be addressed.
ii) Adaptation for Water Security: We need to modernize existing irrigation schemes. Higher water demand management system should be addressed.
iii) Adaptation for Ecosystem and Biodiversity: Afforestation and reforestation programs need to be
adopted and encouraged. Sustainable and alternative livelihoods for ecosystem, and biodiversity-dependent human communities need to be developed. Coastal greenbelt projects need to be revived. It will diffuse the forces of cyclones and storm surges.
iv) Adaptation in Health: Public health systems need to be improved to cope with the threats posed by climate change. Education training, and awareness campaigns on public health need to be stepped up. We should initiated climate-sensitive disease surveillance programs.
v) Adaptation in Fisheries and Livestock: Salt-tolerant fish species need to be developed for aquaculture. Mechanized fishing technologies need to be introduced.
vi) Mitigation Measures: We should introduce fuel-efficient vehicles and transport system. Solid waste disposal, waste incineration, composting of organic waste, recycling, and waste minimisation are to be given importance to decrease methane.
International initiatives on protection of climate change
The concept of environmental protection as well as its development received wider global attention form the early seventeen’s. The decision agreed upon at the UN conference on the human environment held in Stockholm in 1972 worked as an eye-opener for international communities. Following this conference several countries ventured to establish environmental agencies, formulate environmental rules/work plan and adopted the recommendations of ‘Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC)’ formulated by leading scientists of the world in 1988.
Earth summit 1992
The United Nations conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio de Janerio Earth Summit, Rio major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro form 3 to l4 June 1992. An important achievement of the summit was an agreement on the Climate change convention which in turn led to the Kyotot Protocol (1997) and the Paris Agreement (2015). The United Nations Framework Convention on climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janerio form 3 to 14 June 1992.
Kyoto Protocol
Another significant international initiative on this issue was negotiations on the Kyoto protocol signed in December 1997 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change (UNFCCC). The Kyoto Protocol was signed to reduce carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emission. There are 192 Parties to the convention: 191 states (including all the UN) members except Andorra, south Sudan, Canada and the United States) and a Protocol, many developed countries have agreed to legally binding limitations/reductions in their emissions of greenhouse gas in two commitments periods.
Conference of Parties (COP)
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change (UNFCCC), an international environmental treaty, was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janerio in 1992. The parties to the convention have met annually form 1995 in Conferences of the Parties (COP) to assess progress in
dealing with Climate Change. In addition to the Kyoto Protocol (and its amendment and the Paris Agreement, parties to the Convention have agreed to further commitments during UNFCCC
Conferences of the Parties. These include the Bali Action Plan (2007), the Copenhagen accord (2009), the Cancun Agreements (2010), and the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (2012).
Paris Agreement:
In 2015, all (then) 196 then Parties to the convention came together for the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris 30 November-12 December and adopted by consensus the Paris Agreement. Aimed at limiting global warming to less than two degrees Celsius, and pursue efforts to limit the rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Paris Agreement is to be signed in 2016 and will enter into force
upon ratification by 55 countries representing over 55% of greenhouse gas emissions. Outcomes of the Paris Agreement.
★ The Agreement establishes a global warming goal of will below 2C on pre-industrial averages.
★ The Paris Agreement defines a universal, legal framework to ‘strengthen the global response to the treat of climate change’ (Art, 2).
★ The Paris Agreement puts emphasis on processes rather than on defined mitigation goals. Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement does not formulate country specific emissions targets. Instead, the Paris agreement depends on voluntary mitigation
contributions.
★ The Agreement will be implemented in accordance with the ‘Principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’ which applies ‘in the light of
different national circumstances’ (Art. 2.2).
BONN Climate Change Conference (COP-23) 2017
The 2017 UN climate Change conference took place in Bonn, Germany, from 6-18 November. Leaders of National governments, cities, states, business, investors, NGOs and civil society gathered to speed up climate action to meet the goals of the Paris climate change agreement. The COP is organized by the UN Framework
convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
COP23, the second “Conference of the Parties” since the Paris Agreement was struck in 2015, promised to be somewhat technical affair as countries continued to negotiate the finer details of how the agreement will work form 2020 onwards.
Carbon Trade
Carbon emissions trading is a form of emissions trading that specifically targets carbon dioxide (calculated
in tons of carbon dioxide equivalent or (CO2e) and it currently constitutes the bulk of emissions trading. This from of permit trading is a common method countries utilize in order to meet their obligations specified by the Kyoto protocol; namely the reduction of carbon emissions in and attempt to reduce (mitigate) future climate change.
Under Carbon trading, a country having more emissions of carbon is able to purchase the right to emit more and the country having less emission trades the right to emit carbon to other countries. More carbon emitting countries, by this way try to keep the limit of carbon emission specified to them.
Climate Diplomacy
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century, thereby demanding a prominent role in foreign policy. In light of the slow pace of progress international climate negotiations; a strongest role for foreign policy in international climate policy has been called for-namely through climate diplomacy.
Bangladesh’s role in International Climate Change Negotiation
Bangladesh government has been playing proactive role in the international negotiations under United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate change (UNFCCC) and other international forum on climate change and environment issues and has gained significant fame in the international arena. At the 2014 UN Climate change
conference in Lima, Peru (COP20/CMP10), Bangladesh has played lead role on behalf of least Developed
countries (LDCs). Bangladesh has played the role of coordinator of LDCs Group and G-77 and China Group income important issues. Bangladesh has been elected as alternate member of several committees under UNFCCC, the CDM Executive Board and the Adaptation Fund Board. Bangladesh has also been elected as the full member of the consultative Group of Experts and Compliance Committee of the Kyoto Protocol. Bangladesh is a member of the: Best Available Techniques and Best Environmental Practice (BAT/BEP) Expert Committee for the Preparation Mercury Management guidelines” from Asia pacific Region. BAT/BEP Expert group is a subsidiary body which reports to the intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury under Minumata convention.
Bangladesh has led V-20 (Vulnerable 20 Group) in the COP 21 the Paris, Bangladesh has raised to the global communities its concern about impact of climate change on Bangladesh. Bangladesh Should emphasis on the following issues in its climate diplomacy.
Adaptation Program: Bangladesh needs international help, especially from the countries who are basically liable for the climate change, to promote and facilitate adoption programs.
Climate refugee
Many Bangladeshi people are becoming climate refugee for continuous natural disaster, and they losing their livelihood and income source. So the developed countries should accommodate and recruit these climate refugees to mitigate their losses and damages.
Capacity building
Bangladesh needs personal and cumulative know how, staffs, modern mechanism to fight against the curse of climate change. So international communities should provide educational and training facilities for the Bangladeshi people and provide equipment’s and technologies.
Progress and Achievements
Champions of the Earth Award
In 2015, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received UN's highest environmental
accolade – Champions of the Earth – in recognition of Bangladesh's far-reaching initiatives to address climate change and for her outstanding policy leadership role. Through the award United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recognized Bangladesh's first-off-the-block initiatives to prepare the ecologically fragile country for the challenges it faces from climate change.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a member of UN High Level Panel on water (HLPW), Laid out the
seven-point agenda. The actions based on the proposed seven-point agenda are intended to support in attaining the goals adopted by the high level panel on water during the UN general assembly. The Bangladesh government has made several strides to address the challenges of climate change. In 2005, Bangladesh was the first Least Developed Country to prepare the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), which documented the urgently needed adaptation actions. Moreover, Bangladesh is in the process of
initiating the National Adaptation Plan (NAP).
In 2009, Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) was developed, and published with great international appreciation. As the first country, Bangladesh developed the Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF), with its own resources, to tackle the adverse effects of climate change. Another fund called Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund was initiated with funds from development partners. In 2014, Bangladesh also prepared the Climate Fiscal Framework which provides guidelines for planning and managing climate change related finance efficiently. Bangladesh had submitted the First and the Second National Communications to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Third National Communication was submitted
more recently. The National Communication (NC) is the report that the developing countries submit to UNFCCC every four years. Following the Paris Agreement, Bangladesh also submitted the first Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2016 which describes Bangladesh’s plan to tackle greenhouse gases (GHG).
Government Efforts in Conservation and Environmental Protection
- ‘Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan’ was prepared in 2009. 145 work plans and 44 programmes were taken up to face issues regarding food security, disaster management, infrastructure, research works, curving emissions of greenhouse gases and capacity building.
- Government has, by its own resources, established a US$ 400 million Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund under which 440 projects are being implemented.
- Bangladesh is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In its 21st convention that adopted the Paris Declaration for keeping the rise of temperature below maximum 2 degrees, or 1.5 degrees if possible.
- 18 million or about 11 percent of the population are getting the benefits of solar power. Solar water pumps are being encouraged in agriculture in place of diesel pumps. 2 million improved cooking burners have been distributed among villagers.
- Coastal green belts were established in coastal areas for minimizing losses due to cyclones and tidal waves. The forestation activities are being done in the newly raised lands in seas and river mouths.
★ They construction of 61 new cyclone shelters under the multipurpose cyclone shelter construction project (USD 25m), implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department, has been completed. The construction of 3 roads totaling 11.5 kilometers in the coastal districts has also been completed.
★ Signing of a grand agreement in February 2013 for the climate resilient participatory afforestation and reforestation project (USD 33.8m), to the implemented by the Forest Department. This project is designed to reduce forest degradation and increase forest coverage through participatory planning and monitoring, and will contribute to building the long-0tern resilience to climate change of selected communities in coastal and hilly areas. Seeding survival averaged 90% and health and growth of plantations has been satisfactory.
★ The Palli Karma-Shahyak Foundation (PKSF), a government-owned financing body, had been entrusted with the management of the community climate change programme (CCP, USD
12.5m). This program has been designed to enhance the capacity of selected communities to increase their resilience to the impacts of climate change. The program now funds 27 proposals
worth a total of USD 78767 million. Among these sub-projects fourteen proposals target salinity-proven, eighteen targets flood-proven and nine target drought-prone areas. Withe government partnership, NGOs are now better addressing climate risks.
★ Apart from the approved investment projects, the governing bodies have also focused on the fourth pillar of Bangladesh Climate change strategy and action plan on reach each and knowledge management. On this basis, the following areas have been identified and approved by the Management committee for further analytical work including-
(a) Climate change,
(b) Vulnerability, adaptation, potential costs of urban flooding
(c) Costal zone in a changing climate; Ingress of salinity frontier
(d) Scaling up innovation in disaster risk management
(e) Eco-engineering adaptation and innovations in flood-risk mitigation.
★ A Results Framework has been developed for 2012-2017, in order to monitor and measure the objectives of the Bangladesh climate Change Resilience fund (BCCRF). It contains (i) a Results Roadmap, (ii) The BCCRF Reporting Framework & (iii) A Results Measurement Guide.
★ Under Bangladesh Climate change Trust Fund (BCCTF), 10 areas of implementation are identified with 100 projects worth USD 97 million.
Efforts from the Non-Government Sectors
A few key scientists and think tanks from Bangladesh provided the leaderships in United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) from their inception in late eighties. They continued to give leadership in adaptation discourse,
assessing vulnerability and impacts, highlighting issues of inequity and need for global climate justice. Several key scientists and institutions in Bangladesh continue to be global leaders in national, regional and global discourse, planning science and policy mobilization across the world, more particularly to Least Developed Countries and poor developing countries. The NGOs in Bangladesh have incorporated climate change in most of their programmes. They have developed extensive training for local government and communities across the country. These include wide-ranging efforts in food production, water and land management, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, energy efficiency, education and training, gender and child-sensitive adaptation practices, better
ecosystem management and biodiversity production. Bangladesh government with support from its research, non-government organizations (NGO) and academic committees has developed a leadership role in climate change negotiations, global climate governance, and financial mechanism related
discourse. In 2008, the Executive Director of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) Dr. Atiq
Rahman was honored with the highest UN- Environmental Award, the Champion of the Earth, in recognition of his outstanding and inspirational leadership and contribution globally, regionally,
nationally and locally, to the protection and sustainable management of the earth’s environment and natural resources. The Bangladesh Delta, the largest delta of the world, along with a large and growing population base
presented many advantages that the people and policy makers converted into opportunities to secure the above development gains. Among the countries adversely affected by climate changes, Bangladesh is among the top ten. The position of Bangladesh and the steps taken by it in facing the challenges of climate changes, global warming, and the protection of environment have been highly acclaimed by the world community. Addressing climate change is a national priority in Bangladesh. It has received international recognition for its cutting-edge achievements in addressing climate change. Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for collaboration and cooperation among neighbouring countries to
minimize damages caused by natural disasters. In general, Bangladesh contributes little to climate change, but it is one of the worst-affected countries due to its geographical location, which is highly prone to natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, landslides, and earthquakes. Over the years, greater
collaboration and coordination among various public and private sectors have ensured that policies are more aligned to promote sustainable development. The government has been working with various multisectorial groups thereby ensuring that mainstreaming environmental protection programmes are conducted seamlessly. Bangladesh has screened large-scale public investments using poverty-environment and climate criteria, resulting in large government-funded investment projects that better address the concerns of the poor and have increased budget allocations for this purpose. The annual
budget on climate change adaptation has increased significantly, three-quarters of the expenditure on climate change adoption is currently supported by the government. Despite the considerable progress that the Government of Bangladesh and the Bangladeshi people have made, they face continuous challenges associated with climate change. Bangladesh is advancing towards national resilience, guided by the Vision 2021 and the Vision 2041 to contribute to global commitments. The country is now working towards fulfilling its Sustainable Development Goals targets.
“Climate Change is a terrible problem and it absolutely needs to be solved. It deserves to be a huge priority.”
-Bill Gates
The Data and other information are collected from various communities website.
Reference:
Now I am telling about myself. I am a newbie on Steemit. I love to spend my time with cryptocurrency. As a result I choose Steemit to earn Steem and make my career better. Nowadays I am looking for more contest and more Decentralized site at Steemit Blockchain. Recently I worked with @threespeak, @ntopaz, @dtube and also with @tasteem. If you have more collection on your list then please suggest me with your valuable comment. I need your help to improve my Steemit Career. Thank you.
@mhshoumik
