Climate change effect on Bangladesh by 2100

40m people could be displaced

Some 13 to 40 million people living in Bangladesh’s coastal areas could be forced to migrate to other places with the rising sea level, tidal surges, cyclones and increasing salinity affecting all sources of sweet water by 2100, a report has forecast. The director-general of the department of disaster management, Reaz Ahmed, disclosed these grim projections yesterday, quoting a report by the International Organisation of Migration (IOM). The report discusses the fate of climate refugees caused by climate change. Against this background, the department of disaster management is going to observe the National Day of Preparedness against disasters and for their mitigation on March 10, with the following theme: ‘Preparedness against disaster will bring about sustainable development’.
“Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Around 79 per cent of the people of the country live in rural areas. The country has incurred losses of around USD 1.83 billion between 1993 and 2012 due to natural disasters, which is 1.16 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP),” Ahmed told The Independent.
According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), around 22,000 were killed and 98.6 million affected in the 350 natural disasters of 2015 worldwide. Besides, USD 66.5 billion in losses were incurred on a global scale, it added.
“We are preparing a National Disaster Management Plan 2016–20 to reduce the disaster risk. We are placing emphasis on mitigation as 90 per cent of the disasters are caused by climate change,” Reaz Ahmed said in reply to a query.
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is an important initiative to reduce losses during disasters such as earthquakes, floods, drought and cyclones, he said, adding, “We have placed emphasis on sustainable development by 2030 by implementing agendas taken up for disaster risk reduction and mitigation of climate change issues.”
Most of the coastal areas in Bangladesh are located just 12 metres above the sea level. Hence, geographically it has always been vulnerable to cyclones and tidal surges, the director-general pointed out.
“Salinity has risen to a severe extent because of climate change, the increasing sea level and other factors in coastal areas. As a result, the problem of pure water is growing alarmingly. The sweet water fish stock is also dwindling. Besides, production is decreasing in the agricultural sector, including the production of livestock, due to increasing salinity. That is why people are migrating to urban areas for their livelihoods,” Ahmed said.
Bangladesh has been able to reduce the mortality rate from double digits to a single-digit one in recent years as the government has taken appropriate measures, he observed.
“People are now getting advance information on natural disasters through forecasting. The risk of disasters can be further reduced by increasing investments. We have to implement the building code properly as per the seismic zoning plan, which would help reduce risks during earthquakes or other disasters.”
Natural disasters like cyclones, floods, droughts, river erosion, water-logging, lightning strikes, tidal surges, tornados and nor’westers are affecting people’s livelihoods on a regular basis, imperilling their lives, he said, adding that faulty town plans, construction of risky buildings and dense population are further increasing the dangers.
The government has set a target for sustainable development for 2015–30 on the basis of the Sendai Framework, he said, adding, “We are determined to implement 17 targets by 2030 to achieve the goal. We have to pass through very difficult times to achieve these targets.”
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–30 is the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, with seven targets and four priorities for action. It was endorsed by the UN General Assembly following the 2015 Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR).
The Sendai Framework is a 15-year, voluntary, non-binding agreement which recognises that the State has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders, including local government, the private sector and other stakeholders.
“The country is yet to reach a significant level as far as risk reduction is concerned. Hence, it would be better if the government’s initiatives are implemented properly at all levels and awareness is created among the people and various stakeholders,” he added.

 

Climate change effect on Bangladesh by 2100

40m people could be displaced

Some 13 to 40 million people living in Bangladeshs coastal areas could be forced to migrate to other places with the rising sea level, tidal surges, cyclones and increasing salinity affecting all sources of sweet water by 2100, a report has forecast. The director-general of the department of disaster management, Reaz Ahmed, disclosed these grim projections yesterday, quoting a report by the International Organisation of Migration (IOM). The report discusses the fate of climate refugees caused by climate change. Against this background, the department of disaster management is going to observe the National Day of Preparedness against disasters and for their mitigation on March 10, with the following theme: Preparedness against disaster will bring about sustainable development. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Around 79 per cent of the people of the country live in rural areas. The country has incurred losses of around USD 1.83 billion between 1993 and 2012 due to natural disasters, which is 1.16 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), Ahmed told The Independent. According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), around 22,000 were killed and 98.6 million affected in the 350 natural disasters of 2015 worldwide. Besides, USD 66.5 billion in losses were incurred on a global scale, it added. We are preparing a National Disaster Management Plan 201620 to reduce the disaster risk. We are placing emphasis on mitigation as 90 per cent of the disasters are caused by climate change, Reaz Ahmed said in reply to a query. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is an important initiative to reduce losses during disasters such as earthquakes, floods, drought and cyclones, he said, adding, We have placed emphasis on sustainable development by 2030 by implementing agendas taken up for disaster risk reduction and mitigation of climate change issues. Most of the coastal areas in Bangladesh are located just 12 metres above the sea level. Hence, geographically it has always been vulnerable to cyclones and tidal surges, the director-general pointed out. Salinity has risen to a severe extent because of climate change, the increasing sea level and other factors in coastal areas. As a result, the problem of pure water is growing alarmingly. The sweet water fish stock is also dwindling. Besides, production is decreasing in the agricultural sector, including the production of livestock, due to increasing salinity. That is why people are migrating to urban areas for their livelihoods, Ahmed said. Bangladesh has been able to reduce the mortality rate from double digits to a single-digit one in recent years as the government has taken appropriate measures, he observed. People are now getting advance information on natural disasters through forecasting. The risk of disasters can be further reduced by increasing investments. We have to implement the building code properly as per the seismic zoning plan, which would help reduce risks during earthquakes or other disasters. Natural disasters like cyclones, floods, droughts, river erosion, water-logging, lightning strikes, tidal surges, tornados and norwesters are affecting peoples livelihoods on a regular basis, imperilling their lives, he said, adding that faulty town plans, construction of risky buildings and dense population are further increasing the dangers. The government has set a target for sustainable development for 201530 on the basis of the Sendai Framework, he said, adding, We are determined to implement 17 targets by 2030 to achieve the goal. We have to pass through very difficult times to achieve these targets. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 201530 is the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, with seven targets and four priorities for action. It was endorsed by the UN General Assembly following the 2015 Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR). The Sendai Framework is a 15-year, voluntary, non-binding agreement which recognises that the State has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders, including local government, the private sector and other stakeholders. The country is yet to reach a significant level as far as risk reduction is concerned. Hence, it would be better if the governments initiatives are implemented properly at all levels and awareness is created among the people and various stakeholders, he added.