Bangladesh : Climate Change and Sustainable Development

The study examines Bangladesh's
extreme vulnerability to climate change, whose low-lying
topography, and funnel-shaped coast, further exposes the
land to cyclones, and tidal surges, resulting in seasonal
floods. These factors, and the large population base,
widespread poverty, aggravated by the lack of strong
institutional development, makes the country particularly
vulnerable to climate variability. Various climatic factors,
i.e., temperature, precipitation, evaporation, etc., are
identified, and possible climate change scenarios are
discussed for possible adaptation. The potential effects of
climate change are summarized, confined up to the year 2050,
stipulating that climate change will also affect
cross-boundary river flows, and that the reported events of
the El Nino Southern Oscillation, have influenced the
record-breaking floods of 1987, 1988, and 1998. The study
identifies critical impacts that development policymakers
will have to consider in a warmer Bangladesh: drainage
congestion problems; reduced fresh water availability;
disturbance of morphological processes; and, an increased
intensity of disasters. Reasons to adopt an anticipatory,
long-term strategy in adapting to climate change are
discussed, and an assessment criteria is proposed.
Recommendations include active participation in
international debates on climate change, incorporating
climate change considerations in water sharing negotiations,
and, viewing climate change not just as an environmental
concern, but as a major development issue.