Socio-economic Implications of Climate Change for Bangladesh

Abstract

Land and life are closely entwined in Bangladesh. Over 80 per cent of the country's 115 million people live in the rural sector. The land area of 148,393km2 is mainly the deltaic plains of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River systems. The prevailing climate is monsoonal, and the dominantly agricultural economy is attuned to its wet and dry seasons. Lands are frequently flooded by heavy rains, over-full river channels, and sea surges associated with cyclones. Disasters are relatively common. Changes in climate in Bangladesh could, therefore, have serious implications for local economies and human welfare. This is the theme that is explored in this chapter. The main relationships between society and climate are identified so that the impacts of a changing climate, especially natural hazards, might have on society can be appraised. Understanding of the main relationships between society and climate will help assess the socio-economic vulnerability or resiliency of the country should it in future experience a period of rapid climate change. This theme is explored through four main questions: How does the current climate affect Bangladesh society and economy? What societal trends may influence the vulnerability of Bangladesh to changes in climate? What are the possible socio-economic impacts of climate change on Bangladesh in future? What alternatives are there for future adaptations to climate change? The chapter concludes with a summary of research needs and a framework for prioritising options. (Sea-level change with particular reference to the coastal zone is not highlighted in this chapter, as it forms the focus of Chapter 7: The Case of the Coast.)