Introductory Background and Statement of the Problems

Abstract

This chapter of this book has focused on the problems in general, and reviews relevant literature on vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in general, focusing on riverine extreme floods in the context of Bangladesh. The literature review follows on three broad issues, namely, (1) V&A to climate change, (2) Bangladesh's agriculture, flooding, climate change and food security, and (3) Climate change impacts on agriculture. Flood research scenarios in Bangladesh have also been reviewed from 1980 to 2014. After reviewing these areas of the literature, research gaps, research questions and research objectives have been identified. The differences between the reviewed literature and the proposed research have been pointed out. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (2007) and the IPCC's {[}1] Fifth Assessment Report, especially chapters 14-17 which are based on adaptation, demonstrate the importance of adaptation to climate change which this book emphasizes. This chapter reviews recent literature on flood research in Bangladesh, focusing on that nation's vulnerability to climate change and its ability to adapt. The review reveals that none of the literature addresses community-based adaptation processes, and there is no assessment of the vulnerability of rural communities, their ability to adapt their farming methods, or the economic consequences of failure to adapt in response to extreme flood events. The structure of the book i.e. Chaps. 1-8 and their linkages with each other have been summarized in this chapter.