Climate Change and Coastal Disasters of Bangladesh

Abstract

This chapter aims to examine and explore public policies related to the impact of climate change on the coastal zone of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is vulnerable to a variety of climate risks. Disasters such as cyclones, storm surges and floods have become more frequent and turbulent due to the impact of climate change. Cyclones alone have caused the death of 250,000 people globally, among which 60% belonged to Bangladesh (UNDP 2004). Around 17% cyclonic storm surges in the Bay of Bengal have had landfall in coastal Bangladesh and caused immense loss of life, livelihood and destruction of vital assets. Sea level rise and saline water intrusion in the coastal zone, combined with an adverse effect on agriculture and availability of fresh/drinking water is phenomenal. It is projected that 45-cm sea level rise will inundate the world heritage site, Sundarbans mangrove forest, on which millions of families depend (World Bank, Bangladesh Country Assistance Strategy: 2011–2014. Dhaka: Bangladesh Country Management Unit, South Asia Region, The World Bank Office, 2010). Coasts and islands are highly exposed to a variety of climate hazards (Westmacott, Where Should the Focus Be in Tropical Integrated Coastal Management. Coastal Management, 30, 2002). Increasing human activity within the coastal zone has led to a series of environmental issues that require to be addressed. Rapidly growing population, deteriorating environmental quality, loss of critical habitats, diminishing levels of fish and shellfish and reduced biodiversity increases vulnerability to natural hazards (Leary et al., For Whom the Bell Tolls: Vulnerabilities in a Changing Climate. In N. Leary, C. Conde, J. Kulkarni, A. Nyong & J. Pulhin (Eds.), Climate Change and Vulnerability (pp. 3–30). London: Earth Scan, 2009). Effective disaster risk management in such vulnerable coastal areas of the country relies on a strong legal policy, inter-institutional coordination mechanism and, of course, community participation (IISD, Livelihoods and Climate Change: Combating Disaster Risk Reduction, Natural Resource Management and Climate Change Adaptation in a New Approach to the Reduction of Vulnerability and Poverty. IUCN, SEI, IISD and Inter Cooperation. Retrieved on January 15, 2009, from http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2003-034.pdf, 2003: 3–7). Bangladesh developed strategies and policies to respond to climate change-induced risks effectively in a coordinated manner.