Science for Adaptation to Climate Change: The Case of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of most vulnerable countries to future climate change. Three key factors are associated with its vulnerability. First, geographically it is located in a place which is prone to natural hazards. Second, the country is highly populated; specifically it is one of most densely populated countries in the world. Most of the country’s people live in the floodplains and in the open coastal areas. Therefore, any hazards such as a flood or a cyclone, automatically affects a high number of people. Third, the weak economy, high poverty and low adaptive capacity are significant contributors to Bangladesh’s vulnerability. Over the years, although Bangladesh has achieved substantial progress in economic growth, still it is a member of the least developed countries (LDCs). Poverty and social inequality contribute to vulnerability and are important determinants of adaptive capacity. Experts are in agreement that countries which are currently vulnerable to extreme natural hazards could be at greater risks in the future due to a changing climate. In the past, Bangladesh has implemented a number of adaptation measures to tackle the extreme weather hazards. The country has achieved considerable successes in the management of hazards and disasters. For example, flood damage as a per cent of GDP is declining. This is due mainly to implementation of good macro-economic policies and flood mitigation infrastructures. However, these measures will be inadequate to tackle future climate change. This presentation examines Bangladesh’s current adaptation measures, future impacts and possible adaptation options.