Bangladesh and sea-level rise
Bangladesh is a densely populated country located in South Asia, bordered by India, Myanmar, and the Bay of Bengal. Approximately 80 percent of its land is floodplain, making it highly vulnerable to sea-level rise and storm surges, which threaten the livelihoods and safety of its roughly 174 million residents. The country has a history of political instability, which has compounded the challenges it faces in addressing environmental issues. Flood control measures have included embankments and drainage systems, but these have often proven insufficient, as seen during significant flooding events. The government has implemented various strategies, including partnerships with NGOs and international organizations, to improve flood management and resilience, such as constructing flood shelters and enhancing emergency response systems. Despite accounting for only a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, Bangladesh's geographical and climatic conditions make it especially susceptible to the impacts of climate change. As the country seeks to manage these challenges, regional cooperation, particularly with neighboring India, will be essential for effective climate adaptation and disaster response.
Bangladesh and sea-level rise
Historical and Political Context
Among the world’s nations, Bangladesh has one of the largest populations at risk from coastal flooding due to sea-level rise and storm surges, because some 80 percent of the country is floodplain. It is located in South Asia and borders India, Myanmar, and the Bay of Bengal. The country became part of the new nation of Pakistan in 1947, after India and Pakistan became independent from England. It was known then as East Pakistan. In 1971, it became independent with the help of India after a brief civil war and changed its name to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is about the size of Wisconsin, with a population of roughly 174 million, which makes it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Its government is a parliamentary democracy, and Islam is the state religion. The 1972 constitution has undergone sixteen amendments and creates three branches of governments, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The prime minister is the head of government (executive) and elected by the majority party in parliament. The unicameral parliament is known as Jatia Sangsad and is made up of 350 members, including 50 seats reserved for women. The highest judicial body is the supreme court, which is independent of the executive branch.
The nation has experienced political instability since its inception. The first two national leaders were assassinated, beginning with President Sheikh Mujibur in 1975. The country’s limited resources can be blamed in part on this political violence. Being residents of a developing nation, a majority of Bangladesh’s people depend on agriculture. However, flooding has continued to decrease the available farmland in the country. The government has been unable to address basic issues, such as protection of life and property.
Impact of Bangladeshi Policies on Climate Change
Flood control measures in Bangladesh were limited mainly to building embankments (artificial levees), polders, and drainage canals. The Bangladesh Water Development Board has constructed about seventeen hundred flood-control structures along with several thousand kilometers of embankments and drainage canals. Most of these projects have created a false sense of security for the residents, even though many of the projects have experienced breaching and erosion since they were constructed. During the 1999 floods, the Gumtl embankment at Etbarpur was breached, creating substantial damage to properties and the environment. The government also adopted a World Bank-sponsored flood action plan after the 1988 flood. The plan called for the construction of hundreds of kilometers of tall embankments along the major rivers of the country’s delta, as well as huge drains and several compartments on the floodplains.
By 1992, the government began to shift its policy from a narrow focus on flood control to flood and water management. It produced several five-year plans with guidelines for development. One of the plans entailed involving all concerned government agencies, as well as local people, in implementing future embankments and other flood-control and drainage programs.
After the 1998 floods, the government worked with several nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and donor nations to set up both short-term and long-term projects aimed at controlling or managing floods. These projects included government distribution of free seeds to farmers to reduce food shortages, as well as construction of large flood-protection shelters raised above the ground to protect both people and animals. The government also constructed flood-proof storage sheds to hold grains and other food supplies, dams upstream of the capital city of Dhaka, and a major embankment around the city itself. Emergency flood warning systems were improved and contingency plans formulated for the deployment of rescue and relief services. Villages—particularly remote villages that are difficult to reach during flooding—were stocked with emergency medical stores. The government also implemented reforestation programs and animal grazing controls in an attempt to increase absorption and reduction of water runoff.
Bangladesh as a GHG Emitter
According to a United Nations development report, Bangladesh in 2004 accounted for 0.1 percent of global emissions, an average of 0.3 metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) per person. As a result, it is not bound by a specific target for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. The emission levels of Bangladesh and other developing countries are so low that they are not bound by the Kyoto treaty. The treaty commits only the industrialized countries that ratified it to reduce the amount of six GHGs by 5.2 percent of the 1990 levels during the five-year period from 2008 to 2012.
Summary and Foresight
Bangladesh is situated in the delta of three major rivers, the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna, which eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal. These rivers have large volumes of water with large drainage basins that increase the flood risk. Moreover, Bangladesh is a very low-lying country: Almost 70 percent of its land area is less than 1 meter above sea level, and 80 percent of it is located in a floodplain. Thus, the country’s location, climate, and geography make it susceptible to the effects of climate change and also extremely hard to protect from those effects. The courses of its rivers are constantly shifting, making it difficult to build up riverbanks to protect farmland. Bangladesh has responded to climate change with huge projects and programs, but it will need cooperation from its neighbors, especially India.
Key Facts
- Population: 173 million (2023 estimate)
- Area: 144,000 square kilometers
- Gross domestic product (GDP): $437 billion (purchasing power parity, 2023 estimate)
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e): 190 in 2012
- Kyoto Protocol status: Ratified October 2001
Bibliography
Ahmed, K. Anis. "In Bangladesh, a Flood and an Efficient Response." The New York Times, 1 Sept. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/09/01/opinion/bangladesh-floods.html. Accessed 4 Oct. 2018.
Cash, Benjamin A., Xavier Rodó, and James L. Kinter III. Non-ENSO Variability and the Regional Climate of Bangladesh: Implications for Cholera Risk. Calverton, Md.: Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies, 2008.
Ho, Wing Ka. "The Looming Threat of Sea Level Rise in Bangaldesh." Earth.org, 14 July 2022, earth.org/sea-level-rise-in-bangladesh/. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
Huq, Saleemul, et al. Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). London: International Institute for Environment and Development, 2003.
Orford, Margie. Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism: Brazil, Bangladesh, Indonesia, South Africa. London: ITDG, 2004.
Zedillo, Ernesto, ed. The Future of Globalization: Explorations in Light of Recent Turbulence. New York: Routledge, 2008.