Climate change is a severe challenge on the way to achieve higher economic growth and poverty reduction all over the world. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable nations to the impacts of climate change. There are various effects of climate change which need to be addressed by adopting some mitigation strategies as well as adaptive interventions. This essay will explore climate change effects and its mitigation measures from Bangladesh viewpoint. There are various impacts of climate change in Bangladesh such as firstly, melting Himalayas Glaciers; secondly, increased extreme weather events; thirdly, warmer and more humid weather. To address those impacts the following mitigation measures can be introduced as firstly, social safety with cost effective comprehensive disaster management; secondly, climate resilient infrastructure; and thirdly, low carbon development as well as adaptive capacity development.
Increased extreme weather events are also the effects of climate change.Extreme weather events such as cyclone with increased frequency and severity which causes higher storm surges with higher wind speed as well as loss of lives and properties in Bangladesh. Moreover, lower andmore erratic rainfall at times also causes droughts and scarcity of drinking water which needs to be addressed in Bangladesh withthe highest priority. Similarly, increased inundation in the coastal area; damage of concrete and steel structures due to corrosion of steel are the other outcomes of extreme weather events. In addition, sea level rise is another outcome of global temperature rising which is not the issue for Bangladesh only but it is also the burning issue for the global environment.
Social safety with cost effective comprehensive disaster management might be one of the best mitigation measures to address the ice melting issue in Bangladesh. Climate change is not the only challenge; there are series of challenges in social, environment and economic sector of Bangladesh. As a result, Bangladesh has to work simultaneously on common interventions and mitigation measures to have a comprehensive disaster management system. Consequently, some of the common interventions might be applied in Bangladesh to implement comprehensive disaster management such as, early warning system; cyclone shelter and kill as. Furthermore, an economic disaster management system ensuring social safety could be achieved by community based disaster risk reduction initiatives; raising homesteads, roads and railway tracks; diversified crops and cropping systems. However, climate change mitigation cost has to be considered while planning of comprehensive disaster management for Bangladesh as it is a developing nation. Moreover, in order to prevent water logging and drainage congestion, design of urban drainage systems considering greater discharge must be introduced in Bangladesh. To adapt to severe cyclones and sea level rise in Bangladesh, climate resilient infrastructure would be one of the most pragmatic mitigation measures for Bangladesh.
Low carbon development and adaptive capacity development are some of the unique mitigation measures to cope with warmer and more humid weather in Bangladesh.
To sum up, Bangladesh is more vulnerable to climate change than any other countries of the world due to its geographical position. Therefore, climate change impacts and its mitigation measures must be prioritizedby the concerned authority. Owing to the greenhouse effect, global warming increases. As a result, climate change occurs and consequently, temperatures are rising. Bangladesh is now facing the consequences of climate change severely. Hence, there should be a comprehensive disaster management initiative with adaptive measures for cyclones, flood, river erosion, droughts, sea level rise as well as warmer and more humid weather in Bangladesh. Moreover, there must be some common interventions to cope with climate change impacts rather than eradicate it. It is not feasible for Bangladesh to face the challenges of climate change individually as it is a global issue. The world leaders must come forward proactively to mitigate climate change impacts for ensuringlivable environment around the globe.
The writer is PGD from Central Queensland University, Australia & Chairman, Civil Engineering Division, IEB
