Addressing Urban Vulnerability to Climate Change: Findings from Dhaka, Bangladesh Craig Johnson and Iftekhar Haque Department of Political Science and International Development Studies University of Guelph, Canada

Objective  How cities are getting prepared to address the challenge of climate change  Mainstreaming climate change policies in urban planning  Management of urban fringe development

Climate Change and Bangladesh  IPCC 2007: One of the most vulnerable countries to climate change  Short term climate shocks:  Cyclones  Floods  Prolonged droughts  Salinity  Long term:  Sea level rise

Flows of Migration from Climate Hotspots “Migration to cities is the most common coping strategy” Source: World bank (2010)

Typical destination of climate induced migrants

Dhaka’s vulnerability to climate change  Excessive Rain  Water logging  Floods  Damage of households in slums  Damage of roads  Water borne diseases  Drought  Heat/Cold Wave  Temperature Increase

Growth of Dhaka City

Dhaka’s Changing Land Use Source: Dewan and Yamaguchi (2009)

Methodology  A six-month study in Dhaka’s Eastern fringe  key informant interviews  Politicians  Bureaucrats  Urban Planners  Academics  Real Estate companies  Survey of 200 households  FGDs with affected populations

Agricultural land Flood Flow Zones Water retention bodies

Detailed Area Plan: Violated by Government Purbachal New Town Jhilmil Residential area

Detailed Area Plan: Violated by Government Purbachal New Town Jhilmil Residential area Private Housing Projects

Detailed Area Plan: Violated by Private Sector  Illegal land filling for housing projects  Forced purchasing of land  Land grabbing

Possible Consequences  Increased risk of floods and water logging  Health hazards  Loss of agricultural production  Earthquake’s consequence will be dreadful  Displacement  Livelihood

Incidence of forced purchase by real estate companies

Distribution of household heads according to major occupations (%) Occupation changed from (%)

Challenges  Capital Development Authority’s dual role as regulator and real estate  Strong lobby of real estates and land developers  Influence on politics  Media

Policy options  Reform of the Capital Development Authority (RAJUK).  DAP implantation commission  Justice  Urban planners  Environmental experts

Thank You!