1. CC and Bangladesh
Dr Mahfuzul Haque

2. Points for Discussion Geographical Reality of Bangladesh
Vulnerability of Bangladesh to CC
4th IPCC Report on Bangladesh
Adaptation
NAPA 2005
BCCSAP 2009

3. Geographical reality
The geographic location and geo-morphological conditions of Bangladesh have made the country one of the most vulnerable ones to climate change, particularly to Sea Level rise (SLR)
Bangladesh is situated at the interface of two different environments, with the Bay of Bengal to the south and the Himalayas to the north
This peculiar geography of Bangladesh causes not only life-giving monsoons but also catastrophic ravages of natural disasters, to which now added are climate change induced disaster including SLR

4. Geographical reality
The country has a very low and flat topography, except the northeast and southeast regions. About 10% of the country is hardly 1 meter above the mean sea level (MSL), and one-third is under tidal excursions
Bangladesh has a humid, warm, tropical climate. Its climate is influenced primarily by monsoon and post-monsoon circulations.
Because of the very geographical situation of the country, a series of natural disaster; like, floods, cyclones, tornadoes, tidal bore, drought, desertification, river erosion regularly visit the country

5. Vulnerability of Bangladesh
A climate hazards calendar shows that
Floods occur from May-October with severe flooding during July-August period
Flash flood in April-June with severity in May
Drought from April to July with severity in May-June;
River bank erosion during June-October with severity in July-September period
Cyclones and tornadoes visit us in April-May and August-November period; and
Cold wave in January

6. Vulnerability of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is already facing the adverse impacts of global warming and climate change. The following impacts are being observed:
Summers are becoming hotter
Monsoon irregular
Untimely rainfall
Heavy rainfall causing water logging and landslides
Very little rainfall in dry period
Increased river flow and inundation during monsoon
Increased frequency, intensity and recurrence of floods

7. Vulnerability of Bangladesh
Crop damage due to flash floods and monsoon floods
Crop failure due to drought
Prolonged cold spell
Salinity intrusion along the coast causing scarcity of potable water
Coastal erosion
Riverbank erosion
Deaths due to extreme heat and extreme cold
Increased mortality, morbidity
Prevalence and outbreak of dengue, malaria, cholera and diarrhoea

8. Fourth IPCC Report 2007
According to Fourth Assessment Report of Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2007 the following changes have been observed in climate trends, variability and extreme events in Bangladesh:
Average temperature has registered an increasing trend of about 1 degree C in May and 0.5 degree C in November during the 14 year-period from 1985 to 1998
The annual mean rainfall exhibits increasing trends
Serious and recurring floods have taken place during 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007

9. Fourth IPCC Report 2007
Cyclones originating from the Bay of Bengal have been noted to decrease since 1970 but the intensity has increased
Water shortages has been attributed to rapid urbanization and industrialization, population growth and inefficient water use, which are aggravated by changing climate
Salt water from the Bay of Bengal is reported to have penetrated 100 km or more inland along tributary channels during the dry season

10. Fourth IPCC Report 2007
The precipitation decline and droughts has resulted in the drying up of wetlands and severe degradation of ecosystems
The IPCC Report said that the production of rice and wheat might drop in Bangladesh by 8 percent and 32 percent respectively by the year 2050
Bangladesh is especially susceptible to increasing salinity of groundwater as well as surface water resources, especially along the coast. Even under the most conservative estimate, the sea level will be about 40 cm higher than today by the end of 21st century

11. Fourth IPCC Report 2007
Climate change impacts are already adding significant stress to our physical and environmental resources. Impacts of observed changes are felt most in the following sectors:
Water resources
Coastal resources
Agriculture
Health
Livelihoods
Food security
Habitat/Settlement security

12. Global Climate Risk Index 2010
Global Climate Risk Index says, an average of 8,241 people died each year in 244 cases of extreme weather events in Bangladesh with damages amounting to US$ 2 billion a year and a GDP loss of 1.81 percent during period.
Climate change induced disasters affecting lives and livelihoods of at least 20 million people, while 200,000 people becoming homeless every year in Bangladesh

13. Mitigation Measures
Are we ready to go for some mitigation and adaptation measures for stabilizing GHGs?
Mitigation measures are:
Promotion of renewable energy (solar, hydro, biogas, wind, wave etc)
Conversion of automobiles to CNG
Use of coal for brick kilns: improved model for kilns
Increased efficiency of fossil fuel burning
Introduction of Environmental Management System (EMS) for domestic and industrial energy use

14. Way Out? Adaptation measures are:
Agriculture : saline tolerant variety of crops; floating gardens; rain water harvest; crop diversification; canal re-excavation
Habitat : Flood-proof homes; flood-proof drinking water and sanitation; cyclone shelters
Promote 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle)

15. ADAPTATION

16. Adaptation for Flood and Riverbank Erosion
Cultivation in Sandbars: in the Charlands, cultivation of watermelon, pumpkin and vegetables in polythene bags
Cage Culture: Fish cultivation in cages not affected by flooding
Cluster Village: Such cluster of villages are well adapted to CC in the face of erosion in raised earth
Flood Proof Homes: They are well suited against wave action and floods
Floating Garden: Such floating gardens in water logged area are capable to grow vegetables on water hyacinth. This is also known as “ Baira”
Early transferable Infrastructure
Flood Proof School can be used as shelter for cattle heads on raised earth
Livestock Shelter on School Ground (Killa)

17. Adaptation for Drought
Cultivation of rice with minor irrigation: rice grown in drought-prone areas
Digging of small ponds for water reservoir and cattle heads
Digging of mini pond in a crop land
Less water consuming fruits
Mango Orchard
Homestead Garden
Crop Rotation
Crop Diversification
Dry Seed Bed for Transplanted Aman
Maize Cultivation
Improved Stove

18. Adaptation for Flash Flood in Haor areas
Early variety of rice in flash flood prone areas
Submergible dyke to protect crops from flash flood
Flash flood proof rural market
Crop diversification
Early Maturing Rice variety
Village Mound Protection
Karach Swamp (Pongamia pinnata) Forest
Duck farming in Haor
Protection of fish farm
Canal re-excavation

19. Adaptation for Coastal Areas
Duck farming
School cum cyclone shelter centre
Embankment along the Coastline
Change in boat design
Afforestation to protect the Chars and river bank

20. Adaptation for Agriculture
Saline tolerant variety of crops
Pure drinking water in saline area
Floating Garden- Baira
Ring based hanging garden
Flood proof drinking water and sanitation
Crop storage
Rainwater harvesting
Mele chash Red Cultivation
Cyclone Resistant Housing
Reinforced fishing boats
Abating Erosion from flash flood
Early warning

21. NAPA 2009
National Adaptation Plan of Action 2005 (updated in August 2009)
Related to adaptation measures to climate change
Country-wide consultation was held

22. NAPA Measures
NAPA undertook some short-term and medium-term projects on Adaptation. How to mainstream adaptation to climate change into various sectoral policies of the government. Other specific measures are as follows:
Adaptation to coastal crop agriculture
Adaptation to coastal fisheries
Adaptation to Haor crops victims of flash floods in NE
Adaptation to floods
Adaptation to natural hazards

23. BCCSAP 2009 Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2009
A pro-poor climate change management strategy, which prioritizes adaptation and disaster risk reduction, low carbon development, mitigation and technology transfer

24. BCCSAP 2009 BCCSAP built on following six pillars:
Food Security, social protection and health to protect people from CC impacts
Comprehensive disaster management to strengthen
Infrastructure Development accommodating CC
Research and Knowledge development on CC prediction
Mitigation and Low Carbon Development
Capacity Building and Institutional Development

25. Further Readings
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of Bangladesh and UNDP, National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), August 2009.
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP), 2009.
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Bangladesh, 2009.

26. Probable Questions
What are the likely adverse impacts of climate change on the Agriculture sector, discuss.
Discuss vulnerability of Bangladesh to climate change
What are the adaptation measures related to climate change in coastal areas of Bangladesh?

27. Thank you