Bangladesh experienced 185 extreme weather events in two decades: report

Bangladesh is one of the most affected countries by climate change, facing 185 extreme weather events from 2000 to 2019, making it the eighth most at-risk country in the world.

A new scientific report by the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) shows the increasing climate challenges and their deep impact on people’s lives, ecosystems, livelihoods, and food security.

The report says that climate change has harmed the country’s ecosystems, livelihoods, and infrastructure, with more heatwaves causing heat stress among workers, leading to death and lower productivity.

People have had to leave their homes because of flooding, sea level rise, and soil salinity, which have affected land and food security. Climate events like the floods in 2017 caused a 30% increase in rice prices.

Bangladesh’s location makes it vulnerable to flooding, water shortage, rising sea levels, and salinity intrusion, which could force millions of people to move, according to Environment Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury at COP28.

The country has already lost about $1 billion every year, 0.7% of GDP, because of cyclone damage.

The report praises Bangladesh for its leading role in adaptation and resilience, but it also calls for better governance, using local knowledge, and bridging the gap between government plans and community needs.

Warning: More extreme weather ahead

The report praised Bangladesh for being a global leader in adaptation and resilience, as well as risk and disaster management. It highlighted the country’s adaptation policies and local initiatives that have saved many lives and reduced the impacts of climate change.

The report mentioned the examples of community-based early warning systems, strengthening of polders, coastal afforestation and elevated housing that have helped the country cope with extreme weather events.

The report also noted that the country’s Cyclone Preparedness Programme has reduced the number of deaths from cyclones, from 300,000 in 1970 to 35 in 2022. It also said that the country has adopted innovative practices such as floating agriculture, which involves growing crops on rafts in wetlands.

However, the report warned that even with accelerated climate action, continued warming and more extreme weather will stress the country’s adaptation efforts, making it harder to protect lives and livelihoods.

Keep Reading

La Niña to continue into early 2023, prolonging drought, flooding

Why this winter will be world’s warmest on record?

La Nina events will increase for years due to global warming: Study

‘El Niño’ arrives: 2023 could be the hottest in history

Follow Ground Report for Environmental News From India. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Koo App, Instagram, Whatsapp and YouTube. Write us on [email protected] and subscribe our free newsletter. 

Don’t forget to check out our climate glossary, it helps in learning difficult environmental terms in simple language.