Lead Papers, National Seminar on Climate Change

Abstract

Due to the anticipated adverse global effects of climate change and consequent sea level rise (SLR) Climate refugees are the inevitable reality of our time. The management and resettlement of these climate refugees will exert a serious pressure on already dense urban centres of Bangladesh. Assuming the climate change forecasts to be true it calls for immediate action to limit the impacts of change; to reduce the vulnerability and to help the affected populace to adapt in place. The paper is a review on autonomous and planned adaptive measures taken at local and national level of the country in response to the current and anticipated geo-climatic risk. Review shows that, the GOB launched its National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) in 2005 which highlights the main adverse effects of climate change and identifies adaptation needs. Adaptation measure in agriculture is already in progress which in fact widens the opportunity for socio-spatial adaptation in vulnerable area. To date, adaptation in human settlements motivated by climate change has been observed to be minimal and mostly limited to coastal afforestation and construction of community and family shelters by the government and non government organization. Both short term and long term strategies are required for sustainable development. Embedding adaptive measures within the urban settlement infrastructure is either very costly or very slow. It is likely to be easier if action is taken in rural areas where development is still sparse as opposed to the dense urban area. In early 90’s attempt had been taken for the development of cyclonic surge resistant settlement at Urir Char but the concept was not widely implemented. Urir Char experience proved its resilience and responsiveness to the context. The study concludes that, adaptation is the most viable and manageable of the responses to climate change especially for the least developed country like Bangladesh. The local coping measures to reduce vulnerability to existing climate related hazards (erosion, water logging, flooding, surge, cyclone) can also serve as means and guide for adapting to climate change.