A Solution to the Impacts
Despite the increasing impacts of climate change on Bangladesh, the government has stepped up and developed an action plan to deal with the effects. It is called the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP), and it was initially developed in 2008 under consultation with NGOs, research scientists and organizations, and the people of Bangladesh [1]. Under this plan, the poor and vulnerable (including women and children) are the most prioritized, as they are, after all, the ones most heavily affected by the impacts of a changing climate. The BCCSAP can be summarized into 6 main pillars of action [2]:
If you would like to read more about the BCCSAP, it is linked directly below.
- Food security, social protection and health: working towards food security, safe housing and employment, and access to basic services including health care
- Comprehensive disaster management: improving the nation's ability to deal with increasingly frequent and severe disasters
- Infrastructure: maintaining existing assets against climate change (like river and coastal embankments), and developing more cyclone shelters and urban drainage
- Research and knowledge management: increasing the ability to predict the scale and timing of the impacts of climate change, making better informed future investments, and being aware of the best practices of climate change management
- Mitigation and low carbon development: developing and implementing low carbon development options as the demand for energy increases
- Capacity building and institutional strengthening: enhance the abilities of the government, agencies, and society to meet the challenges and risks posed by climate change
If you would like to read more about the BCCSAP, it is linked directly below.
The Effects of the BCCSAP
Since its enactment, the BCCSAP has already made positive impacts on Bangladesh, and many more effects are expected to be noted in the future. The main goal of the BCCSAP is to reduce the severity of climate-change related issues and increase the ability of the people to adapt to these changes. However, despite the fact that it was first conceived over 5 years ago, little has actually been done to follow through with the plans that have been set in place. Currently, what has been done regarding the BCCSAP includes [3,4]:
What is truly important, though, is what can be looked forward to if the BCCSAP is followed through with, bringing about positive impacts such as [5,6]:
Despite these many positive impacts, it is also important to keep in mind what negative impacts the BCCSAP may bring [7,8]:
Overall, it can be concluded that the country of Bangladesh has been/will be mostly positively affected by the BCCSAP, and will be able to better face climate change with its aid, although negative impacts may be noted as well.
- some roads and highways have been raised above flood level
- farmers and others in the agricultural sector are receiving training and some materials to begin using climate-resistant crops or to work with the unpredictable weather patterns
- carbon emissions are actively being lowered as companies are surveyed and monitored for their emissions
- the government is receiving more information from scientific organizations regarding the speed and impacts of climate change, and is able to make more informed decisions accordingly - this will be strongly influential for future decisions
What is truly important, though, is what can be looked forward to if the BCCSAP is followed through with, bringing about positive impacts such as [5,6]:
- plans will be thoroughly constructed regarding flood management
- coastal dikes and levees will be constructed to hold back rising sea levels
- many, if not all, roads and highways will ideally be raised above flood level
- coastal polders will be constructed
- cyclone and flood shelters (an estimated 25 each) will be constructed to provide safety for citizens during such events
- warning systems for floods, cyclones, storm surges, etc. will be put in place to ensure quick evacuation or preparation of an area
- communities will be educated and equipped to be prepared for disasters or extreme weather conditions resulting from climate change
- poverty is aimed to be eradicated, and economic and social well-being of the population is aimed to be achieved
- carbon emissions will be lowered even further, and hopefully this will cause a lead-by-example reaction with other countries
- with the increased use of climate-resilient crops, the availability of food will be more secure
- safe housing and safe workplaces will be worked towards
- health care will be more readily available and accessible for those in need of it - this is especially important for those injured in increasingly extreme weather
- co-operation and bonds with other countries will increase if the government chooses to extend their initiatives to other countries
Despite these many positive impacts, it is also important to keep in mind what negative impacts the BCCSAP may bring [7,8]:
- raised roads and highways may interrupt water flow
- dikes and barriers built against rising water may disrupt natural river paths
- the BCCSAP mainly focuses on increasing the adaptation to climate change, but does not tackle climate change at its source - instead, the consequences of climate change keep rising the longer it is put off
- taxes may need to be raised in order to ensure that the plan may be fulfilled, however this is difficult for people living in poverty and can counteract some of the goals of the plan itself
- Bangladesh may form increased dependencies on external agencies or countries to provide it with information or grants
- construction will need to be undertaken to make cyclone shelters and drainage systems - drainage systems especially take time and often involve digging under existing roads or infrastructure, something that can be a dangerous job if done improperly
Overall, it can be concluded that the country of Bangladesh has been/will be mostly positively affected by the BCCSAP, and will be able to better face climate change with its aid, although negative impacts may be noted as well.
1 "BCCSAP." Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. Government of Bangladesh. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 "The BCCSAP as a Strategy to Decrease Climate Change Vulnerability." Projekter. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.
5 "BCCSAP." Government of Bangladesh. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
6 "The BCCSAP as a Strategy." Projekter. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.
7 "BCCSAP." Government of Bangladesh. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
8 "The BCCSAP as a Strategy." Projekter. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 "The BCCSAP as a Strategy to Decrease Climate Change Vulnerability." Projekter. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.
5 "BCCSAP." Government of Bangladesh. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
6 "The BCCSAP as a Strategy." Projekter. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.
7 "BCCSAP." Government of Bangladesh. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
8 "The BCCSAP as a Strategy." Projekter. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.