Political Impacts
In the past, Bangladesh has made political decisions and been subject to many things due to climate change, including:
- the government of Bangladesh worked toward putting laws in place for the protection of the environment, proper use of natural resources, and pollution control in order to slow the rate of climate change [1]
- laws, policies, and plans were developed to protect the environment and reduce the effects of climate change, including but not limited to: the National Environment Policy, the National Environment Management Action Plan, and the Environment Conservation Rules 1997 [2]
- the Department of Environment was created to survey identification and control of polluting industries, river pollution, and transportation pollution to slow or halt the pollutant emissions and reduce their impact on climate change [3]
- despite this, Bangladesh has had a history of an unstable and corrupt government that tweaks laws to ensure it is kept in power, and this means that voter preference often has quite little to do with the respective party's attention towards climate change [4]
In the present, these effects and actions have changed to reflect the increasing impacts of climate change:
- in terms of action, the government is raising levees, making canals to channel excess water away, and pumping water in an effort to combat rising sea levels - however, these actions mean that the consequences if they fail will be worse and worse [5]
- additionally, the government has commissioned the building of multiple cyclone shelters for the safety of its citizens as cyclones become more frequent
- because of the increasing levels of poverty, government corruption, political instability, and lack of adequate health care and education, it makes it harder and harder to prepare for or recuperate after the increasingly frequent natural disasters [6]
- voter preference is not heavily influenced by climate change, however it may play a larger role in the future during campaigning
- the government has also passed laws concerning better flood management, protection, and drainage, in the hopes that these laws will lessen the damage caused [7]
- policies have also been made in order to raise pathways and roads near the coast, in the hopes that during flooding they will not be washed away [8]
- the government of Bangladesh also controls the taxes, and currently has placed high tariffs on imported goods in the hopes to improve its own economy [9]- however, if production of materials and food is hindered within Bangladesh due to worsening weather conditions, this may only cause issues and the tariffs may be removed
- the government also works in correspondence with the UN and scientific agencies to determine the speed at which climate change will occur and impact the country - this helps them to place laws/policies/regulations accordingly [10]
In the future, these impacts and actions are expected to resemble changes such as:
- citizens may be more inclined to vote for a government party that addresses climate change issues and offers permanent, solid solutions
- the government may need to step in and place regulations concerning how close citizens may live to the coastline, based on the research they have gathered about how quickly the water levels will rise
- the government will be able to make better decisions about where and how to build infrastructure to ensure that it is climate resilient
- welfare and compensation for those displaced by rising sea levels may be enacted (if the economy permits)
- regulations may be set concerning drinking water (as currently, the saltwater from the rising sea is contaminating it)
- aid may need to be called on from foreign countries in cases of natural disasters
- additional laws are being discussed to control and lower carbon emissions within the country and from industries
- firm procedures and standards may be created and enforced concerning what to do during natural disasters in order to ensure the safety of people, especially those that are vulnerable (ie. homeless, children)
1 "Climate Change & Its Impacts on Bangladesh." NCDO. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
2 Ibid.
3 "Political Situation." Virtual Bangladesh. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
4 "Government Bangladesh." Virtual Bangladesh. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
5 "Bangladesh - Dealing with Climate Change." US News. U.S.News & World Report. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
6 "BCCRF." Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.
7 "Global Development of Climate Change."The Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/mar/10/climate-change-talks-bangladesh-donors>.
8 "Climate Change Bangladesh." NCDO. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
9 "Geography - Bangladesh." Infoplease. Infoplease. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
10 "Climate Change Bangladesh." NCDO. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
2 Ibid.
3 "Political Situation." Virtual Bangladesh. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
4 "Government Bangladesh." Virtual Bangladesh. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
5 "Bangladesh - Dealing with Climate Change." US News. U.S.News & World Report. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
6 "BCCRF." Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.
7 "Global Development of Climate Change."The Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/mar/10/climate-change-talks-bangladesh-donors>.
8 "Climate Change Bangladesh." NCDO. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
9 "Geography - Bangladesh." Infoplease. Infoplease. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
10 "Climate Change Bangladesh." NCDO. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.