Climate change in Bangladesh

Climate change is a critical issue in Bangladesh.^[1] as the country is one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.^[2][3] In the 2020 edition of Germanwatch's Climate Risk Index, it ranked seventh in the list of countries most affected by climate calamities during the period 1999–2018.^[4] Bangladesh's vulnerability to the effects of climate change is due to a combination of geographical factors, such as its flat, low-lying, and delta-exposed topography.^[5] and socio-economic factors, including its high population density, levels of poverty, and dependence on agriculture.^[6] The impacts and potential threats include sea level rise, temperature rise, food crisis, droughts, floods, and cyclones.^[7]

Factors such as frequent natural disasters, lack of infrastructure, high population density (174 million people living in an area of 147,570 km^{2 [8]}), an extractivist economy and social disparities are increasing the vulnerability of the country in facing the current changing climatic conditions. Almost every year large regions of Bangladesh suffer from more intense events like cyclones, floods and erosion. The mentioned adverse events are slowing the development of the country by bringing socio-economical and environmental systems to almost collapse.^[8]

Natural hazards that come from increased rainfall, rising sea levels, and tropical cyclones are expected to increase as the climate changes, each seriously affecting agriculture, water and food security, human health, and shelter.^[9]

Sea levels in Bangladesh are predicted to rise by up to 0.30 metres by 2050, resulting in the displacement of 0.9 million people, and by up to 0.74 metres by 2100, resulting in the displacement of 2.1 million people.^[10]

To address the sea level rise threat in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 was launched in 2018.^[11][12] The Government of Bangladesh is working on a range of specific climate change adaptation strategies. Climate Change adaptation plays a crucial role in fostering the country's development.^[13] This is already being considered as a synergic urgent action together with other pressing factors which impede higher growth rates (such as the permanent threat of shocks – natural, economic or political – the uncertain impact of globalization, and an imbalanced world trade).^[14] As of 2020, it was seen falling short of most of its initial targets, still leaving 80 million people at risk of flooding where it should have been reduced to 60 million people.^[15] The progress is being monitored.^[16]