Climate change is one of the hottest issues every country is facing today. Although the effect of greenhouse gasses has been the subject of scientific scrutiny for over decades, only in the recent years has it given attention due to drastic changes of weather behavior. Not only the government was alarmed by the adverse effect of climate change, but the public as well because they are the one who will suffer the most by such consequences.
The concerns received from the public over the effects of climate change may be rooted from the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) when national governments, organizations as well as private individuals worked together in figuring out the threats posed by the climate change. On the framework convention signed by participating countries at UNCED, it reflected the heightening concerns about the effects of climate change and the urgent call for action to prevent or at least reduce the exacerbation of the potential impacts, particularly to the vulnerable developing countries.
Bangladesh, as considered to be a developing country, is mostly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The widespread flood in 1988 which submerged two-thirds of the country and the April 1991 storm surge that killed nearly 140,000 coastal inhabitants are constant reminders how climate change should be taken seriously by the government and the people of Bangladesh. The flat and low-lying topography is risked even more by the rising sea levels.
However, not only the safety of countrymen are being watched by the adverse effects of climate change, but the economic growth as well facing a downturn as global warming hit the country massively.
Bangladesh is characterized by high temperatures, heavy rainfall and high humidity. But, if the projected climate change will take place, it will result in increased flooding associated with rising sea levels and increased glacial melt due to its lying within the Himalayan chain. Normally, 30 to 70 percent of the country is being flooded each year. But, if the environmental stress will continue, the flooding rate will rise in terms of extent and frequency with the vulnerability of the country to cyclones and storm surges. The moisture of the land will be also affected having longer dry periods will result to drought. In this case, the agricultural sector will suffer greatly maimed to provide for export products and even for its own citizens.
Bangladesh is a traditional rice-growing society. But, the projected climate change impact will cause soil erosion and leaching that will lessen the farmlands and thus, the harvest. The solution being proposed for counter measures is modernization in evolving technologies that will change entirely the economical structures and existing social systems that will be devastated by the significant climate change and rising sea level. For example, the country will focus in providing outsource services for foreign countries rather than depend largely on agricultural sector that will receive the massive impact of climate change. Enhancing the resource base such as improving the crop production will provide enough food supply.
On the other hand, migration will be one of the biggest problems when people will lose land and employment. Permanent movements are inevitable opportunities will be limited and the weather conditions are not favorable anymore for normal human living. High migration rates and brain drain will aggravate the potential adverse effect of climate change on socio-economic factors.
Interdisciplinary research is needed to develop an optimum strategy in reducing the vulnerability of climate change extremes. Setting priorities in countering the adverse effects of global warming will prepare the leaders as well as the citizens if the worst will arrive in the near future.
References:
Dell, Melissa et. al., Does climate change affect economic growth?, June 2009, http://www.voxeu.org
Tanuwidjaja, Gunawan, THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON ECONOMY AND MICROECONOMIC POLICY FOR THE MITIGATION, March 2010, http://greenimpactindo.wordpress.com
Ayers, Jessica and Saleemul Huq, Climate Change Impacts and Responses in Bangladesh, January 2008
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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