Bangladesh - Policy Note on Climate Change

Abstract

The country is ranked as the most vulnerable to natural disasters due to frequent cyclones, storm surges and floods, coupled with a high population density and growth, and low climate resilience. In most years between 30-50 percent of the country is affected by floods. Climate change is projected to change the intensity and frequency of natural disasters, exacerbate the extent of flooding and negatively impact agricultural productivity, infrastructure and development prospects. Bangladesh has already taken action to face the climate challenge by adopting various policies to address climate change and investing heavily in adaption measures. The recently prepared climate change strategy and action plan articulates clearly how Bangladesh intends to scale up its effort to become resilient to climate change. In September 2008, the donor community agreed to establish a Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) for Climate Change in Bangladesh to assist the Government in implementing its Strategy. The World Bank was asked to administer the Trust Fund. The Trust Fund will enable to channel climate change assistance in a more harmonized approach and avoid overlapping activities and to enable Bangladesh to effectively use international assistance for climate change, and attract substantial funding in the future. Bangladesh is currently ranked as the most climate-vulnerable country in the world. Increased global temperatures are likely to increase the frequency and intensity of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, to increase monsoon rainfall which will result in additional flooding in the Ganges Brahmaputra- Meghan Basin, and to elevate sea level which would then increase coastal flooding and saline intrusion into aquifers. The resulting impact on people's livelihood can be devastating, especially in light of Bangladesh high population's density.