Doha

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Climate Change and Disaster Vulnerabilities in
the Coastal Areas of Bangladesh
COAST Trust Equity and Justice Working
Group www.coastbd.org www.equitybd.org
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The Coast of Bangladesh
Coastal area covers 32 of countrys total
areas 35 million people/ 28 of countrys
population live in the coastal areas 20 and 40
of Worlds population lives within 30 kilometers
and 100 kilometers of the coast respectively
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Socio-Economic Status of Coastal People
54 Families are Functionally Landless High
Annual Population Growth Rate, 1.29 in
comparison to 0f national average By 2020
Population will be increased to 45 million from
35 million
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Number of medium farm households reduced to 11
in 1996 from 31 in 1960. Number of non-farm
households increased from 19 percent in 1960 to
30 percent in 1996.
Agri-based Livelihoods
Medium farm households are loosing cultivable
land and becoming small farm and then to
non-farm households The number of marginal and
non farm households are increasing
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Living standard, average life expectancy, access
to education, health and other basic services,
social security etc are not at expected level in
comparison to national average.
Risk in the Coastal Areas

increasing trends climate related
vulnerabilities and natural disasters are making
peoples life more helpless.
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Risk Factors in the Coastal Areas
Typical geographical settings and low elevation
from the mean sea level

Influence of monsoon Open and extended
coastal belt Strong tidal force, wind action,
dynamic process of erosion and accretion,
Gradual sloping of the continental shelf
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Over exploitation of natural resources,
Urbanization, population growth, Neo-liberal
Economic Policies, Consumerism of rich nations,
Profit maximization of the MNCs
Disaster Risk Whats Cause Behind
Increasingly emission of GHGs Global
warming changes in climatic condition.
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Disaster Risk Whats Cause Behind
Combustion of fossil fuel annually adding 5.7 X
109 tons of carbon. Deforestation annually
adding 0.6 0.5 X 109 tons of Carbon Massive
utilization of natural coal in China, annually
could contribute upto 3 of worlds Carbon
emission. Increasing trend of cement production,
5 annually, adding considerable Carbon in the
atmosphere.
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Global Warming and Changes in Climatic Condition
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Global Warming and Endangered Bangladesh
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Global Warmingand Endangered Bangladesh

• 15-17 land area will be Submerged by 100 cm Rise
  of Sea Level
• 20 m. People will Become Environmental Refugee
• Flooding Risks of Low Land will be Increased by
  29 ,
• 145 km Sandy Shoreline from CXB to Bodormokam
  Would be Inundated
• By 2030 about 58 thousand Hectare land would be
  Submerged

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Global WarmingEndangered Bangladesh

Worldwide Hydro-metrological Disaster e.g.
Drought, Flood, Cyclone etc have increased than
Geographical Disasters like Tsunami, Earthquake
etc. Climate change is likely to increase such
disasters in Bangladesh Bangladesh would be
worst victim of incidence and intensity of
Hydro-metrological Disasters
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Global WarmingEndangered Bangladesh

Bangladesh is particularly prone to
Hydro-metrological Disaster which has been found
increasing in the recent years In 2007 we faced
prolong flooding, 13 depressions have been formed
in the Bay including Cyclone SIDR that hit
Bangladeshs Coast Other climate related
disasters heavy rainfall, flood, drought,
erosion, salinity, water logging , drinking water
scarcity , loss of biodiversity etc are also
increasing.
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Endangered Bangladesh Cyclone
10 of the worlds tropical cyclone develop in
the Indian Ocean but cause 85 of the worlds
cyclonic havoc During 1980 to 2000, cyclone
caused death of 2.5 m people worldwide, of which
60 percent were in Bangladesh. Philippines is
at high risk to cyclone but cyclonic death in
Bangladesh is 10 times than the Philippines.
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Considering Factors
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Frequency Distribution of Cyclone

• 45 deadly cyclone occurred during 1793- 1997,
  average frequency is 1 in every 4-5 years
• 700 cyclone occurred during 1891-1990, of which
  62 in pre-monsoon and 192 in Post-monsoon season

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Warning System Disaster Preparedness

11 Signals for Sea-port and 04 for River
port During 1980s No Cyclone Center Constructed
by the Government In 1991 We had 300 Cyclone
Centers BUT Requirements were 5000 Special
Weather Bulletin Announced in Fair Bangla
Language---is difficult to follow by the local
people
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During 1996-2000 financial loss was Tk. 54843
m, affected area 567900 acre and affected people
were 12 m
Coastal Erosion
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Coastal Erosion
30868 m3 tidal water flows upward through the
channels These channels carry down upstream
fresh waters from 38,896 m2 coastal and midland
areas of Bangladesh. Annually 6 m. cusecs water
along with 2179 m. MT sediments flows downward
through the estuaries The pressure of the
downwards flows, strong tidal circulation results
unprecedented erosion
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Embankments designed to dissipate the energy of
waves IT only can give residents a false sense
of security
ErosionProtection Few Observations

Construction During Erosion Use of Inadequate
Number and Size of Boulders and Sand Bags Lack
of Monitoring and regular maintenance
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Salinity Intrusion
Sea level rise will cause salinity intrusion
through rivers and estuaries In the rainy
season saline water ingress to 10 of countrys
area, in the dry season it reaches to 40 area
even
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Figure shows that 0.5 meter sea level rise will
cause saline water intrusion in many fresh water
areas
Salinity Intrusion
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Salinity Intrusion
IMAPCT 10 more land (relative to 1990) will be
saline-affected and will rise 10 annually
Decreases availability/productivity of
agricultural land Increased food insecurity Loss
of biodiversity, e.g. decrease in tree species
and freshwater fish Serious scarcity of safe
drinking water
CAUSES Global warming and expansion/ rising of
SL Withdrawal of fresh water flows at Farakka
barrage. Expansion of Shrimp Farm Frequency
and intensity of tidal surges Low relative
elevation from the mean sea level.
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Endangered Economy
Bangladesh will require USD 1 billion to face the
impact of sea level rise, USD 13 billion to
rehabilitate 13 million ousted coastal
population, and USD 12 million to safeguard
coast. BUT the cost of production loss, 28 to
57 percent, from the present level by 1 meter sea
level rise would never be repairable.
1970 cyclone caused death of 1.2 m people and
USD 86.4 m. financial loss 1991 Cyclone caused
death of 138, 000 people and USD 1780 m financial
loss Cyclone SIDR in 2007 caused death of 3199
(?) Affected families 6.8 m, Financial Loss
estimated USD 3 billion
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DisasterGlobal Scenario
The last decade could be identified as disaster
decade. In 2004, Indian Ocean Tsunami caused
death of 280,000 people Devastating floods/
cyclones in China, India, USA Europe caused
huge loss of life and properties 240,000 people
in Nizare affected with famine and people in
Malawi facing drought and famine The
devastating affect of Hurricane, Katrina and
Rita etc. in the USA
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DisasterGlobal Scenario
In 2004 worldwide disaster caused economic loss
of 123 billion most of which were in the poor
countries World Bank report says, 7.5 billion
will be needed to overcome Indian Ocean Tsunami
loss 5 billion will be needed to recover the
earthquake loss in Kashmir, Pakistan. EC-HAD
reported that the poor countries are facing at
least 3 expected GDP loss annually.
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Whats needed !Land Reclamation
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Whats needed !Mangrove Forestation
Mangrove can reduce strength of Typhoon and
Tsunami by 30-40 percent
Sea level (0m)
10m
gt20m
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Measures Needs to Take
Local Level Training, Skill Development
through local government. Special whether
bulletin in local and easy language Maintenance
to cyclone center and coastal embankment More
discussion, consultation on Climate
Change Launching community radio Emergency fund
at the local government especially for
pre-disaster preparedness
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Measures Needs to Take
Rural Centric Development More budget
allocation for capacity building, disaster
preparedness and rehabilitation Saving
mangrove forest Salinity tolerant rice/ crop
seed development Reducing population
growth Defend rights of ethnic, and marginalized
Professional group like coastal fishers Resist
GMO hybrid and more Input based cropping
practices
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Measures Needs to Take
Stop corporatization in agriculture and develop
community based seed preservation practices to
support post disaster agriculture Develop
alternative livelihoods options, develop
appropriate adaptive technology but not
undermining ITK Besides PRS, long term
development/financial planning for Sustainable
DRR Besides, cyclone shelter construction
support coastal people to build strong houses
those could even be served as shelter
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Measures Needs to Take
Alliance formation of the countries that are at
risk of global warming and associated disasters
and make pressure and lobby with the developed
counties for loss compensation Partnership
with the developed counties for appropriate
adaptive technology innovation and transfer the
poor countries Effective Participation in World
Carbon Trading
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UN-COP 13 OUR POSITION
Industrialized countries should act urgently to
mitigate GHG emission halving of global
emissions by 2050 compared to 1990 level. We
discourage carbon trading we demand mitigation
The temperature rise would continue to next 50
years even at present level of Carbon
concentration. So countries at climate risk
should be supported with appropriate adaptive
technologies. Sea level rise will cause huge
environmental refugee who should have right of
migration to other countries.
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UN-COP 13 OUR POSITION
Developing countries should be supported with
massive new CDM technology Growing
industrialized countries should join Kyoto system
and adopt binding emission limitation targets
from the next phase (post Kyoto commitment)
Poor countries should be supported with
reliable financing mechanism to implement NAPA (
National Adaptation Programme of Action)
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CARE CLIMATE CANCEL DEBT of THE LDCs

Thank You All www.equitybd.org