Published: 12:00 AM, 08 May 2016
BD braces for climate disasters: Experts
Climate change will emerge as a great threat to the country's development in the days to come, warned environmental experts at a discussion here on Saturday.
"By the time, the height of the Padma Bridge Project has increased by one meter, considering impact of the future sea-level rise to be caused by climate change," said executive director of Bangladesh Centre for Advance Studies (BCAS) Dr Atiq Rahman. COAST Trust (Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust), a non-government organization, arranged the discussion on 'Setting Agenda for World Humanitarian Summit Istanbul - Climate Change-Induced Displacement: Humanitarian and Rights Perspective' at Cirdap auditorium.Dr Atiq predicted that if the sea level rises by one meter, about 20 million people will get displaced in Bangladesh, submerging huge coastal lands.According to the fifth assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the sea level could rise from 26cm - 98cm by 2100, depending on global emissions levels.
If the sea level rises as per the IPCC prediction, Bangladesh will lose 17.5 percent of its total landmass while it is a small country with the total area of 147,570 square kilometers.
He said Bangladesh is in such a situation where climate change-induced migration will surely take place. "Urbanisation will lead climate change-induced migration in the country…we should reduce our internal migration through better preparedness," Atiq said.Eminent economist and PKSF chairman Prof Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said, "Climate change is happening here and displacement is also happening, so it's very difficult to determine the reasons behind the displacement." He said urbanization should be planned to minimize the aftermath of climate change-induced internal migration in the country. The economist stressed the need for focusing on loss and damage issue, adaptation and economic and social development to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change.
"By the time, the height of the Padma Bridge Project has increased by one meter, considering impact of the future sea-level rise to be caused by climate change," said executive director of Bangladesh Centre for Advance Studies (BCAS) Dr Atiq Rahman. COAST Trust (Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust), a non-government organization, arranged the discussion on 'Setting Agenda for World Humanitarian Summit Istanbul - Climate Change-Induced Displacement: Humanitarian and Rights Perspective' at Cirdap auditorium.Dr Atiq predicted that if the sea level rises by one meter, about 20 million people will get displaced in Bangladesh, submerging huge coastal lands.According to the fifth assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the sea level could rise from 26cm - 98cm by 2100, depending on global emissions levels.
If the sea level rises as per the IPCC prediction, Bangladesh will lose 17.5 percent of its total landmass while it is a small country with the total area of 147,570 square kilometers.
He said Bangladesh is in such a situation where climate change-induced migration will surely take place. "Urbanisation will lead climate change-induced migration in the country…we should reduce our internal migration through better preparedness," Atiq said.Eminent economist and PKSF chairman Prof Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said, "Climate change is happening here and displacement is also happening, so it's very difficult to determine the reasons behind the displacement." He said urbanization should be planned to minimize the aftermath of climate change-induced internal migration in the country. The economist stressed the need for focusing on loss and damage issue, adaptation and economic and social development to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change.
