CLIMATE CHANGE AS A NEW CATASTROPHE FOR THE WORLD

AND ROLE OF BANGLADESH TO MITIGATE THE CHANGE

Introduction

1. The word climate comes from the Greek word "Klima" referring to the inclination of sun
which influenced by the complex structure and composition of the atmosphere. Climate
change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range
from decades to millions of years. It includes both global warming driven by human induced
emissions of greenhouse gases and resulting large - scale shifts in weather patterns. The
largest driver of warming is the emissions of the greenhouse gases of which more than 90%
are carbon dioxide (Co2) and methane. Climate change has already begun to transform life on
earth shifting the sessions, climbing the temperature and raising the sea level. Presently this
rapid climate change has become the major catastrophe and the greatest threat of the 21st
century. No nation however poor or rich, small and large can escape the impact of climate
change. Appreciating the consequences of the change, heads of the state, heads of the
Government and the Heads of Delegation sited together and formed various forum and
agreements. The world leaders have already identified the climate change is a major issue for
the whole world especially for the developing countries. As an environmental problem, climate
change will generate a number of economic, social and security problem for a vast majority of
the world's population.

2. Bangladesh, with its disaster-prone geology and low elevation, is one of the top most
nations vulnerable to climate change. Though Bangladesh is little responsible for global
warming in compared to the developed countries and it is one of worst sufferers of it.
Intergovernmental Panel on climate Change (IPCC) also recognizes Bangladesh as one of
the most vulnerable countries in the world to the negative impacts of climate change. Being a
threat prone country, Bangladesh is always active to reduce the climate change. In the
process, Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Stressed the need for robust international
climate coalitions than reduce the global carbon emission effectively to move towards carbon
neutrality before the mid century. At Present the impacts of climate change are being studied
with serious concern but question remains how far countries will be able to manage the
menace.

3. Adaptation to climate change in developing countries is vital and has been highlighted
as high and urgent priority. Although uncertainly remains about the extent of climate change
impact. In the context an endeavor will be taken to highlight the reasons of climate change,
impact of climate change, and how Bangladesh is fighting to reduce the impact of climate
change.
Aim

4. The aim of this paper in to study the impact of climate change as new catastrophe and
endeavor taken by Bangladesh government to reduce the effect on Bangladesh.

An Overview of the causes of Climate change

5. General. There is an over scientific consensus that global is it the on cause warming
is mostly man made. The warming varies from area to area. Some of the reasons of climate
change are appended below:

a. Use of Fossil Fuels . One of the biggest drivers of climate change the
burning of fossil fuels, Coals Oil and gas to generate electricity. Transportation,
Power manufacturing agencies and industries have concentrated house
amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

b. Deforestation. The world’s populations are increasing day by day but

livable lands are not increasing. As a result peoples are cutting tress for cultivation,
accommodation and may more. Tress absorbs and store carbon dioxide. If we
continue reducing trees in future carbon dioxide will be more than oxygen.

c. Increasing Intensive Agriculture. Agricultural materials produce huge

amount of methane and nitrous oxide. The primary sources of greenhouse gas
emissions from agriculture is 24%.

d. Air Pollution. Air pollution in the form of aerosols not only put burden on
human health, but also affects the climate on a large scale. Due to the ongoing
restriction of Covid-19 pandemic on transportation system, world could see the air
pollution had reduced drastically. Again the air pollution is increasing as restriction has
been lifted in limited scale.
Impacts of Climate Change

6. General. Scientists use elaborate computer models of temperature, precipitation

patterns and atmosphere circulation to study climate changes. Based on those methods,
scientists have made many projections about how climate change may affect weather, glacial
ice, sea levels, agriculture, wild life and human health. Many changes linked to rising
temperatures are already being observed.

a. Extreme Imbalance in Weather . In recent days the world's weather

patterns are expected to be less predictable and more extreme. Honorable Prime
Minister of Bangladesh stated in the parliament that the temperature has increased
1˚ in the month of June and 15˚ in the month of November.

b. Impact on Ice Sheet and Glaciers. Warming temperature is already

causing significant changes to mountain glaciers around the world, ice sheets in
Greenland and the Antarctic, and polar sea ice in the Arctic. Glacier in the lofty
Himalayas is melting at a rate of 9 to 15 meters per year. Those melted
glaciers feed major rivers and sea.

c. Sea Level Rise. As the atmosphere warms, the surface layer of sea warms
as well expanding in volume thus raising sea level. By the end of 21st century sea
level is projected to rise another 28 to 58 centimeters if greenhouse gas emissions
continue to increase significantly. Again rising sea level will complicate life in many
island and coastal area.

d. Impact on Migration Issue. As sea level is increasing there by coastal

area will reduce. As a result, the inhabitants need to look for fresh shelter. Many of
the coastal inhabitants are shifting to another place especially cities are being over
crowded. Scientists predict that rising sea-levels to submerge 17 percent of
Bangladesh's land area will displace 18 million people by 2050.

e. Impact on Agriculture. Climate Change has an adverse impact on

agriculture. Due to climate change a short fall in corps production would ensure
threatening the food security of a society that is highly dependent on agriculture. In
South Asian side country like Bangladesh very often get submerged by flooding
which drives away almost 80% effort of Bangladeshi farmers and make them
environmental refugees. Honorable prime Minister in a speech stated that the
softy water of sea are entering 100 kilometers insides the river water (The Daily Star).
This salty water hampers the irrigation systems.

f. Ecosystem Collapse. Scientists have already seen the shifts in the life
cycles of many plants and animals such as flower blooming earlier and birds
hatching earlier in the spring. Many animals have started to shift from their original
location and the annual migration pattern has been changed due to changed
temperature. Plants and Animals will find it difficult to adjust with the climate change.
Many species have been abolished by the adverse impact of climate change.

g. Human Health Hazard. Impact of climate change on physical health is

overwhelmingly negative. Scientists predict more people will suffer from heat stress
 due to hotter day and warmer night. At the same time, there will be some diseases
related to cold. Africa is already vulnerable to climate sensitive disease such as Rift
valley fever, fever, cholera, malaria and many more.

h. Water Stress. Three quarters of African countries are in a zone where

small reduction in rainfall could cause large declines in flow of river water. By 2020,
between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to an increase of water
stress due to climate change. The problem of water scarcity will be higher in many of
the countries of North Africa.

j. Economic Imbalance. Economy will be badly hampered due to climate

change. Due to migration economic pressure will increase in highly populated area.
Countries dependable on agriculture will suffer from scarcity of food. Hunger will
increase in many countries. Due to lack of food, accommodation and basic
medication conflict will increase and will hamper the economy badly.

k. Degradation of Law and Order Situation. Climate change will have

negative impact on law and order situation of the country. Due to lack of water, food,
wealth and accommodation, countries with limited earning might have internal
clash. law and order situation might degrade.

Endeavour Taken by Government to Reduce the Impact On Bangladesh

7. General. Presently there are very few countries who are not badly affected by the
adverse effect of climate change. Due to the malting of ice berg, the normal sea level has
increased in many countries. The low lying countries like Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, China
and various ports of African continent are affected by floods, draughts and various natural
calamities almost every year. Controlling the climate change will require fundamental changes
in energy production, transportation, industry, government policies, and development
strategies around the world. Bangladesh as a sufferer of climate changes has taken many
endeavor to reduce the impact of climate change though has very less contribution in the
changes, these are of below:

8. Strong Institutional Set Up. Bangladesh has developed many strong institutional
set up. Wide range of program by Disaster Response and Recovery seminars, workshops
and discussions on climate changes and impact of climate changes are conducted country
wide to increase the public awareness,.
9. Policies and Legislation. Bangladesh government has formulated many
policies to fight against climate changes. Bangladesh Draft National plan for Disaster
Management and Relief (NPDMR), formulation of climate change and Strategy (CCS) and
Delta plan 2100 are worth mentioning. Honourable Prime-Minister of Bangladesh has agreed
to mobilize $ 100 billion per year in climate finance. At present the amount of finance is far
below than expectation.

10. Hosting Global Centre for Adaptation (GCA). Bangladesh Government

Offered the Co-chairs of Global Centre for Adaptation (GCA) Mr Ban Ki-Moon to host a
regional centre at Dhaka. Sharing knowledge and experience on adaptation within member
states is the prime aim of the GCA. Besides, Prime-Minister also shared the Community
Based Adaptation (CBA) and locally led adaptation in Bangladesh. Many other Countries of
the region are also managing at their own.

11. Forestation. Bangladesh Government has emphasized on large scale

forestation across the country as part of the Birth centenary of father of the nation.
Approximately 1 corer of trees will be planted across the country in the process. Besides,
coastal base afforestation in Bangladesh is conducted every year. Community base
afforestation in Nepal and Bhutan are also encouraging.

12. Education. Bangladesh government has started to educate the school going
children about the adverse effect of climate change. Besides emphasize is given how to make
the environment suitable for our livelihood. Tree plantation program, seminar and symposium
are being conducted periodically in primary, secondary and higher educational institutions.

13. Use of Renewable Energy. Bangladesh government is emphasizing to reduce

the use of fossil fuel system. Meanwhile government has started to use solar hydro power off
grid solar system in government installations and remote areas. The use of solar power is
encouragingly increasing day by day in Bangladesh. This system is being widely used for
irrigation system also.

14. Carbon Taxes . Implementation of carbon tax may be an effective ways to reduce
the population. Bangladesh being worst sufferer of climate change emphasizes on tax on
using fuels in proportion to their carbon content to industries and other sectors

15. International Cooperation. Realization of developed countries about the adverse

effect of carbon emission to the poor and developing country may reduce the reason of
climate change. Honorable prime Minister of Bangladesh many a time emphasized about the
adverse effect of climate change in international forum. In Germany, Hungary and even
annual united nation Assembly, Prime Minister has emphasized for international cooperation.
She emphasized on fund raising 100 Million every year by every country( The Daily star).

16. Regional Cooperation. In addition to international cooperation, Regional

cooperation such as South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), BIMSTEC,
G8 and other organization my play assertive role to reduce the emission in the region.
Bangladesh emphasis to include disaster management in their policies in coping with climate
change. An ASEAN Action Plan on Joint Response to Climate Change was adopted by the
12th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment held on 26 September 2012. The ASEAN Leaders
expressed ASEAN’s common understanding/position and aspirations towards a global solution to the
challenge of climate change and their resolve to achieve an ASEAN community resilient to climate
change through national and regional actions. The Project on “Biodiversity and Climate Change”
with financial assistance from Germany amounting to Euro 2,500,000 is being implemented to
assist ASEAN in developing and implementing strategies and instruments in the field of
biodiversity and climate change.

17. Voluntary Awareness Programme At a national level Bangladesh has started to

increase awareness about the impact of climate change. Various Government and Non-
Government organization have come up to increase the public awareness and publish the
devastating impact of climate change. At various level awareness program, Government,
Division, district, Upazila

18. Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases. Greenhouse gases can be mitigated by

stopping the consumption of fossil fuels and keeping carbon dioxide out of atmosphere.
Bangladesh being a developing country trying to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
Mega endeavor of the government Ruppur nuclear power plant is an ongoing project which
will reduce the dependency on coil for production of electricity.

Conclusion

19. Climate change is an evil fact and the impact are already hitting vulnerable
communications. Where people are Starting to adapt their lives. It is a matter of shame that
the developing country of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the small Island are worst suffer of
climate change. Even though those countries have very little impact on the change. The
sufferer countries asked the developed countries to come forward with a good and logical
solution of the problems. But the leaders of the world have failed to make any strong treaty
and law on such issue. Developing countries are already suffering from the impacts of climate
change and are the most vulnerable to future change. Not only the human being are affected
but also the animals, plants, nature and as a whole the world is affected by the change. A
successful framework must directly involve assistance for adaptation in developing countries,
small Island developing states and least developed countries given that they will
disproportionally bear the brunt of climate change impact.

20. Bangladesh government in very active in climate change starting from formulation of
national strategic plan raising fund and highlighting the issue in international forum.
Government has launched country wide public awareness programmer and educating the
school going children about the impact and mitigation of climate change. If there is delay in
implementation of adaptation including delay in financing adaptation projects this will cause
ultimate damage to the environment. The deadly cyclone Ayla and Cedar in Bangladesh are
the atrocious results of climate change in present days. Prime Minister of Bangladesh is very
much concern about the mitigation process of the climate change. Amendment in various
policies and formulation of different committees are active and passive endeavor of the
government. Besides, country wide public awareness by government and Non-government
Organization is ongoing activities across the year.
 Recommendation

21. Some recommendation on this burning issue are appended below:

a. UN Should step forward to formulate international cooperation regarding the

impact and remedial measures of climate change.

b. The strict compliance of the treaty by the developed countries must be

maintain to reduce the impact of low laying countries.