Sea Level Rise and the Threat to Bangladesh

Bangladesh is an unleveled delta country located at the bank of the Bay of Bengal; the country is one of the most vulnerable countries of climate & environment change. Among the myriad of challenges which it has to face the sea level rise is one factor that poses the harshest risk not only to its coast as well as riverine population, their physical environment and economies. Higher global temperature due to greenhouse effect, vulnerability of Bangladesh’s geographical location, social and economic status the threat of rising seas in after effects in more dangerous.

The Science Behind the Crisis

This is still on the rise with increased rate through effects like thermal expansion integrating with the effects of Polar Ice Caps and Glaciers. According to IPCC, the global sea–level has risen by about 20cm in the calendar period 1901–2018. They foresee another rise of 26 to 98 centimeters by the close of the century based on emissions standards. For Bangladesh, the stakes are alarmingly high: many of the coastal areas that make up approximately 32 percent of the country’s land area could be flooded, with increased salinity in waters and loss of habitats.

Vulnerable Communities

More than 35 million people living in the coastal zones of Bangladesh either depend on fishing or farming activities. Districts including Khulna, Satkhira and Barisal are already feeling the impact of this via the rising tides. Coping with floods: The described regions are under water threats such as: the establishment of severe floods, cyclonic storms and water logging more frequent during the slow and gradual process of sea intrusion.

This clearly shows that the floods are not a seasonal calamity any more, said another survivor, Shila Rani of Satkhira. ‘These terrorists kill, plunder crops, homes, and anything that gives us hope.’

Residential relocation is an issue where communities are be distribution. A paper from the World Bank predicts that increasing sea levels can cause the displacement of over 13 million people within Bangladesh by 2050. These so called climate induced ‘climate migrants’ many a time move to urban ghettos where the conditions of population density along with absence of requisite infrastructure lead to a cycle of poverty and susceptibility.

Economic Consequences

Agriculture, a key sub-sector of Bangladeshi economy, will be most affected. Deterioration of the rivers which supplies fresh water through period of increased sea level has led to salinity that has made large tracts of agricultural land unproductive. Despite this the people in the southwestern coastal regions are gradually turning away from rice production for the potentially less profitable shrimp production. This shift is dangerous not only for food security but water security, the depletion of the freshwater supplies, and the negative impact on biological diversities.

Another of the important economic activities, fisheries, are also at risk. Shift in temperatures and levels of salinity drastically affect marine environments especially fish stocks. Sustainable yields are prejudicial to the fisheries-dependent populations and put a pressure on the country’s food bill.

Environmental Impacts

Bangladesh possess the largest mangrove forest in the world, Sundarbans which is also a world heritage site to protect and safeguard from storms and coastal degradation. However, the main threat in this country is the rise of sea level from year to year and increase of salinity in the connected area. These are those plant specie which are unique to the Sundarbans and giving the forest its name such as sundari trees are also becoming extinct at the same time many of the fauna such as the Royal Bengal tiger are suffering from lack of place to live as their habitats are being invaded by human beings.

Storm effects enhance exposure of adjacent human establishments besides decreasing the region’s capacity to deal with future mangrove destruction. Further, biotic decline is one of the biggest concerns for global ecology, let alone carbon sequestration and support of the marine system in Sundarbans.

This thesis focuses on Community perspectives and experience of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.
Well aware that we only contribute 0.7% of global emissions, Bangladesh is now amongst the most affected by climate shifts.” For these negative effects of sea-level rise, the available evidence shows that the residents and leaders at the policy making level are already on the lookout for measures which could be taken to mitigate them.

One of these is the construction, expansion or reinforcement of sustainable structures which include; chunk structures, embankments, storm shelters and raised homes. This initiative by the central government is the Coastal Embankment Improvement Project (CEIP) which will seek to resolve issues with water retention in weak dikes as well as inadequate control over water flow from the drainage systems. Also, programs that support the preparation of afforestation programs and programs that supports the preparation of Mangrove are important in protecting the coastlines.

In the area of adaptation, for instance, new hope for agricultural practices is emerging. New rice varieties that can withstand salinity, floating Rice fields, and Integrated farming” technologies are being tested along the coast. These practices can be viewed as holding the promise to sustaining food security and income under [...] adversity.

The Global Responsibility

Combating sea level rise in Bangladesh as a crisis calls for cooperation at the international level. The industrialised nations, which are most culpable for past greenhouse gases emissions, have a political obligation to assist less developed countries such as Bangladesh by providing climate finance, technology and technical assistance.

However, there is a measurement gap in terms of enhancing and focusing on other external sources namely the Green Climate Fund, to promote development of large scale adaptation. Furthermore, ERCPs or emission reduction commitments undertaken by nations has to be Gloria to the principle objective of the Paris Agreement to keep global warming to 1.5 °C over the pre-industrial level.

Stories of Resilience

Despite these, one is left with the light at the end of the tunnel especially because of the people of Bangladesh. In Bangladeshi district of Patuakhali, a community led by women has been cultivating the kitchen gardening technology to prevent the adverse effects of storm surges on their village by the restoration of mangroves. Likewise, grass-root NGOs and civil-society are enabling climate impacted communities to gain awareness about the situations, get trained in resulting new skill sets and petition.

A fisherman Hasan Ahmed from Khulna said, ‘We have to struggle for our land and our future.’ Thus, the message said, ‘together we can adapt and survive’.

Conclusion

Climate change, in particular, sea level rise is not an environmental question to the people of Bangladesh; it is more of existence. The negative effects are however already being realized and if no measures are taken, the effects will be far worse. However, proactive measures in the country together with world solidarity provides a way of fighting the calamity.

The case of Bangladesh shows why climate justice needs to happen now. As the level on the pan increases as we watch the tides being common on the resident of the Bay of Bengal, it should be a reminder that we are all in this world together as we fight for the future of our planet.

Eyenews/HA 

• Sea Level Rise in Bangladesh Faster Than Global Average