BANGLADESH is known as one of the most vulnerable countries to the impact of global climate change, but the country is moving fast from the vulnerability to a become climate-resilient society through various policy responses and climate actions at various levels. The country has formulated a set of policies, plans and strategies to address climate change through adaptation, mitigation and disaster risks reduction. The policies and strategies aim at protecting people, the economy and ecosystems as well as building resilience to climate change.
Landmark achievements are the formulation of the National Adaptation Programme of Action (2005), the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (2009), the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, the National Adaptation Plan (2022), the Bangladesh climate change Gender Action Plan (2023) and the nationally determined contribution, updated in 2022. But the country is faced with a number of challenges of implementation of the climate policies and strategies including transformative capacity-building in relevant institutions; mobilising skilled human resources; arranging adequate climate finance from both domestic and global sources as well as enhancing climate governance. The forthcoming COP-30 will have a key focus on global climate governance.
The National Adaptation Programme of Action was prepared in 2005 and it was updated in 2009. The programme was an immediate and urgent response to addressing the impact of climate change under the UNFCCC guideline. The programme includes 15 projects for capacity building and sectoral adaptation for climate risk reduction. The Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan was formulated in 2008 and it was revised in 2009, which has a holistic approach that describes type climate hazards with risk reduction and adaptation strategies. Adaptation and mitigation measures have been suggested in six thematic areas: food security and social protection; comprehensive disaster preparedness; protection of resources and infrastructure; knowledge and capacity building; low carbon sustainable development; and institutional strengthening and integration.
Considering the urgent need for immediate, medium and long-term adaptation strategies, the country has formulated the National Adaptation Plan in 2022. The vision is to build a climate-resilient nation through effective adaptation strategies to foster a climate-resilient society and ecosystems that stimulate sustainable economic growth and inclusive development. The plan sets six goals to achieve its vision in considering diverse issues. The specific goals are: protection against climate vulnerability and natural disasters; climate-resilient agriculture for food, nutrition and livelihood security; climate-smart cities for urban resilience; nature-based solution for the conservation of nature and well-being of the communities; good governance for integration of adaptation in local planning process; and transformative capacity building for innovation and adaptation.
The formulation of the plan followed a participatory, iterative and progressive process that is country-driven, responsive to gender concern and based on both the latest science and indigenous knowledge. It primarily encompasses eight sectors for the identification of climate risks and adaptation. These are water resources; disaster, social safety and security; agriculture; fisheries, aquaculture and livestock; urban areas; ecosystems, wetlands and biodiversity; policies and institutions; and capacity development, research and innovation. Infrastructure, water and sanitation, health, gender, youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, ethnic communities and other socially disadvantaged groups, and the private sector are cross-cutting issues and part of identifying appropriate strategies aligned with national aspirations.
The Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2022) has put importance on gender equity and social justice in planning and implementation of climate responses in relation to adaptation, mitigation, capacity development and climate finance. The government has formulated the Bangladesh climate change Gender Action Plan in the alignment of the Paris agreement and guidance of the IPCC report. The plan aims at main-streaming gender concerns into climate change-related policies, strategies and interventions. The priority areas for adaptation and mitigation actions included: natural resources (land, water, forestry and bio-diversity); resilient livelihoods (crop, livestock, fisheries and urban agriculture) and infrastructure including inhabitants, WASH and energy.
Bangladesh has prepared and submitted the intended nationally determined contributions in 2015, which targeted a 5 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 unconditionally and up to 10 per cent with international support. The updated nationally determined contribution (2021) has expanded climate actions to sectors including energy, industry, transport, agriculture, forest and other land use and waste management. These commitments aim at supporting Bangladesh鈥檚 transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy while promoting its development as a middle-income country. The nationally determined contribution has emphasised private-sector engagement in mitigation actions in all priority areas. There is also a huge scope for main-streaming social equity and gender consideration in nationally determined contribution implementation.
Bangladesh has made huge efforts in creating a right policy framework for climate actions at various levels by government and private-sector actors. The domestic framework and road maps also align with international commitments, such as the Paris agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. There are opportunities for UN agencies and development partners to support the Bangladesh government as it continues to develop its plans and strategies for local climate actions with community and actors. However, there is the huge need for institutional coordination, capacity building and an adequate financial mobilisation for the implementation of climate plans and strategies. The capacity building may foster leadership and skills development of the local government, women and youth groups; ensure the inclusion and participation of the vulnerable groups and national minorities in planning and implementation of local climate actions.
COP-30 in Bel茅m, Brazil will focus on accelerating global commitments for mitigation for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, adaptation for climate risks reduction, climate finance and technology transfer for climate actions. It may also emphasise climate governance at global and national levels as well as raise the voice for urgent climate actions since the windows for climate actions are closing rapidly. The climate negotiators must also find effective links between climate actions (deeper cut of carbon emissions and adaptation in the light of global goal on adaptation) and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Dr Atiq Rahman is executive director of and Dr Dwijen Mallick is a senior fellow at the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies.