We must strengthen capacity to face climate induced challenges

A REPORT published in a national daily on Wednesday said climate impact on the country’s coastal region may put 13.5 million people at risk of displacement by 2050. Quoting World Bank it said salinity, rising sea levels and other adverse climate impacts could cause as many people to leave their homes in the coastal areas of Bangladesh by the middle of the century. Around 37 per cent of all South Asian climate migrants will be from Bangladesh, the report said.
Most coastal people will suffer from food shortage as agricultural productivity will fall from rising sea level, livelihood activities will decline along with fresh water scarcity and other adverse effects of climate change. In the South Asian region it may cause up to 216 million people to leave their homes and migrate within their own countries. In Bangladesh climate induced migration could outpace other internal migrations. The region is projected to have 35.7 million climate migrants by 2050.
The report reminds that Bangladesh as a highly populated country may see most of its coastal area submerged as surging sea water would cause water level to rise. Migration to the highland of the country may create crowded habitats of clusters of migrants to create livelihood problems and diseases. Rebuilding the population structure and their integration with local people may create manifold challenges.
It is appalling that our population is not fully aware of the looming danger. Our leadership is not properly educated on climate challenges; many even don’t understand it. Our budget allocation is not enough to prepare the nation to adapt to the new challenges. We would say funds must be available to mitigate damages. It is shocking that 20 key development ministries and divisions have only 8 per cent budgetary allocations to mitigate climate induced challenges.
We would say there must be enough funds from the government and international agencies to create capacity to tackle climate hazards. Salinity resistant crops must be developed. Coastal embankments must be strengthened to protect people from surging sea water. Preparedness should be geared up for people to survive the climate challenges.