Adaptation to Climate Change and Sustainable Development: A Case study of Bangladesh

1. Adaptation to Climate Change and Sustainable Development: A Case study of Bangladesh Dr. Saleemul Huq Director Climate Change Programme International Institute for Environment and Development, London, United Kingdom

2. Bangladesh: Climate Change and Sustainable Development Study Carried out in 2000 by Bangladeshi and international team Based on previous work done on assessing vulnerability of Bangladesh to climate change impacts Two climate change and sea level scenarios chosen for 2030 and 2050

3. Objectives of the study What are the expected climate changes? What are the consequences for Bangladesh? For what climate change-induced impacts is Bangladesh most vulnerable? How can the potential effects of climate change be factored into policy making, and what adaptation measures for Bangladesh are most feasible?

4. Sectors chosen Coastal resources Fresh Water resources Agriculture Human health Ecosystem and biodiversity

19. Main impacts of climate change Drainage congestions due to higher sea levels and and flooding Reduced fresh water availability Disturbances to morphological processes (mainly in coastal zone) Increased intensity of disasters (extreme events)

20. Methodological Issues Addressed Choosing climate change and sea level rise scenarios Modelling impacts of chosen climate change scenarios on droughts, floods, cyclones Identifying possible adaptations Prioritising adaptation actions

21. Process of study Analysis of climate change impacts using scenarios and models Identification of most vulnerable sectors Identification of possible adaptation actions and measures in each sector Stakeholder�led prioritisation of adaptation actions in each sector Cross-sectoral linkages identified and discussed with stakeholders

22. Key findings of the study Bangladesh faces grave socio-ecological risks if it fails to adapt to climate change Many of the risks are gradual and difficult to differentiate from background variability of climate Coastal areas of the country are specially at risk Adaptation to climate change is fundamentally linked to sustainable development efforts of the country

23. Relevance to ongoing policies and programmes National Water Policy and Water Management Plan Coastal Zone Management Programme National Agriculture Development Plan National Biodiversity Action Plan Sustainable Environmental Management Programme

24. Impact on Policy makers-1 Sectoral level Water Resources Coastal Resources Biodiversity Agriculture Environment

25. Impact on Policy makers-2 National Level Planning Finance Foreign Affairs Prime Minister�s office

26. Impacts on Policy makers-3 International COP 5, 6 and 7 LDC group Adaptation issues COP 8 (Delhi)

27. Lessons learned Technical capacity to do analysis of climate change impacts- Good Awareness amongst sectoral planners and policy makers-Reasonable Awareness amongst national policy makers-Low Strategy for international negotiations-None yet