Pitch
Coastal regions of Bangladesh are vulnerably affected by sea level rising and practices different adaptation strategies
Description
Summary
Coastal regions of Bangladesh are vulnerably affected by climate change. In those regions fresh water is the most valuable stuffs to the inhabitants since lives of human beings and aquatic plants and animals are mostly dependent on the availability of fresh water. And sea level rising which is a consequence of global climate change affects this availability and distribution of fresh water in coastal regions as rise in sea level brings salt water into the surface. As a result, gradually the areas turn into out of condition for cultivation. Moreover, all countries don’t face the impacts of climate change equally. For instance, low-lying countries like Bangladesh, Maldives etc. are deeply affected by sea level rising whereas the Netherlands can manage itself from this danger though the country is also below sea level. Ali (1999) mentions three adaptive options for the people living in coastal areas such as retreat, accommodation and protection. However, he argues that just because of high population density and lack of land, retreat is not achievable. Nevertheless, accommodation and protection strategies are applicable in the context of coastal regions. For instance, Bangladesh has a mangrove forest in the Western coastal area named Sundarban which is needed to protect from denudation and employ a colossal afforestation project all over the coastal regions. In addition, the country can introduce new varieties of rice which can tolerate higher temperature and exist even with higher salinity and be grown and harvested during the non-cyclonic period of time. Bangladesh has also constructed a large number of cyclone shelters which are used to save human beings, animals and properties during cyclone and flooding. As an adaptation and protection strategy, the country has been emphasizing on constructing new embankments to keep the coastal areas protected and safe from sea level rising and flooding during the storm and cyclonic periods.
Category of the action
Mitigation/Adaptation, Changing public attitudes about climate change
What actions do you propose?
It can also be said that the people living in coastal zones suffer from impacts of global climate change though their contribution to the greenhouse gas is insignificant or virtually zero. They cannot even flee from the high risk coastal zones since their livelihood in some cases depends on natural and physical environment of the locality. So, they must cope with the changing environment. Ali (1999) mentions three adaptive options for the people living in coastal areas such as retreat, accommodation and protection. However, he argues that just because of high population density and lack of land, retreat is not achievable. Nevertheless, accommodation and protection strategies are applicable in the context of coastal regions. For instance, Bangladesh has a mangrove forest in the Western coastal area named Sundarban which is needed to protect from denudation and employ a colossal afforestation project all over the coastal regions. In addition, the country can introduce new varieties of rice which can tolerate higher temperature and exist even with higher salinity and be grown and harvested during the non-cyclonic period of time. Bangladesh has also constructed a large number of cyclone shelters which are used to save human beings, animals and properties during cyclone and flooding, are also used as community centers, schools etc. during other times. As an adaptation and protection strategy, the country has been emphasizing on constructing new embankments to keep the coastal areas protected and safe from sea level rising and flooding during the storm and cyclonic periods (Ali, 1999: 114-115). Moreover, M. L. Parry et al. (2004) declare that there are two types of adaptation strategies in the crop yield such as farm-level adaptation which includes changes in planting date and use of additional fertilization and irrigation in the existing irrigated regions and regional-scale adaptation that is employed in the same manner developed countries did to modify the yield changes such as development of new cultivars and irrigation infrastructure. However, there are some limitations of crop models like these tactics are not applicable at the time of acid disposition, flooding etc. On the other hand, while perfect hydrological process model is vital for concluding impacts of climate change on agriculture, global climate models are sometimes unsuccessful in reproducing contemporary climate in other respects, i.e. high or low pressure systems, monsoonal circulations, ocean heart transport etc. (M. L. Parry et al., 2004: 54-57). Furthermore, Bhuiyan and Dutta (2012) tried to determine the impacts of sea level rise with the help of a hydrodynamic model. In so doing, they adopted a newly developed salinity flux model with the existing hydrodynamic model in order to get a comprehensive understanding of the issue. They conducted their study in the coastal region of Gorai river network in the South West region of Bangladesh. Coastal regions are vulnerable to changes in climate. The authors claim here that sea level did increase 10-12 cm every decade over the last century which was so high in coastal regions because of low land. The 4th IPCC report also noted that vulnerability of coastal areas was increasing because of rise in sea level in 21st century. As a result of rise in sea level, coastal regions suffer from two things such as flooding and salinization. These two severe problems for coastal regions also have effects on fresh water resources since rise in sea level amplifies the salinity of both surface water and ground water through the intrusion of salt water. Therefore, it is one of the continuous problems of coastal regions to maintain continuous flow of fresh water. Since Bangladesh is a tropical country, the country, particularly its coastal regions, because of their location, frequently faces flooding, one of the most devastating natural hazards. Furthermore, the coastal regions where a large number of population lives, are low-lying and poorly protected land. The burning examples are the historic loss of hundreds of thousands of lives in the cyclones of 1970 and 1991. Following the past experience of cyclonic history, Karim and Mimura (2008) argue that Bangladesh is more vulnerable to cyclonic storms and flooding because of climate change and sea level rising. Another thing is that geographically the country is situated in the danger zone of cyclone and consequently a large number of people living there are in great risk of climate change and sea level rising. However, we observe decreasing in the number of loss of lives in 2007 cyclone Sidr because of the development of cyclone warning and flight system though still the existing capacity of cyclone shelters is inadequate to accommodate all the affected people living in the risk zones. This shows the positive consequences of adaptive strategies taken in those coastal regions at the prime time of cyclone. Furthermore, the high risk coastal areas are protected by dam and the height of existing shelters varies from 3.5-7.0 m according to the coastline base, though this height is not enough to keep the people of affected areas away from life risk. The authors claim that in Bangladesh various studies on sea level rising and flooding have been started since the extreme water level of 10m of 1970s cyclone which did smack the coast and the whole coastal regions went under water.
Therefore, from the above discussion it is clear that if proper physical actions can be taken, the loss of lives and economies will be lesser. In addition, in those areas people have been coping with the changing environment by initiating new policies of adaptation, changes in their land use practices etc. From the literature it is found that there is not sufficient research work on the adaptation process of the people living in the coastal zones. My proposed study will try to fill this gap up. The present research will assess the effects of climate variability on the physical and social environment using sociological approaches and will also explore the adaptation processes developed by the government and NGOs as well as the lay people of that locality following the participant observation method of data collection which is one of the techniques of qualitative research methodology.
Who will take these actions?
Bangladesh Government, with the help of international donor agencies and non-government organizations, has been implementing some initiatives to reduce the loss of lives and damages to properties because of cyclone and sea level rising such as cyclone shelter building, construction of embankments, afforestation project, the Coastal Greenbelt project. At the same time, some NGOs have also been working in the coastal regions of Bangladesh to diminish the vulnerability due to cyclone storm and sea level rising. In addition, after 1970 cyclone, Bangladesh red Crescent Society started cyclone forecasting and warning system to minimize the loss of lives and properties. It, sometimes together with the government, also develops some disaster management project to reinforce the capacity of the people living in coastal areas of Bangladesh.
Where will these actions be taken?
In Bangladesh, the coastal areas are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change specially sea level rising since the areas contain low-lying land mostly. As the field of my present research, South-West coastal region of Bangladesh will be considered. Specifically Monpura Thana of Bhola District which is a will be used as the field of study. Manpura is an Upazila of Bhola Dsitrict in the Division of Barisal, Bangladesh. Geographically it is located at 22.2986oN 90.9792oE. It has 8959 units of household and total area 373.10 km2. According to the 1991 Bangladesh Census, Manpura has a population of 51361 and males constitute 51.63% and females 48.37%.
What are other key benefits?
I suppose the notion of social justice of environment, participatory democracy and decentralization in the name of local government could be great solutions to the sea level rising problem. I strongly do believe that the study outcomes will help people increase their adaptability with their immediate changing environment. Some people engage in shrimp hatchery while others in agricultural crop productions and consequently, their needs are different. The local government can help them out of their transitional periods and provide them proper training so that they can cope with the changing environment. The study results will also help people changing their previous habit of using natural resources in an unsustainable way. In so doing, government institutions and NGOs can take some effective methods such as public campaign, community meetings etc. which will bring positive changes in the natural resource uses.
What are the proposal’s costs?
Since the research will be conducted using participant observation which is a data collection technique of qualitative research method. Therefore, as a researcher I have to stay in the study field to directly observe and participate with people living in small scale social settings. As I will expend few months in my study area to learn about their living methods, hopes, fears, how they adapt themselves before, during and after the flooding since flooding occurs in that region frequently in the rainy season, it requires a big amount of money. Another thing is that I am doing PhD in Turkey and the study area is in Bangladesh. So, I have to go there and stay for few months. I suppose the whole research will cost approximately $ 4000. One significant limitation can be that it is simply difficult to conduct such an academic research effectively covering all coastal areas of Bangladesh due to its cost and time frame. Another reason is that as only very few sociological researches have been carried out on the impacts of climate change on physical as well as social environment from sociological point of view, it will be difficult task to do a complete sociological work there. The last but not least point of limitation is that the current study will be designed in English, however the people of my study area speaks in their native language Bengal and in most cases in their own Bengali dialect. So, the field observation data will be assembled in Bengali language and subsequently in English. In so doing, the researcher may escape the exact connotation of the description. Since it is an academic research, it can only provide knowledge about the vulnerable impacts of climate variability and institutional and local adaptation strategies rather than implementing any programs or policies for the betterment of the physical and social environment as well as of the people of the study area.
Time line
I have designed a temporary research plan which is as follows:
Introduction
Chapter One: Research Scope and Method
1.1.Research Topics
1.2.Objectives of the Research
1.3.Importance of Research and Rationale
1.4.Research Question Sentences
1.5.Research Methods and Techniques
1.5.1. Sources of Research Data
1.5.2. Techniques of Data Collection
1.5.3. Techniques of Data Analysis
1.5.4. Concepts used in the study
1.5.5. Advantages and Disadvantages of Research
Chapter Two: Theoretical Approach and Conceptual Framework
2.1. Liberalism
2.2. Eco-socialism and Marxism
2.3. Eco-feminism
2.4. Eco-anarchism
2.5. Social Constructionism
Chapter Three: Globalization and Environment
Chapter Four: Impacts of Sea Level Rising on Coastal Areas
Chapter Five:
Chapter Six: General Overview
Results
References
Appendix
If proper fund can be drawn I am thinking to do a research on impacts of climate change on and adaptation process in coastal regions covering the whole Bangladesh. Then it would fall into short period time frame of Climate Change CoLab.
Related proposals
I think there are two other proposals which are related to my proposed proposal such as A Common Sense Transition to Adaptation by Johnnie Buttram and Climate Change Adaptation Toolkit by TransitionKW. The first proposal talks about common sense adaptation in small island. My study area is also an island where I will also concentrate on local adaptation strategies. In the second proposal it is emphasized on individual and community based adaptation processes. I will also explore the individual and community based adaptation processes. So, there are some similarities between my proposed study and other two proposals.
References
1. Ahammad, Ronju et al. “Unlocking Ecosystem Based Adaptation Opportunities in Coastal Bangladesh”, J Coast Conserv, (2013) 17, pp. 833-840.
2. Ali, Anwar “Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Assessment in Bangladesh”, Climate Research, Vol. 12, 1999, pp. 109-116.
3. Anik, Sawon Istiak and Khan, Mohammed Abu Sayed Arfin “Climate Change Adaptation through Local Knowledge in the North Eastern region of Bangladesh”, Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change, (2012)17, pp. 879-896.
4. Bhuiyan, Md. Jabed Abdul Naser and Dutta, Dushmanta “Assessing Impacts of Sea Level Rise on River Salinity in the Gorai River Network, Bangladesh, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 96 (2012), pp. 219-227.
5. Brouwer, Roy et al. “Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Adaptation to Environmental Risk: A Case Study of Climate Change and Flooding in Bangladesh”, Risk Analysis, Vol. 27, No. 2, 2007, pp. 313-326.
6. Hannigan, John A. “Environmental Sociology-A Social Constructionist Perspective”, ROUTLEDGE, New York, 1995.
7. Harvey, David “Justice, Nature and the Geography of Difference”, Blackwell Publishers, USA, 1996.
8. Islam, Md. Monirul et al. “Limits and Barriers to Adaptation to Climate Variability Change in Bangladeshi Coastal Fishing Communities”, Marine Policy, 43 (2014), pp. 208-216.
9. Karim, Mohammed Fazlul and Mimura, Nobuo “Impacts of Climate Change and Sea-level Rise on Cyclonic Storm Surge Floods in Bangladesh”, Global Environmental Change, 18 (2008), pp. 490-500.
10. Linkov, Igor and Bridges, Todd S. “Climate: Global Change and Local Adaptation”, Springer, The Netherlands, 2011.
11. Parry, M.L. et al. “Effects of Climate Change on Global Food Production under SRES Emissions and Socio-economic Scenarios”, Global Environmental Change, 14 (2004), pp. 53-67.
12. Rana, SM M. et al. “Changes in Cyclone Pattern with Climate Change Perspective in the Coastal Regions of Bangladesh”, Environmental Research, Engineering and Management, 2011, No. 2 (56), pp. 20-27.
13. Ritzer, George “The Blackwell Companion to Globalization”, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, USA, pp. 239-253.
14. Rosenzweig, Cynthia et al. “Developing Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change in the New York City Infrastructure-shed: Process, Approach, Tools and Strategies”, Climatic Change, (2011), 106, pp. 93-127.
15. Schlosberg, David “Defining Environmental Justice-Theories, Movements, and Nature”, Oxford University Press, New York, 2007.
16. Shakil, Shahadat Hossain and Bhuiya, Md. Musfiqur Rahman “Public Participation and Lay Knowledge in Environmental Governance: A Case Study of Community Based Adaptation in Bangladesh”, Bangladesh e-Journal of Sociology, Vol. 11, No. 1, January 2014.
17. Sumi, Akimasa et al. “Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies for Climate Change”, Springer, New York, 2010.
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