Department of

Department of Environmental ScienceState University of Bangladesh

Masters in Environmental Science Program

ES 520: Environmental Policy and Planning

Lecture 4:Climate Change Effect and

Strategic Initiatives of Bangladesh

Shankor PaulDate:5th February 2015

Lecture Outline: Climate Change? The Process of Greenhouse effect Major Causes and Effects of Global Warming Climate Change Vulnerabilities in different Regions

of Bangladesh Government Policies and Strategic Initiatives in

Bangladesh

Climate Change? Climate is usually defined as the "average

weather" that includes patterns of temperature, precipitation (rain or snow), humidity, wind and seasons. Climate takes hundreds or even millions of years to change.

Climate change is a change in the usual weather found in a place. This could be a change in how much rain a place usually gets in a year. Or it could be a change in a place's usual temperature for a month or season.

Climate change is also refers to a large-scale, long-term shift in the Earth’s weather patterns or average temperatures. Climate change is defined as an average weather

condition of an area characterized by its own internal dynamics and by changing in external factors that affect climate (Trewartha et al., 1980).

The Process of Greenhouse Effect…

Greenhouse Gases:

Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, which makes the Earth warmer.

Source: EPA's Climate Change Indicators (2012).Source: IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, 2007.

Major Causes of Global Warming…

1. Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning power plants

2. Carbon dioxide emissions from burning gasoline for transportation

Reference: The scientific data show that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased from about 320 parts per million in 1960 to nearly 360 parts per million today.

Continuation…

3. Methane emissions from animals, agriculture such as rice paddies, and from Arctic seabeds

4. Deforestation, especially tropical forests for wood, pulp, and farmland

5. Increase in usage of chemical fertilizers on croplands

Effect of Global Warming…Climate Change

1. Rise in Sea levels worldwide

2. More killer storms/cycloneBangladesh: • 1998 floods- inundated over 2/3

parts of the county• Loss of GDP 4% - 8% (US$ 2

billion)• 2007 Cyclone Sidr- 2.60%

damage & loss to GDP (US$ 1.7 billion)

Continuation..

3. Massive crop failures --- threaten food production, hinder economic development and damage ecosystems.Ref: Guardian reported: Global warming causes 300,000 deaths a year.

4. Widespread extinction of speciesRef: By 2050, rising temperatures could lead to the extinction of more than a million species.

5. Disappearance of coral reefs

6. Emergence of Health HazardsWHO – Despite economic growth and advancement in health care, the world will still face 2.5 lac additional deaths per year by 2030.

Climate Change Vulnerabilities in different Regions of Bangladesh

Types of Geographical Areas with Dominant Ecosystem

Climate Change Vulnerability Context and Characteristics

Flood Plain (fresh water aquatic ecosystem, fisheries, Transplanted Aman)

Changes in Flooding Characteristics

Coverage of inundated area in monsoon season increase (more flood vulnerable area)

Changes in depth and duration of inundation

Changes in recession period of flood water (water logging)

Changes in flood frequency (more frequent and intense flooding)

Drought Prone (Dryness, moisture stressed condition)

Changes in Drought Characteristics

Changes in Drought intensity Changes the Drought Prone areas

(expansion of area) Changes in timing of Drought

Continuation…

Coastal Basin

Changes in Coastal Characteristics Expansion of Salinized areas (Saline

Intrusion) Increase intensity of salinity Changes in Coastal morphology

Increase of Cyclone and Storm surges

Haor Basin Changes in Haor basin characteristics

Changes in timing if Flash flood Changes in Recession period

Hilly Region Changes in Rainfall and intensity Changes in erosion of top soil Increase possibility of landslide

Source: Climate Change and DRR screening, Draft Inception Report, 2008

Continuation…Bangladesh sea level rise trend:

per year rise : 6 – 20 mm. Water level rises by at least 5.6 mm a year at Hiron

point, 1.4 mm at Cox's Bazar and 2.9 mm at Khepupara, which was citied 2008 data from Bangladesh Water Development Board (ANN, 2010).

4 corer people under climate risks in 19 coastal districts More than 259 extreme natural events hit Bangladesh during the period 1991 to 2009

Since 1970, according to a statistics, about 39 million people have been displaced by major natural calamities like flood and cyclone in the country till 2009. The World Bank study reveals that a total of 20 million people will be environmental refugees within next 100 years (Daily Star, 2011).

What is Required?

What is required? Develop Climate resilient & low carbon

Development pathway Deliver clean, non-polluting energy to the

people Innovations of technology and its

transformation Potential Global Warming Reduction Strategy: Reducing the emission of GHGs Reducing wastes Reusing/Recycling Use of CFC (Compact fluorescent light) Drive less & walk more Save & conserve energy/water Plant more trees

Govt. Policies in Bangladesh

Encouraging solar power Example: 3 million households under solar home system

Solar

Wind

HydroEnergy (Green & clean energy)

Reducing dependence on polluting fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas etc.)o Will save environment o Will save money required for import of fossil fuel

Strategic Initiatives of Bangladesh Govt.

Bangladesh Government signed and ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on 9th June 1992 and 15 April 1994 accordingly.

Bangladesh Govt. accepted the Kyoto Protocol on 22 Oct 2001 and started to enforce on 16 Feb 2005.

In 2005, Government launched National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA).

Established “Climate Change Cell” in DoE under the MoEF for mainstreaming of climate change into National Development Planning.

Govt. Formed “Inter-Ministerial Disaster Management Coordination Committee.

The Bangladesh Climate Change strategy and Action Plan launched in 2008 as a 10 year program (2009-2018).

The government of Bangladesh has set up an annual climate change trust fund of $100 million with its own resources.

Thank You All…

Contract: Shankor Paul

E-mail: shankor.paul@gmail.comCell: 01712009028;

FB ID & LinkedIn: Shankor Paul; Skype: Shankor_Paul