Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to many different types of disasters, and with climate change, the frequency of these disasters is only expected to increase. Possibly the most notorious disaster for the area are monsoons. Every year, Bangladesh experiences a strong monsoon season from May to September, when the country experiences most of its total rainfall: the months of June, July, and August have an average precipitation of about 1500 mm, out of a yearlong average 2447 mm.[1] Monsoons cause extensive flooding damage to almost every sector of the Bangladesh economy. An exceptionally strong monsoon in 1998 caused over $2 billion in losses and damages, split evenly between agriculture, infrastructure, and industry/commerce.[1] Residences are also destroyed almost every year, and deaths occur frighteningly often; historically, the most destructive floods have killed 1000-2000 people each.[2]
Monsoons are not the only disaster that hit Bangladesh. In addition to the dangers of monsoon floods, Bangladesh is also regularly hit by cyclones. Bangladesh has two cyclone seasons: one before the monsoons, from May to July, and one after, from September to December.[3] Severe cyclones hit the coast of Bangladesh once every three years, on average,[1] and can cause enormous damage during the storm and after due to storm surge. In 2007, Cyclone Sidr caused roughly $1.7 billion in losses and damages, mostly in housing, but also in agriculture and infrastructure.[1] Storm surges are when ocean waters flood coastal areas after a cyclone hits land, and these are only expected to become more severe and affect further inland areas as sea levels rise.
These disasters have been destroying housing, agriculture, and infrastructure for many years, and due to climate change, the frequency and severity of these storms is only expected to increase.[1] In order to continue developing as a country, stay competitive in the global market, and protect its people, Bangladesh must adapt to the changing climate and prepare for these disasters. Disaster mitigation includes implementing infrastructural improvements and creating and protecting natural barriers that help mitigate the negative effects of monsoon flooding and cyclone damage. This category is important to solve because if damage due to these disasters is decreased, fewer issues arise in other sectors due to flooding and cyclones.
Detailed plans for the solutions addressing risks to the affected area of Disaster Mitigation are listed below.
Adapting Polders Community-Based Adaptation Green Roofs Manmade Ponds Paved Roads and Waterway Transportation Protecting and Expanding Existing Mangroves Reforestation
By Sarah Weidman
References
- The World Bank. (2010). Bangladesh – Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change, no. 70266, 1–130.
- Dewan, T. H. (2015). Societal impacts and vulnerability to floods in Bangladesh and Nepal. Weather and Climate Extremes 7, 36-42.
- Shelley, Israt J. (2016). Rice Cultivation in Bangladesh: Present Scenario, Problems, and Prospects. Journal of International Cooperation for Agricultural Development 14, 20-29.