Lessons from Climate Change Adaptation Actions in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has gained significant strides in economic development and social indicators, including poverty reduction and reduced infant mortality rate, instead of facing the havoc of the extreme climatic events, including seasonal flooding, cyclonic storm, and drought. This has been possible with the country’s leadership role in comprehensive planning and action for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction over the decades. Its success in adaptation to climatic risk has been praised in international forums, including the United Nations panel on climate change. The chapter will specify the details of historical actions and measures taken by the government and nongovernment sectors to cope with climate change and associated disasters in Bangladesh. Firstly, it briefly discusses the uncertainty, transformation, impacts, and adaptation features of Bangladesh against the effects of global greenhouse gas emissions or changing nature of climate. Later on, starting with the international context, it discusses disaster risk reduction and the adaptation context of the country. Then, to frame adaptation governance, it discusses the role of the individual, government, and stakeholders in capacity building. It also shows past and future investment scenarios to achieve the milestone of adaptation management at the national level. In addition, the chapter briefly discusses some successful cases and projects of adaptation practices in different sectors and various climate-vulnerable regions. It then describes existing plans, policies, and sectorial response and their integration into the national planning process to resist and adapt to climate change. Finally, it discusses the challenges and the way forward with closing remarks