Multidimensional impacts of climate change induced multiple hazards in Bangladesh
Although contribution of Bangladesh to climate change is nominal, people in different geographical areas with diversified characteristics are facing increasing level of serious impacts of climate change. Bangladesh is densely populated. Although GDP per capita is satisfactory, income inequality is significant with Ginni coefficient nearly 0.5. Less frequent but higher intensity rains resulting in floods, more seriously impacting urban areas. Cyclones damages infrastructures and livelihoods, affecting coastal areas who are already suffering seriously from climate change induced disasters. Farmers, specially in southwestern and northern areas suffer from longer dry spells affecting crop production.
As a few examples, around one third of population living in higher than national poverty level are impacted by cyclones and floods annually and majority of them have lost their usual agriculture-based livelihood options. Salinity intrusion has reduced their access to safe water for drinking and household uses, compelling to spend around 28% of income which is insufficient to run their family. Some international and national development and humanitarian actors are supporting to develop alternate climate resilient livelihood options and collaborate with government for system wide adaptation and integration, however, they are normally short to meet the huge need.
People in poor rural and urban slum areas face dual impact of cold spells and more frequent higher intensity hotter days and heat waves. Fragile infrastructure, mostly made up of CGI sheets and lack of capacity to afford adaptive measures with higher higher direct heat/cold-related and indirectly with vector borne diseases morbidity, mortality and losses. Support from existing system are rare and have no visible impact.