Learning Outcome:
Students will be informed about the primary risk factors of climate change and the steps taken by the Bangladeshi authorities in relation to the climate crisis.
1. LAWS AND POLICIES
ON CLIMATE CHANGE
IN BANGLADESH
Preeti Kana Sikder
Lecturer, Department of Law & Justice
Jahangirnagar University
2. ■ Bangladesh is a highly climate vulnerable country whose
emissions are less than 0.35% of global emissions.
■ The Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI-2011) calculated
the vulnerability of 170 countries to the impacts of climate change
over the next 30 years, which reveals that Bangladesh is the most
vulnerable country to climate change.
■ Bangladesh is adopting a two-fold strategy against climate
change. The main focus of Bangladesh’s activities is on increasing
our resilience to the impacts of climate change – which are already
affecting the livelihoods of much of our population and will
continue to do so in the future.
■ Bangladesh is also working to achieve lower carbon as well as
more resilient development.
3. Two separate but overlapping
sectors
Policy Framework on Climate Change
• National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA)
• Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP)
• National Plan for Disaster Management
• Renewable Energy Policy 2008
• the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Master Plan (E&CC Master Plan)
• National Sustainable Development Strategy
• The Perspective Plan (Vision 2021)
Legal Framework on Climate Change
• Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund Act
• Disaster Management Act
4. Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy
and Action Plan (BCCSAP)
■ The BCCSAP, published by the Ministry of Environment and
Forests, is a “knowledge strategy” built upon the National
Adaptation Programme of Action (2005 and 2009).
■ After the 13th Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC held in Bali
in December 2007, a set of actions essential to achieve a secure
climate future had been identified.
■ Putting that Bali Roadmap into action has been the starting point
for BCCSAP.
6. ■ Mitigation contribution:
– An unconditional contribution to reduce GHG
emissions by 5% from Business as Usual (BAU)
levels by 2030 in the power, transport and industry
sectors, based on existing resources.
– A conditional 15% reduction in GHG emissions from
BAU levels by 2030 in the power, transport, and
industry sectors, subject to appropriate international
support in the form of finance, investment, technology
development and transfer, and capacity building.
– A number of further mitigation actions in other sectors
which it intends to achieve subject to the provision of
additional international resources.
7. THE PRIMARY GOAL FOR ADAPTATION IS
TO PROTECT THE POPULATION,
ENHANCE THEIR ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
AND LIVELIHOOD OPTIONS, AND TO
PROTECT THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT
OF THE COUNTRY IN ITS STRIDE FOR
ECONOMIC PROGRESS AND WELLBEING
OF THE PEOPLE
Adaptation goal
8. Adaptation action – past and
present■ Over the last three decades, the Government of Bangladesh has invested over
$10 billion to make the country more climate resilient and less vulnerable to
natural disasters. Flood management embankments, coastal polders and
cyclone shelters have been built, and important lessons learnt on how to
implement such projects successfully in the dynamic hydrological conditions of
Bangladesh and with active participation of communities.
■ To enhance climate change adaptation activities in all key policies and sectors,
Bangladesh has recently established two innovative funds: the Bangladesh
Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) from the Government’s own budget and
the Bangladesh Climate Change Resilient Fund (BCCRF) with the support of
development partners
■ Bangladesh submitted the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) in
2005 (revised in 2009) and prepared a climate change action plan (the
Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan in 2009).
10. Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy
and Action Plan (BCCSAP)
■ It sets out 44 programmes to be taken by Bangladesh over the short,
medium and long term within six strategic areas:
– Food security, social protection and health
– Comprehensive disaster management
– Infrastructure
– Research and knowledge management
– Mitigation and low carbon development
– Capacity building and institutional strengthening
■ A common theme throughout of all of these strategic areas is the focus
on the poor and vulnerable and in particular women and children. All
programmes are expected to provide synergies with the government’s
Vision 2021.
12. Food Security,
Social Protection
and Health
Comprehensive
Disaster
Management
Infrastructure
Research and
Knowledge
Management
Mitigation and
Low Carbon
Development
Capacity
Building and
Institutional
Strengthening