Of the 175 countries who are a part of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, Bangladesh is one of them. While being part of the agreement, Bangladesh does have a general plan to adapt to current and future impacts of climate change. The path they are on has six main points that they are going to focus on.
The first one is focusing on food security, social protection, and health. Bangladesh wants to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable are protected from climate change. All programs will help to allow access to basic services such as food, safe housing, employment, and health. If there is stability at the bottom, the whole country can be better off. Giving more people a place to live will cause less people to have no cover during disasters.
Next Bangladesh is looking at their disaster management plan. They want to strengthen the country’s disaster management system to help defend against more frequent and severe natural calamities. If there is a set procedure to follow during an emergency, more people can be put out of harm’s way.
Along with the disaster management system, there is also a focus on the infrastructure of the country. The first thing to do will be to make sure that the current structures are ready for use. Existing costal and river embankments, for example, should be refurbished and well-maintained. Then the new additions of greatly needed infrastructures, such as cyclone shelters and urban drainage, should be carefully built in necessary areas.
Bangladesh will increase its research and knowledge management. They want to be able to predict the size and time of any and all impact climate change can have on their economy and people. Even if they cannot stop natural disasters, they can try to minimalize the damage. In addition, they want to ensure Bangladesh is up to date on the latest global thinking on science and best practices of climate change management.
With their new knowledge from the previous step, Bangladesh will work towards mitigation and low carbon development. They will have new low carbon development options and implement these as the country‘s economy grows.
Lastly, Bangladesh will increase the capabilities of their buildings and strengthen their institutions. They want to enhance the capacity of government ministries and agencies, civil safety, and private sector to meet the challenge of climate change and mainstream them as part of development actions. They will try to make the buildings much more stronger so contact with natural disasters will not be able to do as much damage. In addition, the capabilities of the government and agencies involved will also be increased so they can work on strength all parts of the country for a disaster.
