As the global climate crisis intensifies, Bangladesh finds itself at the epicenter of one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges of our time: climate-induced displacement. This small South Asian nation, characterized by its low-lying geography, is grappling with the severe impacts of rising sea levels, cyclones, and riverbank erosion. The stark reality is that climate change is not a distant threat for Bangladesh but a present and escalating crisis that demands fast attention and robust action.
Bangladesh's vulnerability to climate change is well-documented. According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, Bangladesh ranks as the seventh most vulnerable country globally to climate-related hazards. The nation’s extensive coastline and numerous riverbanks are particularly susceptible to cyclones, salinity intrusion, and floods. These environmental perils have already displaced millions of Bangladeshis. In 2022 alone, over 7.1 million people were forced to leave their homes due to climate-related events. The projections are dire: by 2050, nearly 20 million Bangladeshis could be displaced due to climate change. This displacement is driven by a range of factors, including cyclones, salinity intrusion, droughts, floods, and riverbank erosion
The capital city, Dhaka, exemplifies the urban struggle with climate-induced migration. Each day, approximately 2,000 people arrive in Dhaka, many of them climate refugees from rural areas where their livelihoods have been destroyed by environmental changes. Currently, Dhaka is home to about 10 million displaced individuals. This influx exacerbates existing urban challenges, straining infrastructure and public services, and amplifying socio-economic disparities.
Bangladesh has not been idle in the face of these challenges. The country has implemented several comprehensive policies aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change and managing displacement. Key among these are the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan (MCPP). The NAP focuses on long-term adaptation and resilience, while the MCPP emphasizes renewable energy, energy efficiencies, and youth investment. The National Strategy on Internal Displacement Management (NSIDM) and its accompanying Action Plan aim to address climate and disaster-induced displacement comprehensively. These initiatives include prevention, protection, and durable solutions, encompassing 479 proposed actions to manage the crisis effectively.
While Bangladesh faces some of the most severe impacts, it is not alone in this crisis. Neighboring South Asian countries also contend with significant climate-induced displacement, albeit in varied forms and magnitudes.
India, for instance, is projected to experience the displacement of up to 45 million people by 2050 due to climate change. The country’s diverse geography means it faces multiple climate threats simultaneously, from coastal flooding to desertification. The Indo-Gangetic Plain, a densely populated region, is particularly vulnerable to agricultural stress and flooding, prompting rural-to-urban migration on a massive scale.
In Pakistan, the climate crisis manifests through extreme weather events like the unprecedented floods of 2022, which displaced around 8 million people and caused $30 billion in damages. The recurrent nature of these disasters highlights the chronic vulnerability of Pakistan’s infrastructure and its need for resilient rebuilding strategies.
Sri Lanka, though smaller, faces significant displacement risks due to its susceptibility to floods and landslides. The country has one of the highest relative risks of disaster displacement globally, with thousands forced to relocate annually due to climatic events.
The broader South Asian region, home to some of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, presents a complex tapestry of climate-induced migration patterns. Countries like Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives each face unique challenges. For instance, the Himalayas are melting at unprecedented rates, affecting Nepal and Bhutan, while the Maldives faces the existential threat of rising sea levels.
Despite these differences, common themes emerge. Economic vulnerabilities, inadequate infrastructure, and the absence of robust policy frameworks are recurring issues. Furthermore, gender disparities exacerbate the plight of displaced populations, with women and girls often bearing the brunt of climate impacts.
Addressing climate-induced displacement requires comprehensive and multifaceted strategies. For Bangladesh, enhancing resilience involves both immediate and long-term actions. On the immediate front, strengthening early warning systems and disaster preparedness can mitigate the impact of sudden climate events. Long-term strategies must focus on sustainable development practices, such as investing in resilient infrastructure and promoting alternative livelihoods that are less susceptible to climate variability.
Bangladesh's government has initiated several programs aimed at adaptation, including the construction of cyclone shelters and the development of climate-resilient housing. Moreover, there is an urgent need for policies that integrate climate migration into national planning, ensuring that displaced populations have access to essential services and opportunities for socio-economic integration.
Addressing climate-induced displacement in South Asia requires not only national but also regional cooperation. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has the potential to play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration among member states. However, internal tensions and geopolitical dynamics often hinder effective collective action. For meaningful progress, neutral diplomatic interventions and international support are essential to facilitate dialogue and cooperationInternational support is also vital. Developed nations, whose historical emissions have largely driven the current climate crisis, have a moral responsibility to support vulnerable countries through financial aid, technology transfer, and capacity-building initiatives. This support should aim not only at immediate relief but also at long-term resilience building.
Bangladesh’s struggle with climate-induced displacement is a stark reminder of the urgent need for global climate action. As sea levels rise and weather patterns become increasingly erratic, millions more are at risk of losing their homes and livelihoods. The experiences of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka underscore the necessity of robust national policies, regional cooperation, and international solidarity in addressing this multifaceted crisis. Only through concerted and sustained efforts can we hope to mitigate the devastating impacts of climate change and secure a resilient future for the people of South Asia.
However, the world’s top emitters had given commitment that they would provide climate fund US$ 100 billion every year to the less wealthy countries badly affected by the high rate of emission. Besides, the most emitters like China, the United States, and India on several occasions came up with promises that they would cut emissions as much as possible.
But all those pledges were not fulfilled while in fact, greenhouse gas emissions continued to rise. They are still releasing carbon emissions leading many to believe it bears the greatest responsibility for climate change.
Therefore, increased temperatures, drought and water stress, diseases, and weather extremes have created challenges for the people of developing world. The impact of climate change is also affecting all regions around the world. Polar ice shields are melting and the sea is rising.
In some regions, extreme weather events and rainfall are becoming more common while others are experiencing more extreme heat waves and droughts. Some countries would not achieve their pledges, and some of the world’s largest carbon emitters continued increasing their emissions.
The developed countries are enjoying rapid development, and then transferring pollution to developing nations. So, it is not possible for the world to win the fight against climate change. The world needs immediate climate action now, or these impacts will only intensify.
All countries should urgently address the growing adaptation needs at local and national level. The scale of loss and damage is already significant at just over one degree Celsius of warming and will continue to grow if climate change is not halted.
Now it is the time to design and build the funding arrangements that are absolutely needed to address loss and damage. To this end, global emissions must be reduced by 45 percent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels.
The developed countries must take the lead in global mitigation efforts and the countries with greater capabilities particularly G-20 countries should also play significant role in this regard. Earlier Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for ensuring $100 billion a year for developing countries to save them from climate change impacts.
The issue of loss and damage must be addressed, including global sharing of responsibility for climate migrants displaced by sea-level rise, salinity increase, river erosion, floods, and draughts. World community must take bold actions to address and mainstream the issue of loss and damage.
Besides, the international community and the developed countries should play their responsibilities and, their moral and legal obligations.
Reference: International Organisation for Migration, Addressing Climate Change and Migration in Asia and the Pacific, Asian Development Bank, Asia Regional Resilience to a Changing Climate and Global Climate Risk Index
Sheikh Mehbuba Moitree is a final year student of LL.B (Honours) in Maritime Law & Policy of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University
