"The poor people will be among the hardest hit by various effects of climate change including rising sea level,decreasing arable land and reduced access to land in general." M. Shameem Siddiqi, Senior Program Director, The Asia Foundation, Bangladesh

Bangladesh is considered to be one of the high risk countries in South Asia from the climate change crisis point of view. M. Shameem Siddiqi, Senior Program Director, The Asia Foundation, Bangladesh, spoke to Sabita Gyawali from Earth Concern Asia on various issues related to climate change in the context of Bangladesh. Following is the summary of the interview.

1. There are alarming projections that by 2050 if the situation continues like this, there will be over 35 million climate refugees in Bangladesh”- how serious you think is the current situation?
   
   Such a projection is certainly alarming. Overall, the situation is worsening. The weather pattern has become increasingly irregular and extreme including irregular rainfall, heat waves, more frequent natural disasters such as cyclones and floods, sea level rise, and intrusion of saline water into arable land and sweet water rivers and ponds. These impacts significantly affect livelihood opportunities, particularly in agriculture and fisheries. All these have resulted in the number of people migrating from affected areas to other areas such as cities to safeguard their lives and livelihoods. The situation has particularly worsened in the past two decades. People’s access to natural resources has declined, and it is likely to do so further if such a situation continues.
   
   I foresee increasing migration and internal displacement of people as one significant result of climate change for which our governance and other systems of opportunities and basic services are yet to be adequately prepared. However, I am hesitant to use the term “refugee” as it has particular definition with social and legal implications.
   
   
2. In last 25 years Bangladesh has experienced six severe floods, (1984, 87, 88, 98, 2004, and 2007). A severe tropical cyclone hits Bangladesh on average three years- how do you rate the government and external development partner’s role to save people’s lives midst of these crises? What are the significant milestones of future response?
   
   The government and the development partners have always been supportive of the disaster response and preparedness work in Bangladesh. In the past two to three decades disaster preparedness has improved significantly. However, a lot of the assessments and support have been sector-focused for example in health, education, income, etc. Also, an immediate survival perspective has been prominent in most disaster efforts with a focus on the amount of asses that are lost as a result of a disaster and response to fill that gap, without equal attention to longer term effects and recovery needs. We need an inclusive long term development perspective alongside survival approach to disaster response.
   
   Over time, a good number of acceptable standards have been developed for disaster preparedness and response. In the future, we will need to make integrated assessments of recent / immediate losses and post-disaster long term losses of people (e.g. of income), and design responses accordingly with an inclusive approach.
   
   
3. Raising sea level and decreasing land, will have severe impact on the agro economy in Bangladesh, what are the alternative livelihood options especially for poor people?
   
   The poor people will be among the hardest hit by various effects of climate change including rising sea level,decreasing arable land and reduced access to land in general. One area of significant adverse impact is the livelihoods of the poor people. Locally appropriate alternative livelihood options need to be developed with participation by the affected people. At the local / micro level, some examples include floating gardens for vegetable cultivation in waterlogged areas, fish culture in cages where open water fisheries or ponds are at risk, crab cultivation in saline water, among others.
   
   The people of Bangladesh have historically demonstrated extraordinary resilience during and after disasters, and have adopted various alternative means of livelihoods during such times. They are equally active in coping with the adverse effects of climate change. The local level innovations in alternative livelihoods need to be shared among the affected areas, and more research needs to be carried out to develop climate change tolerant crops.
   
   Alongside alternative livelihood support, related human rights and governance issues need to be addressed. Access to natural resources that people rely on for their livelihoods, such as water bodies, forests, and land, is one of the very important areas.
   
   
4. Within Climate change debate- don’t you think adaptation is still a techno-philosophy for people, especially living in poverty? What are the key challenges around adaptation efforts in Bangladesh?
   
   It largely depends on how the adaptation approaches and techniques are presented. Community based adaptation can be very close to the people living in poverty. People, especially in rural areas, have been making efforts to adapt to the challenges posed by natural hazards and changing climatic situations. Developing appropriate adaptation measures and supporting the existing ones in collaboration with affected people and those at risk are very important. Exchanging effective adaptation measure from one geographic area to another is also very useful.
   
   Some adaptation approaches can come from effective, people-centered, sustainable development practices. In such cases we do not have to ‘reinvent the wheel’. This approach will be effective as long as the poor and vulnerable people receive assistance in adapting to the effects of climate change. Certainly there is a need to be focused and recognize the effective development approaches and practices that are already there.
   
   One of the challenges in Bangladesh is the capacity of our governance system to address the needs of people who are likely to lose their livelihood options due to climate change, and those who will migrate to cities as a result. Our major cities are already facing the challenge of over population; and the potential influx of climate change migrants may break down the opportunities and services of urban systems.
   
   
5. Like in many development efforts, within climate change debates still women’s concerns are missing. How is the situation in Bangladesh? Are there any initiatives lead by women’s’ groups.
   
   Like most other developing countries that are vulnerable to climate change, women’s issues are yet to get enough attention in Bangladesh with regards to climate change assessments, analysis and programming. This perspective is particularly important as women and girls are among those more affected by climate change. Moreover, in many cases women’s contributions to livelihoods is unaccounted for. Climate change is likely to put more pressure on women to contribute greater amounts time and efforts to household livelihoods, which will reduce their availability for community level participation.
   
   Some development organizations have started to focus on the issues around climate change and gender in their strategies. This is one of the issues that The Asia Foundation is paying particular attention to. Gender should be a key theme in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of climate change interventions and research.
   
   
6. How is the internal and external development aid around the issues of climate change in Bangladesh? What do you think are the major challenges and opportunities for Bangladesh?
   
   Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. A number of initiatives have been undertaken by the Government, civil society organizations, communities, and development partners / donors for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The Government has developed policies and plans, and created the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) to address the challenges posed by climate change. The international development partners have set up the Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF). Both the funds will support implementation of the national strategy and action plan on climate change i.e. Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy Action Plan (BCCSAP). These funds will need to work in complementarity.
   
   International donors have pledged large sums to assist the country in adapting to climate change. Much of the funding for climate change work is planned to be managed by the Government of Bangladesh. With likely large and sudden influx of funds, there is a need for strengthening the capacity of the Government and relevant non-government actors so that they can use the funds properly for planning and implementation of high impact programs. Climate change governance to promote responsibility, transparency, accountability and participation in climate change work, and to address gender issues in climate change, will be among the key areas of challenge.
   
   
7. What are the Asia Foundation’s efforts in Bangladesh?
   
   The Asia Foundation’s efforts in Bangladesh focus on the following strategic areas: environment and climate change including disaster risk reduction, good governance, women’s empowerment, civil society strengthening, economic reform and development, law and access to justice, and leadership development. To us, these themes are interrelated and we try to approach them in an integrated manner. We work in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh, civil society organizations including NGOs, networks, academic and research institutions, and donors / development partners. Research, advocacy, capacity building and networking and dialogue are among the key programming tools for the Foundation.
   
   

Date: 2011, July, 1st

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