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Shakeel Mahmood
Member, BAPA
Bangladesh
Impact of Climate Change in Bangladesh
The Role of Public Administration and Government’s Integrity.
Shakeel Ahmed Ibne Mahmood
BAPA, (Bangladesh Poribesh-Dhuson Andolon Bangladesh Environmental Improvement Organization),
Climate change is one of the most important issues to tackle this generation and possibly any generation in history. Bangladesh is a very low energy consuming country, it is pursuing a low carbon growth path, while building its resilience to climate change and reducing the risk of climate change, which represents national development. However, Bangladesh is one of the top 10 nations that are mostly vulnerable to climate change and by the end of the century, Bangladesh may be set to disappear under the waves. The government and non-governmental organizations have a key role to play. This study was carried out by employing a general review of literature on climate change, focusing on its effects in Bangladesh, and the results of specific research recently conducted by the author.
"The concept of contraction and convergence, developed by the global commons institute, considers the need to pursue both these actions simultaneously (Global Common Institute, 2008). Contraction and convergence reduce overall carbon emissions to a sustainable level but do so according to an equal share of emissions per person globally. Industrialized countries would dramatically reduce their emissions whilst developing countries would increase theirs to allow for, and stimulate, development and poverty reduction (Costello et al., 2011)."
Shakeel Mahmood
Member, BAPA
Bangladesh
Background
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) was launched in 2000 to create a nation wide, united, and strong civic movement to protect Bangladesh’s environment. The environment of Bangladesh is deteriorating fast. Urban air quality is plummeting. Ground water is contaminated. Surface water bodies are getting polluted, encroached, and degraded. Solid, fluid, gaseous, and hazardous wastes are overflowing. Forests and open spaces are disappearing. Noise is increasing. Bio-diversity is vanishing. Health conditions are worsening due to pollution. Unless these processes of degradation are slowed down and reversed, the country’s economic, social, cultural, and human progress will be gradually hampered, and Bangladesh will become unlivable in the long-term.
Unfortunately, the efforts by the government are not proving adequate to meet the threat. In fact, ill conceived and ill implemented government projects, corruption and poor governance are often aggravating the situation. On the other hand, isolated efforts by various non-governmental and civic organizations are also proving inadequate to meet the challenge.
In this backdrop, pro-environment forces of Bangladesh gathered at the International Conference on Bangladesh Environment (ICBEN) in January 2000 to discuss Bangladesh’s environmental problems and chart out actions for the future. The conference adopted Dhaka Declaration on Bangladesh Environment 2000 and suggested formation of a unified platform for all sincere pro-environment forces of the country to join and work together. Following the decisions of ICBEN 2000, BAPA was formed.
