According to the newest IPCC assessment, Bangladesh is anticipated to endure excessive heat and humidity, ongoing sea-level rise due to unfavorable climate change, and the displacement of millions of people, endangering industry and agricultural production.
According to a press release from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II AR6 report on climate impacts adaptation, continued greenhouse gas emissions will endanger Bangladesh’s safety and prosperity, and the national economy will be subjected to severe shocks that could halt growth.
“This report iterated that Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world due to climate change and sea level rise, with projected losses of 2% -9 percent of annual GDP by mid and end of century, displace 1 to 2 million people of south Bangladesh by mid-century,” said Dr Rawshan Ara Begum, one of the report’s coordinating Lead Authors.
Rice production is expected to drop 12-17 percent, while wheat production will drop 12-61 percent, she said, adding that this will exacerbate the country’s current problems, which include extreme poverty, income inequality, economic and non-economic losses and damages, and a lack of adaptive capacity.
Md. Arfanuzzaman, one of the IPCC report’s lead authors, stated, “Bangladesh’s current climate change impacts would worsen significantly in the coming years. Most of our current adaptations would most likely be unsuccessful under both 1.5 and 2°C warming scenarios.”
According to the analysis, current emission plans will result in the loss of 31-40 percent of agricultural output in portions of the country this century due to sea-level rise alone. Over the next decade, a third of the country’s power plants may need to be relocated to escape floods due to sea-level rise.
Furthermore, according to the report, Bangladesh is one of the countries that would endure intolerable heat and humidity unless carbon emissions are reduced quickly. If emissions continue to rise, regions of Bangladesh will, by the end of the century, reach the point where heat and humidity are no longer bearable for people.
