Global warming has had more severe an impact on
certain countries than others. Bangladesh is one such country
suffering the disproportionate effects of global warming; it is
one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. The
country boasts incredibly diverse ecosystems, such as that
offered in the Sundarbans – the largest single block of tidal
halophytic mangrove forest in the world – and these rich natural
environments provide people living in the coastal lowlands
with their livelihoods. The Sundarbans, covering major parts of
the Satkhira and Khulna districts, act as something of a shock
absorber when natural disasters hit the coastal regions, affording
a degree of protection to the communities against the surge of
tidal waves and the flooding brought on by cyclones.
But the low-lying coastal areas of Bangladesh face the threat
of submergence due to sea level rise as the planet’s temperature
continues to warm. This most important ecosystem of the
country will be lost if there is a one-metre rise in sea level.
The situation is made worse by the increase in natural
disasters such as cyclones and floods. Two recent cyclones,
Sidr in 2007 and Aila in 2009, devastated the coastal territories
of Satkhira, Barguna, Patuakhali, Khulna and Bagerhat. Gabura,
a region adjacent to the Sundarbans in the Satkhira district,
stands as a testament to the dreadful effects of climate change in
the region. Cyclone Aila hit Gabura and claimed 330 lives; 8,208
people were declared missing. The storm obliterated natural
resources and shelters, leaving one million people homeless.
An estimated 20 million people were at risk of post-disaster
diseases due to Aila, with damages totalling USD552.6 million.
As the rising sea levels encroach upon the lowlands, the
coastal areas are experiencing the effects of increased salinity.
According to the World Bank, climate change-induced river
salinity will lead to shortages of drinking water, and will cause
significant changes in the aquatic ecosystems in the southwest
coastal areas of Bangladesh during the dry season by 2050.