Muhammad Abdur Rahaman, Director, Center for People and Environ, Dhaka, Bangladesh & Research Scholar, Tripura University, Agartala, Tripura, India, Email: director@cpe-bd.org
Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise, increased frequency of cyclones, and flooding. These climate-related challenges also pose significant risks to urban systems and sustainable urban development, requiring adaptation and resilience measures to protect urban areas and their inhabitants. Bagerhat Municipality, which is situated in the coastal district of Bagerhat, is highly climate-vulnerable in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, which ranks among the most populous nations in the world, has experienced rapid population growth over the past century, though it has recently moderated somewhat (UNFPA, 2015). The country is going to witness a rapid spread of urbanization over the next decade. According to an estimate, by 2050, nearly every other man, woman, and child will live in an urban area (World Bank 2020). Along with the population, the urban climate is also rapidly changing in Bangladesh. It is broadly anticipated that climate change is causing the large-scale influx of population displaced by climate change in other climate-vulnerable regions to urban areas. In urban areas, climate change has several adverse impacts including flooding, extreme temperature, water logging and drainage congestion, water pollution, water, and vector-borne diseases, etc. (Rahaman, et. al, 2019). The impact of changes in precipitation like erratic and untimely rainfall, rising temperature, climate-induced migration, and salinity intrusion led to floods, waterlogging, heatwaves, cold waves, salinity in drinking water, etc. (Figure).
An increasing frequency of extreme weather events is one of the most concerning effects of climate change on urban systems. Urban life is at risk due to an increase in the frequency and severity of heat waves, floods, droughts, and storms (Revi et al., 2014). For example, heatwaves can cause an increase in heat stress and mortality, especially in susceptible groups including the elderly and people with underlying medical issues (Forster et al., 2013). In addition, excessive precipitation events have the potential to overburden drainage systems, resulting in flash floods that destroy urban infrastructure and force out populations (Fowler et al., 2021). It is predicted that in the upcoming decades, sea levels will increase significantly due to melting glaciers and ocean thermal expansion (Cazenave & Cozannet, 2014). The potential for flooding, saline seeping into freshwater sources, and accelerated coastal erosion pose significant risks to low-lying coastal communities. The impact of climate change on the urban system in Bangladesh is profound and multifaceted, affecting infrastructure, public health, water resources, and socio-economic dynamics (Masum, 2019).
Waterlogging is a pressing issue, exacerbated by ongoing untimely high rainfall. It significantly impacts the water resources in Bagerhat Pourshava and also submerges roads, low land, commercial spaces, and slums due to a lack of sufficient and planned drainage systems. As a city, in the Bagerhat Municipality, there is a growing trend of the proportion of impermeable surfaces (such as roads, buildings, and pavements) increasing. This decrease in surface infiltration and groundwater recharge results in higher surface runoff and peak flow during heavy rainfall events. The construction of urban drainage networks often lags behind the pace of urbanization, leading to inadequate infrastructure for managing excess water. Traditionally, increasing drainage capacity has been the primary strategy for controlling waterlogging. However, understanding the sensitivity patterns of various factors (such as surface characteristics, drainage systems, and land use) is crucial. When sensitivity reaches a certain level, alternative factors should be explored for effective waterlogging management.
In Bagerhat Pourasha, all of the surface water bodies and many of the groundwater points are found as saline. Due to sea level rise, saltwater intrusion is increasing day by day, which impacts the surface water and groundwater of the Bagerhat Municipality. Waterlogging and flooding are also responsible for fragile waste management systems. The waste dumping station of the Bagerhat Municipality is far away from the Pourasha which is 5 km from the city. During monsoons, the water transportation road becomes long-lasting and waterlogged several times. As a result, waste transportation is quite impossible during the monsoon. The city dwellers reported that during monsoon, many parts of the city become waste dumping stations and spread pollution which causes waterborne diseases and airborne diseases in the city. In the last couple of years, heat waves have been a concern issue in Bagerhat Municipality along with other cities in Bangladesh. During summer, several times, the city faces a heat wave. Heat waves and urban heat islands (UHIs) are interconnected phenomena that significantly impact urban environments. The day laborers who are involved with the construction, and rickshaw pullers, are facing trouble working the whole day during the summer due to heat waves.
It is an important part of the climate-smart urban system strategy for the Bagerhat Municipality, there need for an improved holistic action plan. In terms of increased household resiliency and its proper utilization, Bagerhat Municipality and its allied stakeholders should consider how it might be able to tackle multi-sectoral climate vulnerability focusing on where it can have the deepest impact. The study explored the resilient intervention needs of vulnerable people in the context of current and emerging climate change impacts. They are more exposed and sensitive to multiple climate hazards, including temperature, waterlogging heat stress, and erratic and untimely rainfall. Focusing on nine wards, this study has captured the effectiveness of various structural and non-structural measures to enhance urban system resilience as well as community resilience regarding climate change. The non-structural interventions will be influential in enhancing community resilience, including awareness raising, household and community level preparedness and response actions, and early warning and climate information services. Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation training will be helpful in preparedness and improving life savings capacity at the household level, primarily through health education. Organizing and activating the community-led and managed mechanisms such as the Ward Disaster Management Committee (WDMC), and Town level Coordination Committee (TLCC) will be effective and sustainable beyond the project. Through this initiative, the skills of the slum people, women, and youth participants will be improved so that their participation in the decision-making process, climate change adaptation, and social protection also be increased through sustainable management of climate justice communities.
In the Urban planning and governance process, there need to integrate waterlogging, salinity, and heat stress management into spatial planning, which may entail limiting new development in the municipality areas. Alleviation of urban heat-island effect by greening areas, providing shade by using green coverage, and restoration of urban forest and water bodies. There is also a need to increase the coverage of infrastructure services for low-income groups and slum people to enhance their adaptive capacity and prevent more inequities from climate change.
To develop a sustainable water system, increasing groundwater recharge and surface storage capacity including rainwater harvesting, and restoration and conservation of existing surface water bodies are highly essential to provide water resources to the citizens. There is also a need to promote the adoption of water conservation techniques and reduction in non-revenue water to improve resilience to decreased water availability. Development of additional or redesigned drainage to alleviate the effects of increased precipitation. Improvement and capacity enhancement of water treatment plan to maintain the quality of water and level of sanitation.
Eco-friendly materials should be promoted in road and building construction to reduce the urban heat island effect. Protection of surface waters from waterlogging and polluted flood waters and improved water treatment and sanitation to reduce waterborne diseases are highly essential.
To mitigate the waterlogging and tidal inundation-induced problems in the municipality, the sluice gates management system should be enhanced.
- Water Resource Management and Supply: Address water pollution through proper waste management and treatment initiatives. Improve the quality and accessibility of piped water supply to reduce reliance on jar water and deep tube wells. Explore and implement sustainable water management practices like rainwater harvesting. Ensure equitable access to clean drinking water for all communities, including those in remote areas.
- Solid Waste Management: Increase resource allocation for waste collection, transportation, and disposal. Improve waste disposal facilities and develop proper waste treatment infrastructure. Implement public awareness campaigns to educate residents about the importance of proper waste disposal and responsible waste management practices. Encourage waste reduction and recycling to reduce the amount of waste generated. Developing waste composting and recycling enterprises. Enforce stricter regulations to discourage illegal dumping and promote responsible waste management practices.
- Transportation: Prioritize road repairs and maintenance. Invest in proper drainage systems to prevent waterlogging and protect road infrastructure. Implement sustainable waste management practices to address blockages and improve sanitation. Promote planned and sustainable development to minimize negative impacts on transportation and drainage systems. Educate residents about the importance of proper waste disposal and responsible infrastructure use. Improve lighting infrastructure in areas with poor nighttime visibility. Conduct regular assessments and monitoring of road conditions, drainage systems, and waste management practices. Engage with communities in decision-making and planning processes.
- Drainage Systems: Invest in building and maintaining proper drainage systems. Address waste management issues to prevent waste from entering drains and blocking water flow. Promote planned development that considers natural drainage patterns. Educate residents about the importance of proper waste disposal and responsible drainage maintenance. Regularly monitor and assess drainage systems to identify and address issues promptly. Involve local communities in the planning, implementation, and maintenance of drainage systems. Reconstruction of sluice gates and activation of the operating system by involving youths.
By addressing these challenges, Bagerhat can improve its water availability, waste management, transportation, and drainage systems, leading to a better quality of life for the residents.
References
Cazenave, A., & Cozannet, G. L. (2014). Sea level rise and its coastal impacts. Earth’s Future, 2(2), 15–34.
Fraser, P., Geller, M., Joos, F., Keeling, C. D., … Dorland, R. V. (2013). Changes in Atmospheric Constituents and Radiative Forcing. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312653166.
Forster, P., Ramaswamy, V., Artaxo, P., Berntsen, T., Betts, R., Fahey, D. W., Haywood, J., Lean, J., Lowe, D. C., Raga, G., Schulz, M., Dorland, R. V., Bodeker, G., Etheridge, D., Foukal, P.,
Fowler, H. J., Lenderink, G., Prein, A. F., Westra, S., Allan, R. P., Ban, N., Barbero, R., Berg, P., Blenkinsop, S., Do, H. X., Guerreiro, S., Haerter, J. O., Kendon, E. J., Lewis, E., Schaer, C., Sharma, A., Villarini, G., Wasko, C., & Zhang, X. (2021). Anthropogenic intensification of short-duration rainfall extremes. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 2(2), 107–122. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-00128-6
Kais, S. M., & Islam, M. S. (2023). Climate Change, Ecological Modernization, and Disaster Management: The Coastal Embankment Project in Southwestern Bangladesh. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(12), 6086. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20126086
Local Government Engineering Department (2015). Satkhira Municipality (Pourashava) Local Government Engineering Department, Bangladesh KfW Entwicklungsbank. https://crim-lged.org/document_archieve/uploads/Satkhira%20Pourashava%20Final%20Report-Annexes_V2%20-%20%20r.pdf#page=42&zoom=100,82,265
Masum, J. H., 2019: Climatic Hazards in Bangladesh: A Literature Review. Coastal Development Partnership (CDP), Bangladesh, Coastal Development Partnership (CDP), Bangladesh, ISBN: 978-984-34-7002-4
Rahaman, M. A. (2019). Climate Change Impact and Response: Experience from Satkhira, Bangladesh. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.27350.40005
Revi, A., Satterthwaite, D. E., Aragón-Durand, F., Corfee-Morlot, J., & Kiunsi, R. B. R. (2014). Coordinating Lead Authors: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275035197.
UNFPA (2015), The Impact of the Demographic Transition on Socioeconomic Development in Bangladesh: Future Prospects and Implications for Public Policy, UNFPA, May 2015.
World Bank (2020) Urban Development, World Bank, 2020
