In the tumult of rapid climate change, Bangladesh finds itself besieged by the relentless march of environmental upheaval. Untimely flash floods and encroaching sea levels besiege vast swathes of the nation, amplifying the specter of economic devastation. Recent studies, published in esteemed journals, lay bare the staggering toll exacted by climate vagaries on Bangladesh’s economic fabric.
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The Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services, a stalwart in the state’s arsenal against climate adversity, unveils the National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) as a bulwark against impending calamity. Yet, this plan, with its requisite $84 billion budget spanning over 27 years, stands as a beacon of hope overshadowed by the looming shadow of implementation woes.
Projected losses, ranging from 0.5 to 1% of GDP annually, threaten to burgeon to 2% by 2050, casting a pall over the livelihoods of those tethered to the agrarian landscape. As the first tremors of climate-induced turmoil ripple through the agricultural sector, one wonders: how do the custodians of the land adapt to this harrowing paradigm shift?
From Vulnerability to Vigilance: Bangladesh’s NAPA Journey
The essence of National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) lies in their profound mission: to fortify nations against the relentless onslaught of climate change, infusing resilience into the very fabric of their policies and programs. These plans serve as the vanguard, the bulwark against the ravages of environmental upheaval, guiding nations towards a future where adaptation isn’t just a choice, but an imperative woven into the tapestry of their development.
Amidst the global symphony of climate action, Bangladesh stands not as an outlier but as a participant, recognizing the urgency to safeguard its people and land. With 129 developing countries embarking on the NAPA journey, Bangladesh strides forward, acknowledging its place in the collective struggle for survival.
National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA):
- A plan submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by least developed countries (LDCs).
- Describes the country’s perception of its most “urgent and immediate needs to adapt to climate change.”
- NAPAs focus on addressing immediate climate-related risks.
- Community-level input is a crucial source of information in the NAPA process.
- NAPAs are action-oriented, country-driven, flexible, and based on national circumstances.
- Priority sectors addressed in NAPAs include agriculture, food security, water resources, coastal zones, and early warning and disaster management.
- As of December 2017, 51 countries had completed and submitted their NAPAs to the UNFCCC secretariat.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, alongside esteemed institutions like CEGIS, C3ER, BCAS, and ICCCAD, converge with a singular focus: to birth a blueprint for resilience. Supported by the benevolence of the Green Climate Fund and UNDP, they labor tirelessly, their efforts coalescing into the framework of a draft National Adaptation Plan.
Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) is a comprehensive strategy aimed at addressing the country’s climate vulnerabilities. The NAPA’s primary objectives include the collection and analysis of data, the development of risk scenarios, and the creation of adaptation strategies based on scientific research and practical experience. These strategies align with Bangladesh’s broader goals, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals, Delta Plan 2100, Perspective Plan, and five-year plans, all while acknowledging the nation’s transition from a Least Developed Country to a Middle Income Country.
NAPA Vision 2030: Building Resilient Societies and Ecosystems
NAPA in Bangladesh will facilitate effective adaptation planning and integration of the Climate Change Action Plan (CCA) in the national development process. Draft NAPA has gone through a lengthy process. Several stakeholders consulted at the national, district, and upazila levels, and a number of KIIs and FGDs were organized. To reduce vulnerabilities, prioritize the adaptation strategies and options, the economics of adaptation and implementation mechanism, etc., to assist the government in identifying their medium and long-term needs to address climate vulnerability. The process has been inclusive and participatory and involves various stakeholder groups, including the private sector.
The Global Climate Index ranks Bangladesh as the world’s 7th most climate-vulnerable nation among ten official countries throughout 2000-2019 (WB 2021). World Bank study estimates displacement by climate change could reach 13.3 million by 2050 (2018). Coastal Zone people of 36 million will face frequent storm surges, sea-level rise, and erosion salinity (MOF 2021). NAPA document highlighted that Bangladesh ranks 162 out of 181 countries in the Notre Dame Adaptation Initiative Index, indicating high vulnerability levels and medium to low readiness to adapt to climate change (ND-GAIN 2021).
NAPA has set its vision to reduce climate risks and vulnerability through effective adaptation strategies for fostering a resilient society, ecosystem and stimulating sustainable economic growth, with six specific goals to achieve the vision. Twenty-two strategies to achieve twenty-six possible outcomes. Eleven climate stress areas based on 14 climate stresses have also been identified. It proposed fifteen umbrella programs based on eleven climate stress areas, including institutional, mainstreaming, research, and capacity development. The first eleven programs elaborated on stress areas, and the remaining four are for catalyzing conditions for adaptation. These programs will help implement 22 strategies and attain the expected outcomes to fulfill the set six NAPA goals and eventually achieve the vision laid down for the NAPA.
NAPA Prioritizes Freshwater Wetlands and Terrestrial Forests
In the draft architecture of NAPA preliminary funding has been proposed as about $84 billion for 27 years of implementation period till the 13th five-year planning cycle for implementing fifteen high-priority programs. Among these, eleven programs are climate stress area-specific and four are catalytic conditions, some programs are to be implemented mid to long-term, and some are short-term programs.
In a comprehensive assessment, the National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) has unveiled a multifaceted strategy comprising 21 interventions geared towards Nature-based Solutions (NbS), demanding a substantial investment of USD 5.9 billion. Predominantly, these interventions pivot around the meticulous management of ecosystems and the burgeoning blue economy, with approximately half of them honing in on the conservation and restoration of diverse ecological systems.
Bangladesh’s Climate Vulnerability:
- Ranked 7th most climate-vulnerable nation globally (2000-2019).
- World Bank estimates 13.3 million people could be displaced by climate change by 2050.
- Coastal Zone population (36 million) faces frequent storm surges, sea-level rise, and erosion salinity.
The delineation of interventions is particularly intriguing, showcasing a pronounced focus on various ecosystems. Notably, a third of the proposed measures are earmarked for freshwater wetlands, rivers, and canals, closely trailed by terrestrial forests and hilly landscapes. Moreover, certain NbS initiatives distinctly specify their target ecosystems, with mentions of the Halda River, Kaptai Lake, Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), St. Martin’s Island, and the Bay of Bengal.
Of significant note is the NAPA’s concerted attention to the marine ecosystem, evidenced by the inclusion of initiatives such as marine protected area management, coral restoration, and the rejuvenation of associated fish and benthic communities on St. Martin’s Island. Moreover, the NAPA underscores the imperative of monitoring an extensive array of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, encompassing both the physical and biological parameters of the Bay of Bengal, alongside cataloging endangered species. Beyond mere species surveillance, one intervention pertinently addresses the development of a monitoring mechanism for safeguarding the rights of coastal fishing communities.
Community Engagement at the Core
Community engagement emerges as a recurring motif within afforestation and reforestation endeavors, wetland conservation initiatives, and the preservation of village common forests in the CHT. To operationalize the NAPA, a tiered structure of advisory and technical committees is envisioned at both national and grassroots levels, spanning districts, upazilas, and unions.
Yet, as this ambitious plan unfolds, three pivotal considerations demand our attention. Firstly, harmonizing extant natural resource management and biodiversity conservation statutes with the NAPA’s framework is imperative. Notably, a plethora of NbS-related interventions are slated for implementation within the country’s Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs) and Protected Areas (PAs), necessitating alignment with extant governance structures delineated in the ECA Management Rules of 2016 and the PA Management Rules of 2017.
Secondly, the NAPA champions a locally-led adaptation (LLA) approach across various interventions to foster social inclusivity. Embracing the eight principles of LLA will be pivotal in this endeavor, as they advocate for decentralized decision-making, rectifying structural inequalities, ensuring sustained funding, bolstering local capacities, enhancing climate risk awareness, fostering learning opportunities, promoting accountability and transparency, and fostering collaborative efforts.
Lastly, adherence to prescribed guidelines and protocols, such as the IUCN Global Standard for NbS, is indispensable to the judicious identification, design, and execution of NbS initiatives. By integrating evidence garnered through meaningful engagement with local communities, the risk of misappropriation of this vital approach can be effectively mitigated, ensuring that NbS interventions serve as genuine catalysts for sustainable development.
