Climate change is an important problem in Bangladesh. The country is among the most at risk from climate change effects. In the 2020 Climate Risk Index by Germanwatch, Bangladesh ranked seventh among countries most affected by climate-related disasters between 1999 and 2018. Bangladesh’s risk from climate change comes from both geography and social factors. Its flat, low-lying land near rivers and seas, along with high population density, poverty, and reliance on farming, increases its vulnerability. Climate change may cause rising sea levels, higher temperatures, food shortages, droughts, floods, and cyclones. Bangladesh has created plans to reduce climate impacts, including cutting greenhouse gas emissions, supporting renewable energy, increasing forest areas, and preparing for disasters.
Natural dangers, such as heavy rain, rising seas, and tropical storms, are expected to grow as climate change continues. These dangers could harm farming, water and food supplies, health, and homes.
Sea levels in Bangladesh are predicted to rise by up to 0.30 meters by 2050, which could displace 0.9 million people. By 2100, sea levels may rise by up to 0.74 meters, potentially displacing 2.1 million people.
To address rising seas, Bangladesh launched the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 in 2018. The government is working on climate adaptation strategies to help the country develop. However, as of 2020, progress had not met many early goals, leaving 80 million people still at risk of flooding instead of the planned 60 million. Progress is being tracked closely.
Greenhouse gas emissions
As a Least Developed Country (LDC), Bangladesh is not required to take action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which are the main cause of global warming. However, recently, this has become a reason for policymakers to increase emissions in many sectors without considering the environment.
Effects on the natural environment
Bangladesh is known for being vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. This is because the country is located near three large rivers: the Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Meghna, along with their many smaller rivers. These rivers can cause large floods. Bangladesh is also a river delta, which makes it more likely to experience flooding and waterlogging.
From ancient times, Bangladesh has faced many natural disasters. However, climate change has made these disasters more severe and frequent. The country experiences floods, cyclones, flash floods, and landslides almost every year. Between 1980 and 2008, Bangladesh had 219 natural disasters. Floods are the most common type of disaster in the country. In the 19th century, Bangladesh had six major floods, and in the 20th century, it had 18 major floods. The floods in 1985, 1987, and 1998 were the most severe. Major cyclones in the 20th century occurred in 1960, 1961, 1963, 1970, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1991, and 1995. The 1991 cyclone killed about 140,000 people and left 10 million without homes. In recent years, Bangladesh faced two major cyclones in 2007 and 2009. During Cyclone Amphan, coastal barriers were destroyed, allowing floodwaters to reach 15 kilometers inland and forcing 500,000 families to leave their homes.
Bangladesh’s location makes it highly susceptible to natural disasters. It lies between the Himalayan mountains to the north and the Bay of Bengal to the south. This position creates two very different climates, leading to long monsoon seasons and severe natural disasters. Climate change and rising sea levels have worsened the situation. Most of Bangladesh is very low and flat, with only 10% of its land more than one meter above sea level. The country is crossed by hundreds of rivers, including the large river system formed by the Padma, Meghna, and Brahmaputra rivers. This causes frequent floods and cyclones.
The Bangladesh Coastal Zone (BCZ) is especially vulnerable to tropical cyclones and storm surges. These events are expected to become more frequent and severe due to climate change. The BCZ covers 47,201 square kilometers and includes 19 districts. In 2011, about 37.2 million people lived there, and by 2022, the population had grown to 43.8 million. The BCZ faces challenges in development and struggles to manage natural disasters and environmental changes.
Floods have a major impact on Bangladesh and are closely linked to climate change. According to UNICEF, more than 19 million children in Bangladesh are at risk from these events.
Studies in 2022 found that poorer households in coastal areas were not much more likely to be affected by flooding compared to others. This is different from some earlier research in Bangladesh that found a greater risk for river flooding. This difference may be because cyclones happen randomly, making it less likely for poorer areas to be disproportionately affected.
In 2024, Bangladesh experienced a heatwave.
Low-lying coastal areas like Bangladesh are at risk from rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather, such as the cyclones of 2007–2009, and melting polar ice. To address rising sea levels, Bangladesh launched the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 in 2018.
Challenges in the Bangladesh Coastal Zone are expected to worsen due to climate change and rising sea levels. About 62% of coastal land is less than 3 meters above sea level.
Impact on people
Bangladesh is one of the most populated countries in the world. Its high population density makes it more likely to suffer from natural disasters. In recent years, the country has reduced poverty, but 24% of people still live below the poverty line. The country is also experiencing rapid and unplanned city growth without enough infrastructure or basic services. This type of growth makes city residents more vulnerable to climate change.
Bangladesh has a critical environmental situation because of its many rivers. These rivers make the country prone to flooding, especially due to climate change. About 163 million people in Bangladesh live near rivers and have little chance to escape floods.
Climate change has serious effects on different parts of Bangladesh’s economy, especially agriculture, including fishing and livestock. A 2024 World Bank report says that even with lower carbon emissions, Bangladesh is at risk of extreme river floods that could harm informal urban areas. Rising sea levels threaten coastal regions, and a 0.5-meter rise in sea level could double the value of assets at risk in coastal areas and cause millions of people to move inland by midcentury. Historical data shows that a 500-year flood could damage 12% of exposed assets. Cyclones also cause average annual losses of US$1 billion, mostly affecting lower-income families in the southern regions.
Climate change has caused many people in Bangladesh to move. By 2013, 6.5 million people had been displaced. Poor and vulnerable groups are most affected. Cities like Dhaka and smaller urban centers are common destinations for climate-related migration. This migration increases pressure on urban services, such as health and education, and raises the risk of conflicts.
More frequent floods, caused by reduced river slopes, heavy rainfall in the Ganges-Meghna-Brahmaputra river basins, and melting Himalayan glaciers, are a major reason for climate-related migration in Bangladesh. These floods destroy farmland, reduce income opportunities, and disrupt family livelihoods. In northern regions, droughts cause displacement, while in southern areas, rising sea levels and cyclones lead to migration.
Bangladeshi farmers have adapted to rising water levels by creating floating gardens. These gardens use water hyacinth plants, bamboo, and fertilizer to make floating platforms for farming, as noted by climate researcher Alizé Carrère.
As an agricultural society, Bangladesh relies heavily on farming. It provides most rural jobs, with over 87% of people working in agriculture-related jobs. In 2016, agriculture contributed 14.77% of the country’s GDP. Increased production through modern tools and scientific methods has helped reduce rural poverty. However, rising sea levels and global warming threaten both agricultural progress and poverty reduction efforts.
Agriculture depends on temperature and rainfall, so changes in weather conditions negatively affect crop yields and reduce arable land. A report from the Ministry of Environment and Forests says that a 1°C increase in temperature during key rice-growing stages reduced Aman rice production by 2.94, 53.06, and 17.28 tons, respectively. Water salinity also harms rice production, especially in coastal areas. The same report states that a 1-meter rise in sea level could cause the country to lose 12–16% of its land. These challenges lead to food shortages and insecurity. Adaptation strategies include using resilient crops, diversifying farming, improving irrigation, and conserving soil.
The government of Bangladesh has already used several of these strategies. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute has developed salt-tolerant rice varieties, such as BR-11, BR-23, BRRI rice-28, BRRI rice-41, BRRI rice-47, BRRI rice-53, and BRRI rice-54. In drought-prone areas, short-growing rice varieties are used. The Department of Agricultural Extension introduced "Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)" to use water more efficiently. The government also provides financial help to farmers affected by disasters.
With more people losing farmland due to climate change, Bangladesh’s already malnourished population faces greater risks. Since the country’s independence, rice production has increased from 10 million metric tons to over 30 million metric tons. However, 15.2% of the population is still undernourished. In March 2017, extreme pre-monsoon rains and floods damaged 220,000 hectares of rice crops. Rice imports rose to 3 million tonnes from less than 100,000 tonnes the previous year. A 2018 study by the American Meteorological Society found that climate change doubled the chance of extreme pre-monsoon rainfall.
Adaptation
Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction may appear to be separate areas, but they share similar goals: to help communities become more resilient against dangers. One study explains that climate change adaptation involves changing how development, social, and economic activities are done to respond to new or expected environmental changes. Similarly, disaster risk reduction aims to influence development decisions and protect progress from environmental risks. Both efforts are less effective if they are not connected to the larger goal of sustainable development.
Bangladesh has made significant progress in reducing disaster risks and is recognized as a global leader in disaster management. This success came after the country shifted its disaster programs from focusing only on prevention to emphasizing risk reduction. Compared to 1970, the number of deaths and damage caused by natural disasters has dropped greatly. In the past, Bangladesh relied heavily on international aid for emergency relief, but it later realized the importance of creating a culture of resilience to reduce risks from disasters.
Bangladesh’s government, along with international partners and civil society groups, is working to achieve three main goals: saving lives, protecting investments, and ensuring effective recovery and rebuilding. The country spends about $3 billion each year on climate adaptation and disaster management, with 75% of this money coming from domestic sources.
A major success in Bangladesh’s climate adaptation efforts is its strong institutional framework. The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) leads many disaster risk reduction programs. Recently, the ministry created the "National Plan for Disaster Management (2016–2020)," which includes detailed guidelines for disaster management. This plan is based on several key drivers, including the Disaster Management Act 2012, Standing Orders on Disasters (SOD) from 1997 and 2010, the National Plan for Disaster Management 2010–2015, the Disaster Policy Act 2015, the SAARC Framework for Action (SFA) 2006–2015, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2016–2030, the Asian Regional Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction (ARPDRR), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Understanding where people live in coastal areas and their levels of poverty or vulnerability can help guide decisions about large-scale adaptation efforts. Options include building embankments and cyclone shelters or using softer solutions like cash transfers and social safety nets. Research on detailed population maps can help target these efforts more effectively for people in need.
Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) has identified and ranked climate adaptation needs and vulnerabilities, along with costs and benefits for different sectors. These plans prioritize actions that reduce poverty, ensure livelihood security, and consider the needs of women and men.
International organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank support Bangladesh. With help from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Bangladesh created a flood action plan to promote disaster management and risk reduction. UNDP also helped establish the Disaster Management Bureau.
Bangladesh has signed the Paris Agreement and set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6.73% by 2030. The country is working to reduce traffic congestion by improving rail transport, lower emissions from agriculture, and increase forest cover by 150,000 hectares.
Society and culture
In 2012, Bangladesh was classified as a Least Developed Country by the United Nations due to high levels of poverty and a weak government, which makes it more likely to suffer from natural disasters. The country has a large population, and in 2010, about 63% of people worked in agriculture, forestry, or fishing. Slightly less than half of Bangladesh’s population is women, and in 2001, 80% of women lived in rural areas. Bangladeshi women are especially at risk from climate change because they often have limited freedom and influence in society. Research shows that during the cyclone and flooding in 1991, Bangladeshi women aged 20–44 had a much higher death rate than men of the same age: 71 per 1,000 women compared to 15 per 1,000 men. Even when warnings about cyclones are given, many women die because they must wait at home for family members to return before they can find shelter.
As climate change continues, problems with water access and salt contamination are growing in Bangladesh. When clean water is not available, women are responsible for finding it, even if it requires traveling long distances or crossing difficult terrain. During natural disasters, male unemployment often increases. When men lose jobs, women take on more responsibilities, such as earning income, managing resources, and caring for children and elderly family members. As more men become unemployed, more women report experiencing mental or physical abuse from male relatives. To prepare for climate changes, women store items like matches, food, medicine, and fuel in safe places. They also teach their children skills, such as swimming, to help them during emergencies. The global relief agency CARE suggests that jobs like raising ducks can help improve Bangladeshi women’s ability to cope with climate change.
Since the 1991 disasters, Bangladeshi women have become more involved in disaster response decisions through local committees and organizations created by the government and NGOs. As part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), Bangladesh released a Poverty Reduction Strategy in 2005 that included plans to address gender issues in climate change adaptation. However, by 2008, these goals had not been fully carried out.
In 2018, the New York WILD film festival awarded the "Best Short Film" to a 12-minute documentary titled Adaptation Bangladesh: Sea Level Rise. The film shows how Bangladeshi farmers are preventing floods on their farms by creating floating gardens made of water hyacinth and bamboo.
Bangladesh has a large network of NGOs across the country that actively support people affected by climate change. Various civil society organizations and NGOs have helped the Bangladeshi government develop policies to address climate change. Examples include the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS), SUSHILON, and the Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB), which have worked closely with the government in recent years to create climate change policies.