Experiencing Climate Change in Bangladesh: Vulnerability and Adaptation in Coastal Regions provides a conceptual and empirical framework for understanding the vulnerability of coastal communities in Bangladesh to multiple stressors and presents the process by which rural households adapt their livelihoods. The livelihoods of the poor people in many developing countries are disproportionately vulnerable to multiple shocks and stresses. The effects of climate change interacting with these livelihood disturbances further amplify human vulnerability. Future climate change is likely to aggravate this precarious situation. This book offers a solid framework for analyzing the process and components of adaptation of rural livelihoods to a changing hydro-climatic environment and presents empirical evidence of livelihood adaptation at the local level. The book creates a knowledge-base for the small island developing states (SIDS) experiencing similar socio-economic and climatic conditions. Also fills a market need by providing a conceptual framework, case studies, and reflections on lessons learned from policy responses for vulnerability reduction and adaptation to climate variability, extremes, and change. Presents an analyses-based adaptation to climate change in a holistic way that takes into account social, economic, and environmental stressors and their interrelationships Examines synergy between disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and social protection in the context of Bangladesh Provides examples of successes and failures in climate change adaptation invaluable for developing countries in similar situations Fills a market need by providing a conceptual framework, case studies, and reflections on lessons learned from policy responses

Bangladesh faces many challenges. So long it has been mainly the traditional ones of socio economic development and eradication of poverty. Environment as a major factor in this process has only recently entered the scene. But even before environmental considerations in the development process has become the normal practice, the spectre of climate change has reared its ugly head. While Bangladesh is not unique among developing countries in being at the receiving end regarding the causes and consequences of climate change, both in the literal and allegorical sense of the term, the fact remains that it has made the prospects for sustainable socio-economic development in the country much more complex and formidable than before. Both for her own sake and the sake of the global community at large, therefore, Bangladesh has to initiate actions at various levels to face the challenge from now on. The present study is a part of that process. In 1996, the Governments of USA and Bangladesh together decided to initiate a comprehensive study on climate change in Bangladesh. A unique consortium of public and non-governmental research organisations with support from the relevant administrative arms of the Government carried out the study over 1996 and 1997. The report has been accepted by the Government and several of its recommendations are in the process of implementation. While the direction of climate change is broadly certain, its details leave much scope for speculation and interpretation.

The IPCC (2007) warned that the Ganges Brahmaputra Meghna (GBM) basin will be at greatest risk due to increased flooding, and that the region’s poverty would reduce its adaptation capacity. This book investigates autonomous adaptation using a multi-method technique comprising PRA and a questionnaire survey applied in the case study area ‘Islampur’ Upazila in Bangladesh. The study has four key approaches. First, it reviews the flood literature for Bangladesh from 1980 to 2014. Second, it examines farmers' crop adaptation processes in a case study area at Islampur, Bangladesh. Third, it assesses the vulnerability and adaptation (V & A) in response to three extreme flood events (EFEs). Fourth, the book assesses the economic consequences of failure effects of autonomous crop adaptation in response to EFEs. The results show that Bangladeshi farmers are highly resilient to EFEs, but the economic consequences of failure effects of autonomous crop adaptation (FEACA) on marginal farmers are large. The book contributes to current knowledge by filling three important research gaps as follows, 1) farmers’ autonomous crop adaptation processes in response to various types of extreme floods; 2) methodological contribution for assessing vulnerability and adaptation through PRA; and 3) the economic consequences of the failure effects of autonomous crop adaptations. “This book provides a good account of ‘autonomous adaptation’ and its impact on fl ood vulnerable communities in Bangladesh. Anyone wishing to fully understand the impact of climate change should read the book.” Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Laureate, Yunus Centre, Bangladesh

The book outlines the climate change adaptation (CCA) actions in Bangladesh drawing examples and lessons from different projects and programs in the country. The content is based on a selection of available documents, a consultative workshop with the academicians from different universities undertaking higher education on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, and the editors’ own knowledge and experience in the field. The book has four parts. Part I gives the details of climate change impacts, providing the scenarios, negotiations, and specific impacts on sea-level rise and the health sectors. Part II focuses on climate change strategy and action plans. Part III covers socio-economic impacts in terms of economic and environmental costs. Part IV focuses on adaptive actions for agriculture, livelihoods, and integrated approaches in agriculture and fisheries. Part V deals with climate-change governance issues. The primary target groups for this book are students and researchers in the fields of environment, disaster risk reduction, and climate change studies. The book will provide them with a good idea of the current trend of research in the field and will furnish basic knowledge on this important topic in Bangladesh. Another target group comprises practitioners and policy makers, who will be able to apply collective knowledge to policy and decision making.

PREFACE ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi L. AMADORE, W. C. BOLHOFER, R. V. CRUZ, R. B. FEIR, C. A. FREYSINGER, S. GUILL, K. F. JALAL, A IGLESIAS, A. JOSE, S. LEATHERMAN, S. LENHART, S. MUKHER JEE, J. B. SMITH, and J. WISNIEWSKII Climate Change Vulnerability and Adap tion in Asia and the Pacific: Workshop Summary 1-12 A. IGLESIAS, LlN ERDA, and C. ROSENZWEIG I Climate Change in Asia: A Review of the Vulnerability and Adaption of Crop Production 13-27 I. AMIEN, P. REJEKININGRUM, A. PRAMUDIA, and E. SUSANTII Effects of Interannual Climate Variability and Climate Change on Rice Yield in Java, Indonesia 29-39 R. D. BUAN, AR. MAGLlNAO, P. P. EVANGELISTA, and B. G. PAJUELAS I Vulnerability of Rice and Corn to Climate Change in the Philippines 41-51 Z. KARIM, S. G. HUSSAIN, and M. AHMED I Assessing Impacts of Climatic Variations on Foodgrain Production in Bangladesh 53-62 LlN ERDA I Agricultural Vulnerability and Adaptation to Global Warming in China 63-73 WANG JINGHUA and LlN ERDA I The Impacts of Potential Climate Change and Climate Variability on Simulated Maize Production in China 75-85 M. A. WIJERATNE I Vulnerability of Sri Lanka Tea Production to Global Climate Change 87-94 B. BOLORTSETSEG and G. TUVAANSUREN I The Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Pasture and Cattle Production in Mongolia 95-105 K. BOONPRAGOB and J. SANTISIRISOMBOON I Modeling Potential Changes of Forest Area in Thailand under Climate Change 107-117 K. 1. KOBAK, I. YE. TURCHINOVICH, N. YU. KONDRASHEVA, E. -D. SCHULZE, W.

This volume aims to develop a framework for disaster and climate risk resilient livelihood system in Bangladesh using a policy oriented approach. It highlights the possible impacts of climate change on groundwater based irrigation in the country. Climate change is one of biggest challenges to society. It can lead to serious impacts on production, life and environment on a global scale. Higher temperatures and sea level rise will cause flooding and water salinity problems which will bring about negative effects on agriculture and high risks to industry and socio-economic systems in the future. Climate change will lead to many changes in global development and security especially energy, water, food, society, job, diplomacy, culture, economy and trade. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines climate change as: “Any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity.” Global climate change has emerged as a key issue in both political and economic arenas. It is an increasingly questioned phenomenon, and progressive national governments around the world have started taking action to respond to these environmental concerns.