CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND BD PERSPECTIVE INTRODUCTION 1.

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. A change of climate which is attributed/influenced directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate changeability observed over comparable time periods. In the latter sense it may be qualified as anthropogenic change of climate, more generally known as "global warming" or "Anthropogenic Global Warming" (AGW). 2. Presently this rapid climate change has become the major catastrophe and the greatest threat of the 21st century. No nation, however large or small, wealthy or poor, can escape the impact of climate change. Appreciating the consequences, many a times heads of frontier states, Heads of Governments, Ministers, and other heads of delegations sited together and formed various international agreements to bring down the carbon emission to a level to keep the planet liveable. But the summit concluded without expected consensus/agreement. 3. In pursuant to the present context of climate change, this paper will endeavour to highlight the various causes of world climate change, effects of it and summary of recent Copenhagen accord, analysis, criticism and cause of failure of the accord and the remedial measures to combat climate change in the suffering countries. AIM 4. The aim of this paper is to highlight the overall impact of global climate change suggesting the remedial measures to combat it. THE CANCUN CONCURRENCE
5. United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in Cancun, Mexico, from 29 November to 10 December 2010.The Cancun Agreement has restored momentum to

the UN climate talks. Three important areas of achievement are: New Green Climate Fund Formally establishing a new global climate fund US$100 billion a year by 2020 to reduce pollution dependence and manage climate change impacts in the most vulnerable and poorest nations.
a.

b. Anchoring of National Mitigation Commitments. Formal recognition and anchoring of existing pollution targets and commitments from all major polluting countries, covering around 80 per cent of global emissions. This is the first time pollution commitments from US, China and all other major economies have been captured in a formal UN agreement. c. Improved Transparency. Measures to improve transparency and verification of domestic efforts to reduce pollution, including a process for international review of countries actions by technical experts. d. Technology. Establishing a new program to fast track clean technology development.

WORLD WIDE AFFECTED REGIONS 7. Presently there are very few countries who are not suffering from terrible hand of climate change. But due to the melting of the ice berg, the normal sea level has increased to an anxiety level. So the low lying countries like Asian mega deltas includes Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, China, various parts of Africa continent specially in the sub-Saharan region and the small islands are affected by flood, draught and various natural calamities almost every year. The causes of deadly cyclone Catrina in USA, Ayla & Sidor in Bangladesh are the terrible results of climate change in the recent past. REASONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 11. Greenhouse Effect and Ozone Layer. Scientists have discovered that concentrations of GHGs in the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide (CO 2) are rising. These gases could trap more heat in the atmosphere is leading to a gradual warming of the Earths atmosphere. Ozone layer depletion is also an impact of greenhouse effect. 13. Industrialization. Significant numbers of large scale industries are generating toxic elements in both gaseous and solid form, chemical and unrefined wastes causing air pollution and placing extra load on the environment. 14. Urbanization. The unemployed rural people migrating to the larger cities causing scarcity of housing land, drainage problem, excessive production of sewage and other wastes, traffic congestion etc. shrinks down cultivable land of the country. These all badly affect the environment causing ultimate effect on weather. 15. Deforestation. According to a recent estimate, over the past 50 years nearly 14% (?) of the forest area had been deforested. This is causing excess pressure on ozone layer which ultimately affects the climate. 18. Marine Pollution. Ships operating at sea and ship breaking industries mainly in the SE Asian coastal areas are polluting the sea and adjacent land area by discharging liquefied petroleum gas and oxygen, large amount of fuel and other oily substances adding threat to marine environment. It further makes the sea surface polluted and warmed and increasing the temperature. 19. Air Pollution and Transportation . The major sources of air pollution occur due to the burning of fossil fuel, petroleum for transportation etc. These cause increasing of CO2 in the environment and affecting the weather. 20. Pressure by Population Growth. The worlds population growth is rising specially in SE Asia at 17,000 people/sq km by 2050. This leads to a massive disruption of traditional land and resource management system. Thus the nature is charged excessively to meet the demand of huge population for their livelihood causing an ecological imbalance to the nature. IMPACT ON BANGLADESH 24. The poorest countries have always been predicted to be worst hit by this human-induced global warming. According to the 3rd Assessment Report of IPCC, Bangladesh ranks high in the list of most vulnerable countries. High vulnerability of the country to global warming is due to geographical location, flat deltaic topography with sea-facing low elevation, extreme tropical climate variability, high population density and poverty incidence, dependency of majority of population on 2

crop agriculture. However, the major impacts of global warming on Bangladesh are as follows: a. Sea Level Rise. Global warming causes a thermal expansion of the sea water including melting the polar and Alpine ice sheets. The sea floor is also being raised by the deposition of the sediments brought down by the rivers. These processes together are giving rise to sea level. World Bank reported that sea level was rising by about 3mm/year in the Bay of Bengal and rise along the coastal areas of Bangladesh will be about 88cm by the year 2100. A TF report predicts a 1 meter rise in the sea level will engulf a greater portion of southern region which is about 16% of BD. b. Loss of Agri Land Area. The predicted 1 meter sea level rise will lead to the loss of about 23 thousand sq km of agriland which will cause a 30% decline of rice crop. Bangladesh very often get submerged by flooding which drives away almost 80% efforts of Bangladeshi farmers and make them environmental refugees. From 1990 to 2008 the total gross losses were $ 2.19 billion/year. Again, 18% land in the coastal region is likely to be water logged by 2050 even with 4-6 metres dam. This will significantly reduce our cultivating land and will create dreadful impact on our mass people. c. Food Scarcity. A rise of sea water during high tides will enable saline water extended to agriland and the salinity will deteriorate soil quality including cause loss of sweet water. This will degrade the growth and production of corps and ultimately country will have shortage of food than requirement. As a result BD has to be dependent on foreign countries more to meet this requirement. d. Increasing of Natural Calamity. Due to global warming, the temperature in Bangladesh is raising and projected to rise by 1.5 to 2 deg C by 2050. As such, followings are the overall affects observed: (1) Tropical Cyclones Rising. Tropical cyclones and tornadoes is getting bigger and more frequent. The super cyclone Sidr on 15 Nov 2007 has already drawn attention to the devastation that may yet be caused in future. (2) Droughts Increasing. Abnormal seasonal behaviour etc the droughts are increasing. Specially in winter it has been observed more. (3) Rainfall Increase. BD is receiving heavier rainfall during the monsoon because the rate of evaporation. It is expected to increase by up to 12%. Monsoon rainfall may increase by 11% by 2030. f. Raising Disease. Rise in temperature will cause human health will be at higher risk of some infectious diseases like malaria, diarrhoea, dengue etc specially in coastal area. g. Forestry. Because of above reasons mainly due to storm and increase of sea level rise including salinity of water the forestry is severely affected. Like, in future it will permanently engulf the Sundarbans. d. Other Effects. (1) (2) (3) As fol:

Abnormal seasonal behaviour. Rising of warmed and humid weather. Increase of salty area etc.

SUGGESTED MEASURES OF BD 23. Suggested measures are as fol: a. Raising Voice in Intl Forum. The government should raise its voice against carbon production in the intl forum spl in Worlds Environment Programme. Govt should highlight that due to the green house affect caused by the developed countries, ultimately for the global warm BD is severely affected with cyclone, drought, heavy rainfall, flood, loss of agricultural land, scarcity of food, increase of diseases etc. b. Asking for Spl Fund. According to a recent study Institute of Water Modeling (IWM), BD needs at least 4.17 billion US dollars for the construction of polders to save the lives of coastal people from sea-level rise and storm surge. As such BD should keep developed countries under pressure for funding as remedy. b. Policy Formulation. Government should formulate a strict policy for in curbing carbon spl against brick producers, old transports, wood cutters and users, use of fossil fuel in various industries etc. c. Punishing Law Breakers. spl illegal forest damagers, brick fields, industries owners, old transports users. d. Production of Alternate Source of Energy. Like CNG, battery driven vehicles, encouraging solar energy production etc. use of

e. Raising General Awareness. Government should raise a general awareness among mass people regarding air and land pollution by seminar/symposium etc. n. Regional Coop. Government should take necessary stapes to enhance regional cooperation and activating the regional forums for directives in reducing carbons and special funds from developed countries to face this challenge. q. Plantation of Trees. Government should encourage the mass people for plantation. Also government may provide free seeds and plants among people for plantation. p. Other Measures. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) As follows:

Modernizing weather bureau of BD. Building huge cyclone shelters in coastal areas. Transferring calamity information to victim area earliest. Sea going country boats with proper appliances. Alternate roads for the use of bicycles. CONCLUSION

24. The climate change impact agriculture, food production and water resources around the world. Recent days the rising of temperature has made the nature uncomfortable. Due to the melting of ice sheets and glaciers the rising of sea level upto 25 to 28 cm already puts the sociologist in a great thought. In future the time will come when the people of the low lying land will become part of history due to the devastating effect of climate change. 25. For Bangladesh, the climate changes caused by global warming leading to more rainfall, massive floods, great cyclones, droughts diseases, food insecurity, 4

loss of land and many more. The developed countries are much more responsible than that of BD itself. In international forum, BD should continue raise her voice to curb green house effect highlighting her bad impacts and ask fund as remedy. 26. However, worlds leaders effort in the conservation of the environment and sustainable development strategies will definitely protect the earth and its environment and will particularly save countries like Bangladesh from the catastrophe which can be induced by global warming. At last, it is to be said that global warming is a global issue and thus it should be treated globally and acted locally.

RECOMMENDATIONs 26. Recommendations are appended below: a. A technology based, efficient system to deal with natural disasters and other global warming global impacts should be put in place is an urgent need. b. Bangladesh should highlight her bad impacts, vulnerability and raise her voice strongly for funding BD as remedy. c. BD should keep the worlds leaders under pressure for settling up a general policy in emission of green house gases. d. BD govt should ensure that the unlawful acts in this aspect mainly damaging forestry, reducing brick fields, minimizing old vehicles etc as cited above in the measures of BD are diminished in strong hand and the law breakers are exemplarily punished. e. A general awareness at both global and BD national level should be enhanced. Seminer, symposium, round table talk, highlighting in the media etc should be endeavoured. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fol to be included in case of global climate change GENERAL IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE 8. Global Effects. As follows: a. Weather. In recent days the worlds weather patterns are expected to be unpredictable and more extreme in nature. Heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense. Hurricanes, violent storms that draw their force from warm ocean water are likely to become more severe. The intensity of hurricanes has already increased since the 1970s. b. Ice Sheets and Glaciers (in bangla: ice melt). Warming temperatures are already causing significant changes to mountain glaciers around the world and ice sheets over the 20th century. Glaciers on Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, have lost 82% of their ice since 1912 and are estimated to be gone completely by 2020. Glaciers in the Himalayas of Asia are melting at a rate of 9 to 15 m/year. c. Sea Level. By the end of the 21st century, sea level is projected to rise another 28 to 58 cm if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase. 1 meter rise in sea level as the result of melting the Himalayan glaciers and green land ice sheet will cause flooding 1/3 of S Asia, displace as many 40 million people, increase salinity in coastal area and likelihood of winter drought. d. Agriculture. Due to climate change, the worlds rain-fed agriculture will be reduced up to 50% by 2020 and a short fall in crop production would threaten the food security worldwide. e. Plants and Animals. Plants and animals will find it difficult to adjust due to the effects of global climate change. Scientists have already observed shifting in the lifecycles of many plants and animals and their annual migration patterns have also been changed due to warmer temperatures. f. Human health. Berlin-based NGO German Watch reported 6 lac people died as a direct consequence of more than 11 thousand extreme weather events around the world from 1990-2008. Scientists predict that more people will get sick or die from heat stress due not only to hotter days but more importantly to warmer nights. g. Water Stress. Three-quarters of African countries are in zones where small reductions in rainfall could cause large declines in river water (nodite pani kom). By 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to an increase of water stress due to climate change.

GENERAL REMEDIAL MEASURE TO COMBAT & ACCOMMODATE CLIMATE CHANGE 15. Controlling of the climate change will require fundamental changes in energy production, transportation, industry, government policies, and development strategies around the world. These changes take time. The challenge today is managing the impacts that cannot be avoided while taking steps to prevent more severe impacts in the future.

16. Mitigation (reduction) of Green house Gases . Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, also called greenhouse gas mitigation, is one of the most important strategy for controlling global warming. There are two major approaches to slowing the building up of greenhouse gases. One is to reduce the consumption of fossil (joibo shila) fuels, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The other is to keep carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere by storing the gas or its carbon component somewhere else, a strategy known as carbon sequestration or carbon capture. 17. International Agreements.International cooperation is must for the successful reduction of greenhouse gases. The first international conference addressing the issue was held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil known as Earth Summit. In 1997 in Japan, 160 nations drafted an agreement known as the Kyto Protocol, which sets mandatory targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In March 2007 the European Union (EU) called a Green Summit where EU leaders agreed to reduce emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020 or by as much as 30% if nations outside the EU joined in the commitments. 18. Voluntary Programs. At a national level, the United States has so far relied on voluntary programs to reduce emissions named Energy Star program. This program rates appliances for energy use and gives some money back to consumers who buy efficient machines. 19. Regional Cooperation. Regional governments need to include disaster management in their policies for coping with climate change. Governments are asking the scientific community to advise them on reducing disaster risks. 20. International Cooperation. All the developed countries should realize that because of their carbon emission the poor and developing countries are suffering a lot. So they should stretch out their cooperating hand to the sufferers. They can make funding for the sufferers by collecting donations from others frontiers. 21. Carbon Tax. Some observers believe the simplest way to reduce emissions is through a carbon tax (a tax on fuels in proportion to their carbon content). The main purpose of the tax would be to raise the price of carbon-based fuels and generate a global fund to encourage energy efficiency and technological development. 22. Altering Human Activities. According to UNFCCC it is the human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere. So if it is possible to create general awareness among the people regarding the appalling effect of climate change then it may reduce the terrible effect of climate change to a some extent. 23. Forestry. Taking initiative for safe guarding the forest and strict implication of law against deforesting can make the environment more live worthy. Its a true fact that if we can restrict deforestation, it will help a lot in opposing this huge challenge.