Capacity building must to face effects of climate change

During the last 100 years, human activities related to the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and hybrid agriculture have led to about 35 per cent increase in the carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and increased trapping of heat and warming of the earth's atmosphere. Researchers also estimated that the sea level rose at the rate of 0.17mm during the 20th century, but the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that the sea level rose at an average rate of 1.8 mm per year from 1961 to 2003. There is no denying of the fact that natural disasters, which are more frequent nowadays, cause death, injuries and destruction to human being as well as to the wildlife. World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that the modest anthropogenic climate change that has occurred since 1970 claims 150,000 lives annually. Recently, the climate across the globe and specially in South-East Asia (SEA) region have had diverse impacts on health, agriculture as well as the economy at a scale never seen before. Nonetheless, the most severe threats are to developing countries, with direct negative implications for the achievement of the health-and economy-related Millennium Development Goals. However, it is very likely that heat waves and heavy precipitation events will continue to become more frequent as well as tropical cyclones (typhoons and hurricanes) will become more intense with larger peak wind speeds and heavier precipitation. A category IV cyclone named Sidr had hit Bangladesh a few years ago. The cyclone struck the offshore islands and made landfall across the southern coast from Cox's Bazar with wind speeds of up to 250 kmh. Cyclone Sidr continued to travel in a North-North-easterly direction affecting most parts of central Bangladesh. It was subsequently downgraded to a Category-III cyclone. Approximately 30 of Bangladesh's 64 districts were affected by the storm mainly within the administrative divisions of Barisal and Khulna. Official reports indicated that more than 6.7 million people were affected by Cyclone Sidr that claimed 3,033 lives. At least 1,828 people went missing and 34,511 others were injured in the storm. Material damage was severe, with over 363,346 homes destroyed and a further 815,628 houses partially damaged. The government estimated that crops on more than 1.6 million acres were damaged. Over 462,815 livestock were killed. Extensive damage to roads and public buildings were also reported, including 1,355 educational institutions destroyed and another 7,847 partially damaged. The twelve most affected areas include Bagerhat, Barguna, Barisal, Khulna, Satkhira. UN Emergency Assessment of the needs and damages reported that approximately 4.7 million people were affected in those nine worst affected districts where 2.6 million people required immediate livelihoods and life-saving relief assistance. Food, shelter and cash represented the three highest priority areas for immediate assistance. Sanitation and drinking water assistance was also urgently needed. There was significant damage to livelihoods including fisheries and agricultural. Land and water transportation services required support within very short period of time. When government failed to respond to the needs of the victims, many NGO's and individuals came forward to ameliorate their sufferings. As such, Muslim Aid established an inflatable hospital in Saudkhali village to provide emergency medical services to thousand of victims. However, it was not possible to resume commerce and economic activities there immediately. International agencies like WHO, Greenpeace or IPCC have to be more active to provide specific climate change-related technical guidance for vulnerability and adaptation assessments and surveillance systems which provide the methods for identifying risks to vulnerable groups including all poor and rich countries. It is time to build national capacities to develop and implement national action plans on mitigation and adaptation, including conducting research to find out the extent of the impact of climate change. To increase awareness of climate change effects, the government, non-government organisations and civil society have to work together to develop coordinated mitigation and adaptation plans by including relevant sectors, regions and disciplines. The government should develop and implement national action plans that are integrated into existing national plans on adaptation and mitigation to climate change. Public health systems and disaster management including psychosocial support have to be developed through increased collaboration and cooperation among all the related parties. The process may include documentation, sharing and evaluation of the effectiveness of local knowledge and practices too for further research purpose. One cannot separate the issue of climate change from that of economics. So we all have to take into account these issues and take timely actions to save ourselves. Actions may include, using wind power or solar energy that will give us more than enough energy to power the world many times over, even it is costless to produce. Moreover, building of eco-renovated existing structures may help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from domestic housing, that aims to reduce emissions by 80-90 per cent through measures such as insulating walls and windows and using improved ventilation methods. By promoting the use of non-motorised transport systems as two and three wheelers (cycles and rickshaws), we may reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. Side by side, having fewer private vehicles may improve the air quality as well as make people physically active. We may thus contribute positively to balance both environment and economy. We must create awareness among the people about the negative impacts of deforestation, and the government can promulgate stringent laws and implement the same against the law-breakers. So we all need to come up with strong mentality to use bio-gas-stoves in households and eco-friendly electric burners in brickfields across the country instead of using wood for cooking or brick-making. The writer is a columnist and development researcher. He may be reached at email: sajjad_aiubbd@yahoo.com