Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

M Mizanur Rahman According to International Organiza-tion of Migration (IOM), over the course of the 21st century, climate change is expected to increase the risk of more frequent and severe floods through higher river flows resulting from heavier and more erratic rainfall in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna system during the monsoon and increased melting of the Himalayan glaciers. Climate change leads to gradual changes in variables such as average temperature, sea level rise, and the timing and amount of precipitation. Climate change also contributes to more frequent, severe and unpredictable hazards such as cyclones, floods and heat waves-"extreme weather events." Therefore, climate change adaptation can be understood as: (a) adapting development to gradual changes in average temperature, sea level and precipitation; and (b) reducing and managing the risks associated with more frequent, severe and unpredictable extreme weather events. Due to gradual change in climate of the globe, it is experiencing more hazards in these days. It is widely recognised that there is a close relation between climate change and natural disasters. In 2007, the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters named the top five countries in the world hit the hardest by natural disasters where first was Bangladesh, India was the second and Pakistan was in the fourth place. It is now largely accepted that climate change has a direct impact on the prevalence and seriousness of disasters. There has been a phenomenal increase in the frequency, severity and unpredictability of climatic events. Higher rainfall, changing temperatures and rising sea levels are likely to make natural disasters more frequent. Adaptation to climate change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) both seek to reduce vulnerability and achieve sustainability. Indeed, efforts are growing to link DRR and climate change adaptation more closely in policy and practice. Bangladesh is facing various challenges among which consequences of climate change and frequent disasters are the most burning. Again, the way we are loosing our nature sustaining components such as rivers, trees, biodiversity and so forth, we are heading towards a more dangerous age to be faced by the upcoming generations. We are responsible, but not the most prepared for the climatic change, even though we are one of the most vulnerable countries of the world. Being a developing country, we have little role to play in the international politics and that is why we have a minor voice to throw while making international policies. So, it is wise to have our own agenda in reducing our loss and so, DRR has become the focus in countries like ours. Disaster Risk Reduction has been high on the international agenda since the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. In January 2005, 168 governments agreed on the Hyogo Framework for Action, a detailed set of priorities to minimise losses - human lives as well as community and other assets by 2015. DRR aims to reduce risk and minimise the effects of a disaster by building better infrastructures, increasing awareness and thus by getting people prepared in disaster-risk prone areas. It introduces the implementation of early warning systems, or developing saline-resistant varieties of rice, for example. Local communities are often the most directly affected by disasters, but they also possess important local knowledge, passed down through generations, to manage risk. The poorest are the most vulnerable to risk. They will probably have no savings or safety net and no alternative source of income or food if, for example, a flash flood destroys their home and livelihood. Reducing people's vulnerability at the community level - being better prepared - means they will be more resilient to natural hazards. Importantly, women, children, aged and people with disability are the most victims of natural hazards but we do not pay them our special attention. Understanding their vulnerability during and after disaster should be given proper importance because the intensity and nature of their vulnerability are quite different from those of other people. With the growing intensity of the impact of climate change, our country is facing more unusual climatic incidents and these people are being more marginalised. It is fine that the country is shifting from relief to preparedness in the field of disaster management. But while making the communities better prepared for disaster, special measures need to be taken for these people otherwise, the developmental interventions will not be able to address all strata of people in a society. Some study show that a community-based livelihoods approach puts people first and aims to strengthen their ability to prepare for, cope with, and recover from shocks and hazards. But the disaster torn people are usually poor in our country and cannot go with some initiative like this. We need to link this approach to wider national and institutional initiatives to encourage local government officials and policymakers to respond more effectively to poor people's needs. Again, being coupled with disaster preparedness and having contingency planning that build people's own coping mechanisms, communities can manage hazardous situations more effectively and recover more quickly. The communities should be involved in assessing their own situation, using participatory tools so that development interventions can be proper. They need to identify local risks, discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and their assets and deficiencies. They also need to explore ways to strengthen their existing coping strategies and skills. Communities should also voluntarily form community-based organisations to lead in identifying and implementing local development activities. Bangladesh estimates that it needs $5.0 billion to kick start its adaptation programmes by 2015. The government is certainly taking an assertive position in international negotiations, claiming as much as 15 per cent of any climate fund earmarked for developing countries. The justification is that more people will be affected in Bangladesh than elsewhere. But, with looking for external help, we also need to ensure that the initiative is made effective by proper utilisation of the fund received, monitoring of activities and above all, keeping people away from doing anything adverse to our environment. Better knowledge management system, quick and proper information and promotion of DRR system are vital in a country like ours. Disaster risk reduction with climate change adaptation offers a win-win opportunity. Climate system is fundamental for both issues: 75 per cent of all disasters are originated by weather-climate extremes. Disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change strategies both are aimed at enhancing sustainability, resilient societies and human security. Disaster risk reduction offers opportunities for "bottom-up" strategies for adaptation to current climate variability and climate extremes. In this respect, disaster risk reduction can promote early adaptation to climate risks and impacts. However, for taking the country ahead-in a more mature position, it is important that people will gradually adapt to climate change and get prepared for reducing disaster risk effectively and in this regard a greater consensus is needed among the people, government and non-government organisation in every stage. If we all are conscious of the situation and ensure our meaningful participation in making people safe, the country will soon get the benefit from it and the poor disaster torn people will be in a better position. The writer is a development researcher. He can be reached at email: mithunmds07@gmail.com