Bangladesh needs partnerships to adapt to rising climate risks, says WB report – New Age BD

Report on Climate Adaptation and Sustainable Development in Bangladesh

Executive Summary: Aligning Climate Resilience with Sustainable Development Goals

A World Bank report, titled ‘From Risk to Resilience: Helping People and Firms Adapt in South Asia,’ outlines a strategic framework for Bangladesh to accelerate climate-smart solutions. The report emphasizes that strengthening institutions and fostering partnerships between the government, private sector, and communities is critical for reducing climate vulnerability and driving sustainable development. This approach directly supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By prioritizing inclusive and resilient actions, Bangladesh can empower households and firms, ensuring that progress toward long-term prosperity is both sustainable and equitable, in line with SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Climate Vulnerability and its Impact on SDGs in South Asia

South Asia is identified as one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, with Bangladesh facing exceptionally high risk. The report highlights severe threats that directly impede progress on multiple SDGs.

• Extreme Climate Events: By 2030, nearly 90 percent of the region’s population will be at risk of extreme heat, and nearly a quarter will be at risk of severe flooding. These events threaten progress on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• Impact on Livelihoods: In Bangladesh’s coastal regions, rising water and soil salinity severely impact millions of lives, undermining SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by threatening agriculture and food security.
• Disproportionate Effects: The impacts are most severe for poor and agricultural households, exacerbating inequality and making it harder to achieve SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Analysis of Current Adaptation Measures and Challenges

While awareness of climate risks is high, with over 75% of households and firms expecting a weather shock, current adaptation measures are insufficient to meet the scale of the challenge. This gap presents a significant barrier to achieving robust climate resilience and related SDGs.

Key Findings:

1. High Awareness, Basic Action: 80% of households and 63% of firms have taken adaptive action. However, most rely on low-cost, basic solutions rather than leveraging advanced technologies or public infrastructure, limiting their effectiveness in achieving SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
2. Infrastructure and Financial Gaps: A survey in 250 coastal villages identified climate-resilient infrastructure as the most urgent unmet need. Key long-term challenges cited by households include:
   • Inadequate disaster-protection infrastructure (57%)
   • Limited financial resources for adaptation (56%)
3. Role of the Private Sector: The report estimates that approximately one-third of climate-related losses could be averted if the private sector is enabled to direct resources and investments toward climate adaptation, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Strategic Recommendations for Integrated Climate Action and Development

To overcome fiscal constraints and scale up adaptation, the report advocates for a comprehensive policy package that facilitates private sector involvement and strengthens public support systems, aligning with a multi-faceted SDG strategy.

Policy Recommendations:

1. Facilitate Private Sector Adaptation (SDG 8 & SDG 9): Governments should create an enabling environment for private investment by expanding access to finance, improving transport and digital networks, and ensuring regulatory support for climate-resilient enterprises.
2. Strengthen Public Goods and Services (SDG 1, SDG 3, SDG 11): Public investment must focus on core public goods that build human and physical capital. This includes:
   • Scaling up early warning systems and cyclone shelters.
   • Investing in resilient roads and health systems.
   • Adopting new resilient technologies in public infrastructure projects.
3. Enhance Social Protection Systems (SDG 1 & SDG 10): Social assistance programs must be targeted and flexible, allowing them to be scaled up rapidly in response to climate shocks to provide critical support for the poor and vulnerable.
4. Promote Climate-Smart Agriculture (SDG 2): Investment in climate-smart agricultural practices is essential to protect food security and the livelihoods of rural communities facing challenges like soil salinity.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 1: No Poverty

• The article directly connects climate change to poverty by stating that “poor and agricultural households are disproportionately affected” by its impacts. It further highlights the importance of social safety nets by mentioning that “well-targeted social assistance programs… can be rapidly scaled up to respond to shocks and provide support for the poor and vulnerable.” This establishes a clear link between building climate resilience and poverty reduction efforts.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• Infrastructure is a central theme of the article. It is identified as the “most urgent unmet need” in a survey of coastal villages. The text specifically calls for “climate-resilient infrastructure,” “disaster-protection infrastructure,” “embankments,” “cyclone shelters,” and core public goods like “roads and health systems.” This highlights the critical role of resilient infrastructure in supporting adaptation and sustainable development.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article focuses on the vulnerability of human settlements, particularly “250 coastal villages” in Bangladesh. It emphasizes the need to protect communities through investments in “cyclone shelters” and “embankments” to reduce fatalities and damages from disasters. The call for “targeted urban interventions” also directly relates to making cities and communities more resilient and sustainable in the face of climate change.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• This is the primary SDG addressed throughout the article. The entire text revolves around adapting to the impacts of climate change. It discusses the need for “climate-smart solutions,” strengthening “resilience and inclusive” development, and implementing adaptation strategies. The World Bank report’s title, “From Risk to Resilience,” and the call to scale up “early warning systems, social protection, climate-smart agriculture, and adaptation finance” are all core components of climate action.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article explicitly states that progress can be accelerated by “strengthening institutions and partnerships between government, the private sector and communities.” It stresses that the climate crisis demands “urgent, coordinated action from government and the private sector,” underlining the necessity of multi-stakeholder collaboration to achieve resilience goals.

Specific Targets Identified

SDG 1: No Poverty

1. Target 1.5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.
   • The article’s core message is about helping people adapt to climate shocks in South Asia, with a specific focus on how “poor and agricultural households are disproportionately affected.” The discussion on social assistance programs and disaster protection infrastructure directly supports this target.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

1. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being.
   • The article identifies “climate-resilient infrastructure” as the “most urgent unmet need” and cites “inadequate disaster-protection infrastructure” as a key challenge. The call to improve “transport and digital networks” and “roads” aligns perfectly with this target.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters… with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
   • This target is addressed by the article’s statement that “investments in early warning systems and cyclone shelters have helped reduce fatalities during major storms.” It also notes that one-third of “climate-related losses could be avoided,” directly referencing the goal of decreasing economic losses from disasters.

SDG 13: Climate Action

1. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • This is the central theme of the article. The text repeatedly calls for actions that strengthen resilience, such as scaling up “early warning systems, social protection, climate-smart agriculture, and adaptation finance.”
2. Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change… adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
   • The article notes that “Awareness of climate risks is high” but that actions are basic. It calls for “strengthening institutions” and scaling up “early warning systems,” which are key components of building institutional and human capacity for adaptation.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
   • The article’s opening sentence explicitly recommends “strengthening institutions and partnerships between government, the private sector and communities” as a way to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart solutions.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

• Number of deaths and affected persons attributed to disasters: The article directly implies this indicator by stating that “investments in early warning systems and cyclone shelters have helped reduce fatalities during major storms.” Measuring the reduction in fatalities and affected populations is a clear way to track the success of these interventions.
• Direct economic losses from disasters: This is implied when the article mentions that “about one-third of climate-related losses could be avoided if the private sector is able to move resources and investments where they are needed most.” Progress can be measured by tracking the reduction in economic losses due to climate events.
• Adoption of national and local disaster risk reduction strategies: The article’s call for the government to “adopt adaptation strategies” and facilitate a “comprehensive policy package” suggests that the formal adoption and implementation of these strategies are key measurable outcomes.
• Investment in and development of resilient infrastructure: The article identifies “inadequate disaster-protection infrastructure” and “limited financial resources for adaptation” as major challenges. Therefore, tracking public and private investment in, and the construction of, resilient infrastructure like embankments, shelters, and all-weather roads serves as a direct indicator of progress.
• Proportion of households and firms adopting advanced adaptation solutions: The article notes that while many households and firms have taken action, they “rely on basic, low-cost solutions.” A key indicator of progress would be the measured shift towards the adoption of “advanced technologies” and “climate-smart agriculture” as mentioned in the text.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: newagebd.net