Climate change impacts in Bangladesh

With the Himalayas to the north and the Bay of Bengal to the south, Bangladesh sits on one of the world’s largest and most densely populated deltas, where the Jamuna, Padma and Meghna rivers converge. Bangladesh’s geography and low-lying delta topography make it particularly vulnerable to climate change, repeatedly confronting heatwaves, tropical cyclones, floods and droughts for decades. This report indicates that, despite the country's vulnerability, government adaptation policy and local initiatives have saved many lives and, so far, averted the worst impacts of climate change. However, climate impacts in Bangladesh are increasing at an alarming rate, and current safeguards soon won’t be enough to protect people. Ultimately, Bangladesh needs a bolder adaptation response, alongside a functional loss and damage mechanism and a transition away from fossil fuels.