Summary
• 


• 


• 


• 


• 




• 



• 




• 



Policy brief
Tackling ooding in Bangladesh
in a changing climate
Policy briefs








Lucia Letsch, Shouro Dasgupta and
Elizabeth JZ Robinson.
August 2023
Introduction: why is ood risk in Bangladesh so high?

















2
Policy brief — August 2023
Tackling ooding in Bangladesh in a changing climate
Source: Bangladesh Agricultural
Research Council (BARC)/GIS Project,
BGD/95/006)
Figure 1. Flood-prone areas in Bangladesh
3
Policy brief — August 2023
Tackling ooding in Bangladesh in a changing climate
Why is ood risk in Bangladesh so high?
Geographical features





















The changing climate





Dastagir,









Figure 2. Land area aected during major oods in Bangladesh (%)
Source: Authors’ calculations using ERA5-
Land data on precipitation


Bengal Delta and









Changing rainfall patterns: 











Flash ooding: 





Sea level rise: 








Glacial melting: 




















4
Policy brief — August 2023
Tackling ooding in Bangladesh in a changing climate

Table 1. Percentage increase in water ows during extreme ooding with an annual probability of occurrence of
1% or less compared with the 1986–2005 baseline
River Low-emissions scenario
(1.5°C by 2030)
Medium-emissions
scenario (2°C by 2050)
High-emissions scenario
(4°C by 2080)
Ganges   
   
Meghna   


Source: Mohammed et al. (2018)







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

Social and economic factors































How has Bangladesh tackled its ooding challenge
in the past?

















5
Policy brief — August 2023
Tackling ooding in Bangladesh in a changing climate

























)



Addressing ooding today: the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100






General


























6
Policy brief — August 2023
Tackling ooding in Bangladesh in a changing climate
The role of climate change mitigation


















Implications for future ood policy in Bangladesh


















• Early warning systems








• Integrating local knowledge












7
Policy brief — August 2023
Tackling ooding in Bangladesh in a changing climate
Grantham Research Institute on
Climate Change and the Environment



 
 

Authors and acknowledgements



































• Nature-based solutions







• Coordination between national and local government bodies and
NGOs 















• Climate adaptation and mitigation 














Annex – references and overview of policies


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Policy brief — August 2023
Tackling ooding in Bangladesh in a changing climate