Integrated assessment and decision-support tool for community-based vulnerability and adaptation to storm surges in four coastal areas in Bangladesh
Files
(Published version)
Date
2014
Authors
Younus, M.A.
Sharna, S.S.
Rahman, T.B.
Editors
Lo, Alex,
Pearsons, Leonie,
Evans,
Pearsons, Leonie,
Evans,
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Conference paper
Citation
Opportunities for the Critical Decade: Enhancing well-being within Planetary Boundaries. Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics 2013 Conference Proceedings, 2014 / Lo, Alex, , Pearsons, Leonie, , Evans, (ed./s), pp.168-188
Statement of Responsibility
Md Aboul Fazal Younus, Sabrina Shahrin Sharna, Tamanna Binte Rahman
Conference Name
Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics 2013 Conference (11 Nov 2013 - 14 Nov 2013 : Canberra, Australia)
Abstract
Bangladesh has been identified as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate
change and rising sea-level. This is because it is located at the northern end of the
funnel-shaped Bay of Bengal, and as a consequence it has experienced a number of
severe storm surges in the last three decades. The inhabitants of the coastal region
are very poor, and the surges have pushed them to a ‘tipping-point’; that is, the point
of desperation which is exacerbating the socio-economic threats to their existence.
The study reported here aimed to explore the perceptions of coastal communities
with regard to vulnerability and adaptation (V & A) strategies in four different areas of
Bangladesh in order to reduce their vulnerability to future storm surges. After
reviewing the impact assessment guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC), United States Country Studies Program (USCSP) and
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the researchers applied the
Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) method (a behavioural environmental decisionmaking tool) to survey 160 participants in four case-study areas,with 20 participants in two sessions in each case. The evaluation of V & A was implemented and prioritised in this study by a measuring scale, called the ‘weighted matrix index’. This study not only considered the integrated assessment of V & A but it also classified the levels of vulnerability and adaptation in different categories. Additionally, it provides a comparative picture of the vulnerabilities for similar risks in different types of communities. The study emphasizes some key aspects: a. the composite nature of various levels of V & A issues; b. the constraints to adaptation implementation; c. how to overcome those constraints. These key aspects demonstrate and stress that adaptation policy needs to be implemented immediately in Bangladesh in order to reduce and manage future vulnerability in the coastal region of Bangladesh under the potential climate change regimes.