This article covers two countries from the realm of south Asia: Bangladesh and the Maldives. The two small countries are located in an extremely vulnerable territory and they’re hardly above sea level – two thirds of Bangladesh is less then 5 meters above sea level, while 80% of The Maldives is less then 2 meters above sea level. Both countries are working hard to implement as many proactive programs as possible to eliminate the threat of their countries being destroyed by climate change-induced natural disasters. Bangladesh has invested over $10 billion to make the country less vulnerable to natural disasters and has created the Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund, to help receive grants from countries around the world. The Maldives has created a five-year Strategic Plan of Action, as well as their own fund called the Maldives Climate Change Trust Fund.
Despite the efforts by these two small countries – is it enough? Is it sustainable? Will the world literally be able to sustain the countries and people of Bangladesh and The Maldives, and keep them on the map? In my opinion, solving the climate change problem is a worldwide effort, and Bangladesh and The Maldives have too few allies with them in the fight against climate change. They can make all the structural precautions they want, but when push comes to shove, unless large countries like the U.S. and China reduce their environmental footprint and impact, smaller countries like The Maldives and Bangladesh are going to take the heat. As shown in the article Dr. Mariyam Shakeela from the Maldives is worried about this same issue: “What about those countries who have not committed to this second commitment period [a World Bank Plan to reduce emissions and pollution]? Are we giving them a license to pollute till 2020 and at the expense of millions and millions of lives, until the new agreement comes!”
Because this is such a pressing issue and it is not sustainable to have to trust that other countries are just as worried about climate change, I think The Maldives and Bangladesh should have an extensive plan. While their people may become climate refugees, they need to have a plan, or even a partnership with other countries that will give their people a safe haven in the worst-case scenario. They also need to invest in science, to be able to tell if this worst-case scenario is coming, as well as effective transportation to safely evacuate their peoples.
Below are photos to show the effect of a 1.5 meter change in sea level on Bangladesh as well as how low The Maldives are compared to the sea level.
Source: World Bank Organization. News & Views. Bangladesh and Maldives Respond to Climate Change Impacts. World Bank Organization. N.p., 7 Dec. 2012. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. <http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/2012/12/07/bangladesh-maldives-respond-to-climate-change-impacts>.
South Asia 
Posted on January 17, 2013
0