Bangladesh has long been feeling the deadly consequences of climate change, and we continue to be among the most vulnerable nations to its adverse effects.
However, according to a new global report published by the Climate Impact Lab on climate-linked mortality, that we are projected to have 24 additional deaths per 100,000 people each year due to rising temperatures should not only shock us, but also anger us.
The warnings from experts are clear: Unless urgent action is taken, extreme heat will become one of the most lethal climate threats facing our nation.
However, as noted Michael Greenstone, a co-founder of the Climate Impact Lab: “This report uncovers one of climate change’s cruelest ironies -- it is projected to kill millions of people in the countries that have generally done the least to cause it.”
Our contribution to global emissions remains negligible, yet we stand among the most exposed. This is the climate injustice nations such as ours face on a daily basis.
Yes, our own government must not shirk its responsibility and do the best it can, with policy measures and decisions that acknowledge our reality. We must strengthen resilience, from heat‑resistant infrastructure to more shaded public spaces to early warning systems and healthcare preparedness.
However, it is the developed world whose industrial growth has fueled this climate crisis. And this is a fact that must never be silenced.
We ask: When will wealthy nations move beyond rhetoric? They have pledged climate funds, yet delivery remains slow, fragmented, and insufficient. Financing adaptation projects, supporting renewable energy transitions, and ensuring equitable access to technology are not acts of charity but obligations the developed world must fulfil.
The rising toll of heat deaths is a stark reminder that climate change is not only deadly but unjust. Bangladesh must do its part, but the developed world must shoulder its share of responsibility.