Development projects in the country are being aligned with climate sensitivity, says Planning Minister MA Mannan.
As the country reaches milestones one after another with its development initiatives, the fact remains that it’s still one of the most natural disaster-prone nations in the world, he said on Wednesday.
“Hence, we are being utmost cautious while planning our development projects so that it doesn't affect the environment,” he added.
The minister was speaking at the virtual launching ceremony of the Bangladesh Climate and Disaster Risk Atlas by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
This risk atlas has been prepared to help understand the variability of climate-induced hazards and associated disaster risks in Bangladesh, specifically in the agriculture and water sectors.
A wide variety of data, including water level, precipitation, wind speed, population, education, income, crop, forest, settlement, poverty, education in geospatial and other forms, were collected through using the geographic information system (GIS), while the map was prepared at district levels with secondary data sources.
“This Atlas contains spatial information and thematic maps that aim to promote the sustainable development of Bangladesh’s agriculture and water resources sectors and their various components, by enhancing the understanding of stakeholders on climate change scenarios,” said Nurun Nahar, project lead and chief of the Programming Division of the Planning Commission.
“It will be an effective tool for infrastructure planning and design, hazard mitigation, and climate- and disaster-proofing,” she added.
“The atlas will be an instrumental document in the government's intention to make planning for projects in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner,” said State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam, who was also present on the occasion.
“At the same time, our goal is always to follow the Delta Plan 2100, following the climate adaptation plan for our climate-vulnerable communities,” she added.
The Bangladesh Climate and Disaster Risk Atlas has been published in two volumes, Hazards—Volume I and Exposures, Vulnerabilities, and Risks—Volume II.
Volume I of the publication includes maps showing countrywide spatial differentiation of intensities and magnitudes of 10 natural hazards: cyclone, storm surge, drought, flood, flash flood, soil salinity, riverbank erosion, earthquake, landslide, sea level rise, as well as historical and projected rainfall and temperature scenarios.
Volume II provides visualization (applying the standard geographic projection) of exposures, vulnerabilities, and risks through maps showing their spatial variation across the country.
