Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin on Sunday said the government is implementing a research project to find out about the impact of climate change on local livelihoods and under what circumstances, affected people migrate from remote areas.
“The government will take effective steps through the recommendations received in this project. The result of the research will contribute to combating the negative effects of climate change,” he said.
The minister made the statements as the chief guest at a seminar held at the auditorium of the Geography and Environment Department of Dhaka University on Sunday.
The project “Local Level Adaptation of Climate Change Displaced People: Preparation of an Action Plan for Sustainable livelihood” was funded by the Climate Change Trust Fund and implemented by Dhaka University.
“Through this research, an action plan will be formulated that provides opportunities for research-based knowledge, local economic base and local adaptation,” the minister said.
The environment minister said the current government has formulated a climate change strategy and action plan to deal with the effects of climate change.
To implement this action plan, a total of 851 projects have been taken up by the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust established under the special initiative of the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said.
Among these projects undertaken, three projects have won awards at the national level and one project at the international level, he added.
Shahab Uddin said the country's geography is changing along with climate change and coastal areas and river-based livelihoods are increasingly under threat.
“According to a 2018 study, 1.6% of men and 0.9% of women were moving to the city due to river erosion. Agriculture was gradually decreasing due to constant urbanization, industrialization of land and increase in soil salinity due to climate change in coastal areas,” he added.
“Due to this, a large section associated with this profession is rapidly moving towards cities in search of livelihood,” said Shahab Uddin.
The government will work to prevent this migration towards the city and take their livelihood locally, he added.
Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Managing Director Nurun Nahar Hena, Dhaka University Geography and Environment Department Chairman Professor Dr Md Shahidul Islam and Project Director and Professor of Geography and Environment Department Nurul Islam Nazem spoke among others.
