It is baffling that climate change is still a hotly debated topic in Western nations. For indeed, one need only visit some of the coastal areas of Bangladesh to understand just what the true cost is of the continued assault on our planet that was kick-started by the violent industrialization of the same developed nations who are so in denial of climate change.
According to World Bank projections, some 13.3 million people in the coastal areas of Bangladesh will lose their homes due to the adverse impacts of climate change by the year 2050. The state of affairs might become so dire as to also result in troubling health risks, which is especially concerning given just the abject state of our own health care infrastructure.
Most of our major floods have been caused by excessive rainfall, storm surges, and dam breaks, which force the river water levels to rise and completely inundate adjacent regions, causing much grief to hardworking Bangladeshis who can do nothing but watch as their possessions and only sources of income wash away.
Given the riverine nature of Bangladesh's topographical makeup, the risk due to recurring calamities such floods will only grow higher in the future due to the global climate crisis. While the onus of being prepared for natural disasters is entirely on the government, it is the responsibility of developed nations to provide reparations for the inordinate amount of damage they have dealt with their early polluting ways.
With 47 LDCs accounting for only around 3% of total global emissions -- despite paying the heaviest price -- we cannot and must not stand for this injustice any longer. It's time for developed nations to recognize the damage they have caused and go about doing the right thing.
The message needs to be heard loud and clear.
