We have always known that the climate crisis, triggered by the early development of Western powers and perpetuated by the violent industrialization of a handful of nations in the present, has not only resulted in the stunted growth of developing economies like Bangladesh but also puts our people in danger by virtue of the low-lying nature of our geography.
However, according to a new research -- as reported by The Guardian -- we can add another potential risk being facilitated by climate change: Cancer. According to new research, tens of millions of Bangladeshis will be at heightened risk of cancer from contaminated well water due to the climate crisis. This is because long-term exposure to arsenic, which leads to the deposition of the toxic substance in the lungs and other organs, ultimately contributes to cancer.
Given the already dire state of our healthcare infrastructure, one that crumbles under the weight of communicable diseases such as dengue every year, for cancer borne by climate crisis to mutate into a public health disaster is not outside the realm of possibility.
The severity of the situation is such that the paltry amount that Bangladesh will be getting out of the long-fought for loss and damage fund, it would have next to no impact in staving off its effects were arsenic-borne cancer to become a bigger crisis.
Our healthcare system is absolutely inadequate to deal with the health repercussions the climate crisis will be heralding. Developed nations have pledged less than 0.2% of what will be required to undo years of damage that they have dealt to the environment and also on yet-developing nations such as Bangladesh.
Reparations will not be enough, assistance and expertise to contain the ensuing public health crises will be of utmost importance for countries such as ours to move ahead.
Having to pay the human cost of other nations’ greed will be an injustice of the highest order.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
