Turning down the temperature

The recent report of a mild heatwave sweeping across seven districts serves as yet another reminder of Bangladesh’s growing vulnerability to rising temperatures. While heatwaves are not new, their increasing frequency, intensity, and duration point to a deeper crisis: the unchecked urban heat island effect in our cities and towns, compounded by climate change. Without urgent action, this escalating thermal stress will undermine public health, economic productivity, and livability in urban areas.

The urban heat island effect occurs when cities, dense with concrete, asphalt, and glass, absorb and retain more heat than surrounding rural areas. Dhaka, for instance, can be several degrees hotter than nearby districts due to unplanned urbanization, shrinking green cover, and heat-trapping infrastructure. The consequences are severe: Increased energy demands for cooling, heat-related illnesses, and reduced outdoor workability, disproportionately affecting low-income communities with limited access to cooling solutions.

As a country, Bangladesh has been on the frontlines of climate change, with global warming intensifying heatwaves. According to various studies, South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, have been experiencing more prolonged and extreme heat events due to rising greenhouse gas emissions. The interplay between the urban heat island and climate change creates a vicious cycle: Hotter cities demand more air conditioning, which in turn increases energy consumption and carbon emissions.

For a long time, an answer to combatting the urban heat island effect has been the development of dedicated green spaces in our cities such as parks. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that we need to start rethinking how our cities develop from the ground-up, with an emphasis on green urban planning.

Recurring heatwaves have transformed from seasonal discomforts to practically a year-long issue for Bangladesh, as even the drier seasons are becoming hotter seemingly every year. It is high time that Bangladesh urbanized in a more responsible way, one that accounts for quality of life for citizens.