Our world seems to be on the fence with the laws of mighty mother nature. Climate change is one such ongoing issue affecting every nation in the world. But Bangladesh as a developing nation, already facing so many struggles, is disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change over many other nations.
Being an overpopulated country, Bangladesh often lacks the concentration on the critical aspects of planning and is instead sporadic in its growth. Bangladesh has mainly focused on the shorter term goals, rather than the big picture, which in turn has deteriorated the country’s ability to adapt.
In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of climate refugees in the country. The quintessential question of who these climate refugees are and how they came to be in this state must be taken into consideration when talking about their socioeconomic impacts. Climate refugees, the term as a whole refers to those who are forced to leave their homes due to changes in climate such as harsh weather events, natural disasters, rising sea levels, floods, etc, and find safe shelter elsewhere. In Bangladesh these are the people who are mainly displaced from coastal and riverine areas.
Our country is famous for its water bodies and is known as a riverine country. The nation’s geographical location makes it very susceptible to sea level rise and natural disasters, which results in displacing thousands of people annually. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), an estimated 4.4 million people were displaced by natural disasters in Bangladesh in 2019 alone. These disasters migrate the people to the urban portions in search of safety and their lost livelihood gravely impacting the socioeconomic fragment of these areas.
In most cases, the climate refugees are stuck in a vicious cycle of poverty. Their situation is further degraded by the daunting impacts of climate change which initiate their departure from their homes where they left everything behind and set on a new journey full of frustrations and uncertainty.
When they migrate to urban areas, it impacts the labour market. While the refugees essentially join the labour force, they lack sufficient skills. The sudden rise in population can also lead to underemployment and more competition for low skilled jobs reducing efficiency. Furthermore the informal sector which incorporates a large portion of these migrants offers very little social security and job security.
The developing infrastructure may face a downfall and strain due to the influx of climate refugees. There might be expenditure issues concerning the housing facilities, public transportation, and other public utilities as they may have to bear more usage, all of which may bring down the standard of living. Macroeconomic indicators such as GDP will likely take a hit. This eventually will lead to economic constraints in the government's plans and budget balance as resources will have to be shifted.
Nevertheless, the climate refugees will still be deprived of proper and adequate education and healthcare due to the overcrowded public facilities and unaffordable private services.
Bangladesh has mainly focused on the shorter term goals, rather than the big picture, which in turn has deteriorated the country’s ability to adapt
It goes without saying, there is an environmental degradation as a result of this migration of refugees. Overcrowding leads to inefficient waste management, increased pollution, and the depletion of natural resources. All these environmental challenges compound the effects of climate change.
The issue of climate refugees is a vital one. However, there exists some gaps of knowledge and lack of data that must be filled in to achieve certain economic growth goals by applying supply-side policy measures.
First, there is a big lack of knowledge surrounding the relationship between climate variation and socioeconomic effects.
Second, an appropriate examination of adaptive measures that are available for coping with environmental adversity are required.
Third, it is essential to consider how traditional technologies are being adapted to evolving socio-economic and climate conditions.
Fourth, it is crucial to investigate how customary behaviours are being altered in response to shifting social and environmental circumstances.
Fifth, research on various forms of migration and the resettlement of the landless is necessary to anticipate potential problems if climate extremes intensify and sea levels rise.
Last but certainly not least, there is an urgent need to develop ways to empower the landless and poor by granting them entitlements to resources and ensuring their resilience during times of scarcity.
Climate change is a man-made disaster. The unruly nature of people on earth who have protested against the laws of nature have caused this very problem. Therefore it is high time that we undo the damage that has been done and take our steps wisely in order to abide by the laws of nature by all means for the sake of its people and for its own sustenance.
Arita Haque is a student at Oxford International School, Dhaka.
