Editorial, The Daily Star, October 23, 2010 Bangladesh being one of the nations perilously exposed to the threat of climate change, it needs to develop strategies to cope with the unfolding climate change-related calamities like tidal surges, cyclones, floods, droughts, downpours and so on. And since it is the poor who always bear the brunt of these vagaries of nature, the coping or adaptation strategies must place their realities at the centre stage of climate change concerns. In the circumstances, the coping and adaptation strategies will have to make provisions to reduce the risks the poor are exposed to and build their resilience in the face of the unfolding disasters. One of the gravest risks to our population that would come in the wake of climate change is food shortage, since traditional farming will be severely affected resulting in crop failures. And with our food security already facing serious challenge from overpopulation, climate change threatens to render the situation more difficult. Keeping all these complex issues in view, the government and its development partners have been developing various adaptation strategies, especially for the section of the population most vulnerable to the problem. Recurrent tidal surges, floods, droughts, increasing salinity. etc will force people to change their settlement styles and livelihood patterns. The government organisations and other bodies working to help the vulnerable section of the population will have to provide them with housing facilities that can endure the floods and cyclones and alternative means of living suited to changed farming practices and other livelihood-related activities. At a recently held workshop organised by a UK-based organisation named ‘Practical Action, Bangladesh’ in the city dedicated to helping the poor develop resilience against climate change, stress was given on food security with diversification of livelihood options through the use of new technologies. And to implement the strategy, community-based activities and involvement of the local government bodies as well as the service providers were given the highest priority. In fact, the vulnerable section of society needs to be made amply aware of the nature of the dangers they would be facing before they could be effectively mobilised to meet the challenges of climate change. Alternative livelihood will necessitate search for new resource base for sustenance of the population, which at the same time has to be sustainable. And since the different aspects of the challenge are emerging in phases, the approach to tackle them should advisably be a multi-pronged one. The good news is the people have already proved their resilience in braving the natural calamities that have recurrently struck them. The added burden of climate challenge will only put them through a new test of endurance and adaptation. If the government and others concerned can provide them with the necessary support and know-how to cope and adapt, the people will also be able to take the new challenge in their stride.
Braving climate risk: Food security and alternative livelihood hold the key
Advertisement
