Rabiul Alam, Dhaka
There is no end to concern and anxiety around the world about climate change. In recent years, climate change has become a central topic of global discussion. Due to its adverse geographical position, Bangladesh is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries. As a result, natural disasters are increasing every year.
The country is facing natural disasters such as floods, droughts, cyclones, and excessive rainfall or drought. However, the government’s budget allocation to tackle climate change is not increasing accordingly. On the contrary, the statistics of the past few fiscal years show the opposite picture.
According to data, in the 2016–17 fiscal year, the government allocated a budget to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, but in the latest 2023–24 fiscal year, the allocation is less than that.
Environmentalists hoped that the promises made by the Awami League in its election manifesto regarding tackling climate change would be reflected in this year’s budget.
The country’s weather is changing constantly. Due to excessive carbon emissions by developed countries, the temperature is rising. Public life is struggling to adapt to this adverse situation. Due to increased intensity of excessive rain, floods, and cyclones, environmental threats are becoming more severe.
“The budget allocations in our climate sector are not planned and sufficient. A proper assessment should be done based on where the risks will increase over the next five years and budgets should be made accordingly.” – M Zakir Hossain Khan.
Due to this adverse effect of climate change, not only humans but also biodiversity and ecosystems are under threat. In this situation, adequate financial allocation is needed to carry out adaptation activities. But although seminars and discussions are held throughout the year in Bangladesh to tackle climate change, and environmental organizations show regular activity, the government is not increasing the allocation accordingly.
An analysis of the past few years’ budgets of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change shows that in the 2016–17 fiscal year, a budget of BDT 1,850 crore was allocated to this ministry. In the 2017–18 fiscal year, this was suddenly reduced by BDT 731 crore to BDT 1,119 crore. In 2018–19, the allocation was BDT 1,271 crore, and in 2019–20, it was BDT 1,421 crore. In the 2020–21 fiscal year, the ministry’s budget further decreased to BDT 1,246 crore. In 2021–22, it decreased again to BDT 1,221 crore. In the 2022–23 fiscal year, the allocation increased to BDT 1,501 crore. In the latest 2023–24 fiscal year, it further increased to BDT 1,639 crore. In that sense, the allocation in the following fiscal years was lower than what was received in the 2016–17 fiscal year.
Due to excessive carbon emissions from developed countries, the temperature is rising. Public life is gasping to cope with this adverse situation. Due to increased intensity of heavy rainfall, floods, and cyclones, environmental threats are becoming more severe.
The latest cyclone Remal caused widespread damage in coastal regions and various districts of the country. Millions of people were affected. Even though people face long-term losses from such sudden disasters year after year, there is no proper action plan to tackle the adverse effects of climate change. The state is also not spending enough money in this sector.
Concerned parties say that although the size of the national budget is increasing, the allocation in the climate and disaster mitigation sector is not increasing proportionately. Bangladesh is facing financial challenges in tackling climate change regularly. Yet, compared to the need, the ministry is receiving less allocation in the budget.
To tackle the adverse effects of climate change, not only the Ministry of Environment but also key ministries like Water Resources, LGED, and Health need increased allocations. But the allocation in those ministries is also not increasing significantly. The allocations that are being made are considered inadequate compared to the need.
In the latest cyclone Remal, 3.758 million people in coastal areas were affected. 35,000 houses were completely destroyed, and about 115,000 houses were partially damaged. In addition, 18 deaths were reported due to Remal. The total damage in 20 districts amounted to BDT 6,880 crore.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, cyclone Amphan in 2020 caused damage worth BDT 1,100 crore. 16 people died due to Amphan. Besides, dams, roads, bridges-culverts, houses, agriculture, shrimp enclosures, and fisheries were severely damaged in various areas.
According to a cyclone analysis by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), cyclone Roanu in 2016 killed 16 people and caused damage worth BDT 400 crore. In 2017, cyclone Mora killed at least six people including children. In 2019, cyclone Fani caused 18 deaths and massive damage. Cyclone Yaas in 2021 caused nine deaths and affected 95,000 people. In 2023, cyclone Mocha caused destruction.
Climate finance expert and CEO of development organization Change Initiative, M Zakir Hossain Khan, said, “The budget allocations in our climate sector are not planned and sufficient. A proper assessment should be done based on where the risks will increase over the next five years, and budgets should be made accordingly. For example—we knew that the cyclones would come. But we did not allocate sufficient budget in this sector accordingly. A sufficient budget must be prepared to tackle these natural disasters. However, the real issue is how much the policymakers of the government are taking these matters into consideration.”