Journal of Science Policy & Governance | Volume 18, Issue 02 | June 21, 2021

Policy Analysis: The Integration of Nature-Based Solutions into Climate Adaptation Policy and Planning in Bangladesh​

Samina Islam (1), Farah Anzum (2), Adiba Bintey Kamal (1),
Mahmuda Akter (1), Ali Mohammad Rezaie (1), Mizan R. Khan (1)
  1. International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Independent University Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  2. Independent Researcher, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Corresponding author: samina.islam@icccad.org
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https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG180204
Keywords: national policies; climate change; ecosystem-based adaptation; ecosystem services
Executive Summary: Bangladesh is regarded as one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in South Asia due to its unique geographical location and socio-economic conditions. Natural disasters, changing temperatures, precipitation, and sea level rise have affected agricultural production, infrastructure, and livelihoods in the country. To face these challenges, nature-based solutions (NbS) can address climate change adaptation, protection and management of natural ecosystems, and biodiversity conservation. For example, in Bangladesh, coastal mangroves can protect communities from storm surge and sea level rise, forests in hilly regions can prevent landslides, and green spaces in urban areas can reduce heat stress and promote the well-being of inhabitants. However, effective design, implementation, and upscaling of NbS requires support from national policies and plans.
 
This study reviews relevant Bangladeshi national policies from the past three decades to investigate NbS as a potential framework to address climate change and societal challenges in the country. We systematically analyzed twenty policy documents across three sectors: national development; disaster management and climate change; and environment and forest. Our study found growing emphasis on preservation, protection, and management of natural ecosystems in the national policies. However, our analysis showed that among the twenty policies, nineteen of them have no direct mention of NbS terminology. Instead, the policies include various strategies and terminologies that fall under the NbS umbrella, such as ecosystem-based adaptation, ecosystem services, and green and eco-building. However, these policies are still widely missing specific implementation guidelines, robust financial support, and institutional mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating NbS initiatives in Bangladesh. We recommend several policy actions to facilitate effective and inclusive NbS interventions in Bangladesh: enhance inter-ministry cooperation; develop national funding support; develop a national promotional campaign; pursue evidence-based research and capacity-building activities; and involve youth, marginalized people, and women. These actions can optimize the benefits of NbS to enhance the country’s resilience against climate change and foster sustainable development.

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Samina Islam is currently working as a Junior Research Officer at the International Centre for Climate Change and Development. Her research interest is in human security and rights with special focus on climate change policies, sustainable development, and climate-induced migration and displacement. Samina plans to pursue a master’s degree to enhance her knowledge and research skills around the nexus between human rights and climate change and their placement in the policy sphere.
 
Farah Anzum is an independent researcher from Bangladesh. Her interest lies in the field of environmental management and policies, ecosystem services, and climate finance. She has more than three and a half years of working experience with local communities, policymakers, and academicians. She has published more than twelve articles related to environmental issues, climate finance, and nature-based solutions.
 
Adiba Bintey Kamal works as a project associate at the International Centre for Climate Change and Development. She holds a master’s degree in development studies. Her research interest lies in nature-based solutions, adaptation, community-based adaptation, climate finance, and gender.
 
Mahmuda Akter has around four years of working experience in the research sectors of Bangladesh. Currently, she is a Research Officer of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development. Her research interest lies in climate change adaptation, capacity building, migration, and urban development. Her M.Sc. in Disaster Management was from the prestigious Dhaka University (Dhaka, Bangladesh), and her B.Sc. in Environmental Management was from Independent University (Dhaka, Bangladesh).
 
Ali Mohammad Rezaie is the Research Coordinator at the International Centre for Climate Change and Development and a Graduate Research Fellow at Virginia Sea Grant (Gloucester Point, VA, USA). He holds a Ph.D. in Civil, Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering from George Mason University (Fairfax, VA, USA). His recent research focuses on how nature-based solutions and ecosystem services can address the impacts of natural disasters and climate change and enhance societal resilience.
 
Mizan R. Khan has a Ph.D. in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy (College Park, MD, USA). He is currently Deputy Director at the International Centre for Climate Change and Development. Dr. Khan’s recent research and publications include three books: “Toward a Binding Climate Change Adaptation Regime: A Proposed Framework” (Routledge, 2014), “Power in a Warming World: The New Politics of Climate Change and the Remaking of Environmental Inequality” (MIT Press, 2015), and “The Paris Framework for Climate Change Capacity Building” (Routledge, 2018).
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