The 7th International Conference on Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change takes place in Dhaka on 22-25 April, and will be managed by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS).
“The story of Bangladesh being vulnerable to climate change is yesterday’s story,” says Dr Saleemul Huq, senior fellow at IIED. “Today’s story is about Bangladesh being one of the most adaptive countries. I would call it the adaptation capital of the world. Other so-called developing countries too have lessons that even the world’s richest countries can learn about how to adapt to climate change.”
Conference delegates – and online participants who will follow the conference over the internet – will learn about ways that people around the world are adapting to climate change in both rural and urban settings, and how governments can embed adaptation in all policy arenas.
Bangladesh has emerged as a global leader in adaptation to climate change, in part through strong collaborations between government and civil society. Unlike in other countries, in Bangladesh all relevant stakeholders, from the government to NGOs, are not only well aware of climate change but are actively involved in tackling the problem.
“Adaptation at the community level is particularly significant,” says Dr Atiq Rahman, executive director of BCAS. “This is because it puts communities in control. They decide. They act. Around the world, poor communities are getting organised and taking control of their responses to climate change. The story today is of poorer countries and communities that are leaders, not victims. The rich have much to learn from them.”
Originally published by IIED
The 7th International Conference on Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change takes place in Dhaka on 22-25 April, and will be managed by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS).
“The story of Bangladesh being vulnerable to climate change is yesterday’s story,” says Dr Saleemul Huq, senior fellow at IIED. “Today’s story is about Bangladesh being one of the most adaptive countries. I would call it the adaptation capital of the world. Other so-called developing countries too have lessons that even the world’s richest countries can learn about how to adapt to climate change.”
Conference delegates – and online participants who will follow the conference over the internet – will learn about ways that people around the world are adapting to climate change in both rural and urban settings, and how governments can embed adaptation in all policy arenas.
Bangladesh has emerged as a global leader in adaptation to climate change, in part through strong collaborations between government and civil society. Unlike in other countries, in Bangladesh all relevant stakeholders, from the government to NGOs, are not only well aware of climate change but are actively involved in tackling the problem.
“Adaptation at the community level is particularly significant,” says Dr Atiq Rahman, executive director of BCAS. “This is because it puts communities in control. They decide. They act. Around the world, poor communities are getting organised and taking control of their responses to climate change. The story today is of poorer countries and communities that are leaders, not victims. The rich have much to learn from them.”
Originally published by IIED