CPRD and CANSA organized a study-sharing seminar titled ‘Climate Resilient Urban Development in Bangladesh: Policy Gaps and Recommendations,” in a parallel session at the 7th UIU International Conference on Sustainable Development hosted by the United International University in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The study was intended to identify the status quo of climate-resilient urban development in Bangladesh through three thematic lenses- Mitigation, Adaptation, Inclusiveness. Based on the comprehensive analysis of Bangladesh’s climate and urban specific plans and policies, the study identified scope, gaps and challenges of climate-resilient urban development and placed a set of recommendations for future policy consideration. They include;
- Development of ‘City Resilience Index’ through a community-led approach of climate risk and vulnerability assessment for different communities considering their types of settlement, livelihoods, and income categories.
- Provide adequate budgetary allocation for the municipalities and city corporations. Building their institutional and human resource capacities of assessing climate change induced risk and vulnerabilities across the sectors and integrate them to the city development planning.
- Promote coordination and collaboration between city-government authorities and sectoral ministries to avoid unsustainable development activity that aggravates climate change impacts and, often, instigates vulnerability of the already vulnerable people.
- A stand-alone plan for the urban slums, which currently accommodate 55 percent of urban people.
- Development of secondary townships that are climate resilient and provided with adequate housing and employment opportunities for the climate migrants.
Dr. Hamidul Huq, Professor and Director of the Institute of Development Studies and Sustainability (IDSS), United International University (UIU) Bangladesh chaired the seminar, while Md Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive, CPRD facilitated the discussion.
Naznin Sultana and Elmee Tabassum respectively Study Coordinator and Research Officer of CPRD presented the study findings, which was followed by a deep-discussion of a ‘panel of experts’ comprising of Partha Hefaz Shaikh , Director Programme, WaterAid Bangladesh; Mohammad Zobair Hasan, Deputy Executive Director, DORP; Prof. Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Chairman, Department of Environment, Stamford University; Khodeja Sultana Lopa, Country Director of Diakonia; Shahnawaz Whara , Regional Climate and Resilience Advocacy Manager, Practical Action; Md. Jubaer Rashid, Country Representative, ICLEI, Bangladesh; and Md. Atiqur Rahman Mollick, Environment Specialist, Onushandhani Creeds Limited; Sumaiya Binte Selim Sudha, Program Coordinator, ICCCAD, and Farhan Hossain Joy, Researcher, Nagorik Uddyog.
