Bangladeshis Know How to Keep Their Heads above Water. But Will We Listen?

Library Presentation Room, OU, Milton Keynes

Abstract
Although Bangladesh is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, it also has long experience in coping with a difficult environment. That's why it's already strengthening cyclone shelters and warning systems, and raising coastal land to match the rise in sea level.
 
There are real problems, however, in how we in Britain approach climate change in Bangladesh. First, we refuse to accept Bangladeshi expertise. DFID, for example, forced Bangladesh to return £13 million in aid money following an impasse in which DFID demanded that foreign consultants be in charge, while Bangladesh believed its own experts were better qualified to make decisions. Second, media and aid agencies insist money go towards helping climate-change refugees in the country. The problem is that although there are refugees from floods, cyclones and poorly designed aid projects, there aren't any – yet – from climate change. (The climate is so variable year to year, that changes are not yet as obvious as in Britain.) As a result, we force Bangladesh to pretend that these are climate change refugees for our TV, newspaper and NGO reports.
 
Bangladeshis are already experts on how they need to adapt to climate change. But will we listen?