IPCC’s latest predictions: What we need to do | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
June 12, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025
IPCC’s latest predictions: What we need to do

Thoughts

Dr Md Liakath Ali
14 August, 2021, 12:20 pm
Last modified: 14 August, 2021, 12:47 pm

Related News

  • ‘Unacceptable and inadequate’: Experts slam govt for allocating only 0.67% of GDP to 25 climate-related ministries
  • Budget FY26: Tk100cr allocation proposed for tackling climate change risks
  • BNP wants to prioritise climate change, environmental protection in election manifesto: Mahdi Amin
  • Japanese SMBC's $1.86b fossil fuel investments draining Bangladesh's public funds, civil society orgs claim
  • Climate change: BPATC trainers receive specialised training to develop course modules for enhancing locally-led adaptation

IPCC’s latest predictions: What we need to do

The latest report indicates that the precautions we have taken are not enough and we have to move faster to save the communities which are at risk

Dr Md Liakath Ali
14 August, 2021, 12:20 pm
Last modified: 14 August, 2021, 12:47 pm
Photo: K M Asad
Photo: K M Asad

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to adverse climate change impacts, suffering economic losses of over $12 billion over the past 40 years.

Two-thirds of Bangladesh is less than five metres above sea level. In low-lying plains, intrusion of saltwater due to sea-level rise contributed to intensification of food insecurity, unemployed agricultural workers, and spread of water-borne diseases.

About 2.5 million people experiences shortages of drinking water and water needed for irrigation in the Southwest and Northwestern regions of Bangladesh. People in Bangladesh have a small contribution to global emissions (0.47 metric tons CO2 per capita) but are highly vulnerable due to the climate change impacts on agriculture, livelihood, water, and health sectors which push people below the poverty line with socioeconomic insecurity and leading to displacement. The Covid-19 pandemic has amplified the vulnerability of climate change victims.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

On August 9, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its latest assessment report titled 'Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis', commonly known as IPCC AR6. The report reads, since 2011 (measurements reported in AR5), GHG concentrations have continued to increase in the atmosphere, reaching annual averages of 410 ppm for carbon dioxide (CO2), 1866 ppb for methane (CH4), and 332 ppb for nitrous oxide (N2O) in 2019.

In 2019, atmospheric CO2 concentrations were higher than at any time in at least 2 million years. Global surface temperature in the first two decades of the 21st century (2001-2020) was 0.99 [0.84-1.10] °C higher than 1850-1900.

The report also reads that,

  • The global mean sea level increased by 0.20 m [0.15 to 0.25] between 1901 and 2018.
  • Ocean warming accounted for 91% of the heating in the climate system, with land warming, ice loss and atmospheric warming accounting for about 5%, 3% and 1%, respectively. Therefore, in the scenario analysis, it is virtually certain that the land surface will continue to warm more than the ocean surface.
  • Global warming of 1.50C to 2.00 C will be exceeded during the 21st century.
  • The frequency and the intensity of extreme events, such as Hot extremes, Tropical cyclones, Heavy precipitation, Marine heatwave, and Agricultural and ecological drought have increased since the 1950s.
  • Over South Asia, East Asia and West Africa, increases in monsoon precipitation due to warming from GHG emissions were counteracted by decreases in monsoon precipitation due to cooling from human-caused aerosol emissions over the 20th century.
  • With every increment of global warming, changes get larger in regional mean temperature, precipitation and soil moisture i.e. with small changes in global warming larger changes occur on a regional scale.
  • At the global scale, extreme daily precipitation events are projected to intensify by about 7% for each 1°C of global warming (high confidence). The proportion of intense tropical cyclones (categories 4 to 5) and peak wind speeds of the most intense tropical cyclones are projected to increase at the global scale with increasing global warming.
  • Monsoon precipitation is projected to increase in the mid-to long term on a global scale, particularly over South and Southeast Asia, East Asia and West Africa apart from the far west Sahel.

As per the projections, Bangladesh will face increased flooding in the floodplain due to heavy precipitation, intensified tropical cyclones, increased unplanned urbanisation and growth of cities, increased aridity due to soil and groundwater depletion due to the decrease in mean rainfall, and coastal flooding as a result of sea-level rise.

This year the 26thUN Climate Change Conference (COP26) is going to be held in Glasgow, Scotland where the released report comes as a simple reminder that the countries need action driven by science.  

Now, it is the time for the world leaders, the private sectors, non-governmental sectors and individuals to act together with urgency and do everything it takes to protect our planet and our future in this decade and beyond.

Considering the predictions, the IPCC has made for the region, the country needs to hit the planning board immediately to develop effective climate mitigation and adaptation techniques.

Bangladesh has already set an example of tackling climate change through its different climatic actions including adaptation and mitigation. Also, the government has been playing a very important role in international negotiations and discussions by raising voices and concerns of the most vulnerable countries.

This year in Glasgow, the government of Bangladesh is also aiming to sensitise the global leadership in taking the appropriate climate actions in the aftermath of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Brac is also closely working with the government of Bangladesh to minimise the risk of climate change in the current crisis of the pandemic.

Following the earlier projections of IPCC, Brac has taken a number of initiatives including building the resilience of the communities living in low-lying areas through developing extreme event tolerant infrastructures, promoting rainwater harvesting systems as an adaptation tool, climate-smart agriculture and large-scale afforestation in the hot spots.

However, the latest report indicates that the precautions we have taken are not enough and we have to move faster in a deliberate way to save the communities which are at risk.

Also if we want to achieve the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the collaboration of the government and non-government sector is a must to reach the community those who are outmost need right now. Simultaneously, the knowledge of local people has to be taken into consideration while taking adaptation measures.


The writer is the Director, Climate Change Programme, Brac and Brac International. He can be reached @ liakath.ali@brac.net

IPCC / climate change / climate change issues / Climate changes / Climate Change Impact

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Saifuzzaman Chowdhury. Photo: Collected
    UK crime agency now freezes assets of ex-land minister Saifuzzaman: AJ
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus speaks at the Chatham House in London on 11 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    No desire to be part of next elected govt: CA Yunus
  • File photo of BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. Photo: Collected
    Khasru flies to London to join Yunus-Tarique meeting

MOST VIEWED

  • Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS
    Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon
  • A file photo of Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur. Photo: Collected
    'I have no relation with this': Ahsan Mansur debunks Joy’s allegations over daughter’s Dubai flat
  • Faiz Ahmad Tayeb. Photo: BSS
    Import duty on raw materials for e-bikes, lithium batteries reduced from 80% to 1% in some cases: Faiz Taiyeb
  • File photo of ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Photo: Collected
    Joy spends Eid with Hasina in India: Indian media
  • Mercantile Bank withholds dividend amid Tk1,700cr provision shortfall
    Mercantile Bank withholds dividend amid Tk1,700cr provision shortfall
  • Shakil Ahmed. Photo: Collected
    DU student allegedly hangs himself following threats over old derogatory comment about Prophet on Facebook

Related News

  • ‘Unacceptable and inadequate’: Experts slam govt for allocating only 0.67% of GDP to 25 climate-related ministries
  • Budget FY26: Tk100cr allocation proposed for tackling climate change risks
  • BNP wants to prioritise climate change, environmental protection in election manifesto: Mahdi Amin
  • Japanese SMBC's $1.86b fossil fuel investments draining Bangladesh's public funds, civil society orgs claim
  • Climate change: BPATC trainers receive specialised training to develop course modules for enhancing locally-led adaptation

Features

Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

5h | Panorama
Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

1d | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

2d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

4d | Bangladesh

More Videos from TBS

Why is Omicron XBB more contagious?

Why is Omicron XBB more contagious?

2h | TBS Stories
What did Dr. Yunus say at the Chatham House Dialogue in London?

What did Dr. Yunus say at the Chatham House Dialogue in London?

3h | TBS Today
News of The Day, 11 JUNE 2025

News of The Day, 11 JUNE 2025

4h | TBS News of the day
WB predicts worst decade for global growth since 60s

WB predicts worst decade for global growth since 60s

5h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net