The “Adaptation Paradox” and Citizen Ambiguity over Government Climate Policies: Survey Findings from Bangladesh

Abstract

National governments in the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations are using domestically sourced and international funding and expertise. However, local governments are where citizens in many developing countries turn to solve problems. Using results from a nationally representative sample in Bangladesh, one of the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world, we examine citizens’ perspectives about the responsibility of different levels of government to address climate change problems. Inasmuch as Bangladeshi survey respondents do draw distinctions, they trust local governments more than the national one. However, local governments tend to be relatively weak vis-à-vis the national government: political and financial resources are concentrated there, and the national government has access to the resources of international financial institutions. Furthermore, respondents tend to view local officials as embedded community networks more than as formal government agents. We conclude that better public communications across levels of government with vulnerable communities are needed if these communities are to protect themselves from extreme weather events, access services, and reap the benefits of “polycentric” climate adaptation governance across a full range of levels.

Bangladesh: Climate Change Issues, Mitigation, and Adaptation in the Water Sector

“…The findings indicate that, despite the fact that the Bangladesh government has been raising significant trust funds (nearly US $400 million) by the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund to address climate change, the respondents did not categorically identify these projects as being related to the issue. 168 Large national projects related to river and ocean embankment were also not tied to climate change by the respondents. This finding could be supported by the fact that only 30% of the respondents had heard of climate adaptation or mitigation, 73% thought these two concepts are basically the same, and about 90% had heard local government officials discuss natural disasters.…”

“…This finding could be supported by the fact that only 30% of the respondents had heard of climate adaptation or mitigation, 73% thought these two concepts are basically the same, and about 90% had heard local government officials discuss natural disasters. 168 As climate change becomes more widely accepted in Bangladesh, the government's recognition of the threats and its role in reducing the deleterious impacts of changing climate could help lessen the lack of trust among those who have previously experienced natural disasters with insufficient government responses. 169 Further, Bangladeshis need to be educated on the influences of changing climate both at the national and local levels to enable them to appropriately respond to catastrophic events or relocate.…”

“…169 Further, Bangladeshis need to be educated on the influences of changing climate both at the national and local levels to enable them to appropriately respond to catastrophic events or relocate. 168 Better informed citizens are expected to demand necessary resource allocation to the appropriate level of government.…”

“…As climate change becomes more widely accepted in Bangladesh, the government’s recognition of the threats and its role in reducing the deleterious impacts of changing climate could help lessen the lack of trust among those who have previously experienced natural disasters with insufficient government responses . Further, Bangladeshis need to be educated on the influences of changing climate both at the national and local levels to enable them to appropriately respond to catastrophic events or relocate . Better informed citizens are expected to demand necessary resource allocation to the appropriate level of government.…”

“…Commonly, the government discusses climate change-related topics on various international fora, yet national government representatives do not typically bring up the matter following floods, tornadoes, or other disasters . In 2019, Eisenstadt et al conducted a survey among 3500 climate-vulnerable citizens from rural union councils, suburban municipalities, and city corporations. The findings indicate that, despite the fact that the Bangladesh government has been raising significant trust funds (nearly US$400 million) by the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund to address climate change, the respondents did not categorically identify these projects as being related to the issue .…”