Vulnerability Status-Quo of the Underprivileged Communities in Mongla from Climate Change perspective

Abstract

Climate-induced changes, such as extreme cyclones, devastating tidal surges, severe floods, river erosion, excessive rainfall, and overwhelming salinity intrusion, occur more frequently and unpredictably across Bangladesh. The frequency and intensity of these hazards are likely to increase due to climate change. This study considers the baseline situation of the grassroots people of Mongla Upazila & community perception of climate change vulnerability and the local community-based adaptation strategies. Data were collected from respondents in Sundarban, Mithakahali, Chandpai, Sonailtola unions of Mongla Upazila, Bagerhat District, Bangladesh, an area subjected to frequent climate-related hazards. Many of the respondents within the target communities did not recognize the frequency and intensity of climate change. Most notably, although salinity was widely recognized as a significant problem for the community – agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity, trees, and plants, are all highly vulnerable – very few perceived an increased risk due to climate change. This suggests that communities do not predict perfectly an increased threat from these hazards and thus may not recognize the need to implement adaptation strategies further. In this research, the highest hazard score is 12, obtained by 100 families, illustrating that those families are in the most precarious position in terms of different climatic disasters the region faces. The table also elucidates that the hazard score of 12 is obtained by five families, illustrating that those families are in the most precarious position in terms of the region's different climatic disasters. The table also elucidates that the hazard score of forty-nine families is between 10 to 11.5, more than 25% of the total respondents. Forty-two families lie between 8.5–9.5, 43% of the total Respondent. The rest of the four respondents' score lies between 5.5-8, 3.56% of the total respondents.