Dhaka: Speakers at a dialogue on Wednesday underscored the critical need for Bangladesh to transition towards evidence-based climate action by integrating scientific data, spatial analysis, and community-generated evidence into policymaking. They emphasized the importance of moving from reactive responses to a strategic, data-driven approach to address the escalating climate emergency.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the dialogue titled ‘Bangladesh in Climate Emergency: Evidence-Based Pathways for Climate Action’ was held in Dhaka, organized by Oxfam in Bangladesh and its partners with support from the Australian government. The event brought together senior policymakers, development partners, experts, and practitioners to explore innovative pathways for climate action, ecosystem restoration, and climate finance.
Renowned climate expert Prof Ainun Nishat highlighted the necessity of strengthening climate governance through innovation and data. He stated, “Bangladesh stands at a critical moment where climate challenges must be addressed with precision, transparency, and forward-looking strategies.” He further added that evidence-based approaches are essential for strengthening policies, guiding investments, and amplifying leadership in global climate negotiations.
Global and national data underscore the urgency of the crisis, with climate-related disasters increasing by 83% globally from 3,656 events between 1980 and 1999 to 6,681 events between 2000 and 2019. More than 9,700 extreme weather disasters were recorded between 1995 and 2024, causing over 830,000 deaths and over USD 4.5 trillion in economic losses worldwide. In Bangladesh alone, over 300 disasters have affected approximately 190 million people between 1995 and 2024, with annual economic losses estimated at USD 3 billion.
Dr Mohammad Emran Hasan, Head of Climate Justice and Natural Resource Rights at Oxfam in Bangladesh, presented a paper during the dialogue highlighting Bangladesh’s deepening climate crisis marked by frequent floods, cyclones, salinity intrusion, and ecosystem degradation. The dialogue also addressed growing concerns around climate system tipping points, which scientists warn may occur sooner than expected, with climate-related damages rising by 5-7% annually.
Dr M. Shahidul Islam, a Professor of Geography and Environment at the University of Dhaka, stressed the gap between knowledge and action, stating, “The challenge is translating that knowledge into timely and effective action. Evidence must drive decision-making if we are to address the complexity of climate risks.”
Moderated by Md Sariful Islam, the event featured a presentation of a comprehensive position paper outlining the scale of the climate crisis and proposing actionable solutions. It showcased two of Oxfam’s innovative tools, the Loss and Damage Dashboard and the Interactive Spatial Decision Support System (iSDSS), to facilitate climate actions and finance through evidence backed by social, remote, and common sensing.
Nayoka Martinez-B¤ckstr¶m of the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh highlighted the global dimension of climate justice and finance, emphasizing that countries like Bangladesh are disproportionately affected by a crisis not of their own making. She stressed the importance of ensuring that climate finance reaches the most vulnerable communities fairly and accountably.
Ashish Damle, Country Director of Oxfam in Bangladesh, underscored the significance of linking people, policy, and evidence, advocating for climate action rooted in the realities faced by those most affected. He noted innovations like the Loss and Damage Dashboard and spatial decision systems as means to bring community voices into policy spaces and strengthen accountability in climate finance.
The dialogue highlighted Bangladesh’s increasing vulnerability, including rising temperatures, sea-level rise affecting over 100 coastal upazilas, and projections that 13.3 million people could become internal climate migrants by 2050. Organized under the Blue Economy and Inclusive Development for Climate Justice (BID4CJ) and supported by the Australian Government, it focuses on advancing inclusive climate justice through evidence-based approaches, ecosystem restoration, and community stewardship.