Policy brief - Tackling flooding in Bangladesh in a changing climate

Introduction: why is flood risk in Bangladesh so high? Nearly 60% of Bangladesh’s population is exposed to high flood risk, a greater proportion of the population than in any other country in the world other than the Netherlands, and around 45% are exposed to high fluvial flood risk, the highest figure in the world (Rentschler et al., 2022). [...] Sea level rise: The sea level rise experienced as a result of global warming in flash flooding, is increasing the duration of floods and the size of the flooded area in low- lying Bangladesh, due to the backwater effect of the sea (Ali et al., 2013). [...] rising sea levels and A rise in sea level of 0.53 metres under 1.5°C to 2°C of warming2 by 2100 is predicted to result in 16% of the land area in Shariatpur and 7.4% of the accelerated glacial land area in Chandpur being permanently submerged (Davis et al., 2018). [...] These changes in land use and land cover have increased the risk of flooding, especially in urban areas: and because of their for example, increasing the risk of subsidence, creating more impermeable low capacity surfaces, and removing the stabilising effect of trees. [...] For a separate, downloadable list of the cited references and a four-page overview of This brief was first published in August 2023 by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and existing policies relevant to addressing the risks of flooding in Bangladesh, the Environment and the Centre for Climate Change please visit: www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/publication/tackling- Economics and P.