By Lutfor Rahman and Juel Mahmud, International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Bangladesh

In 2022 alone, over 7.1 million Bangladeshis were displaced by climate change, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)[1]. Within the next three decades, up to 20 million people are projected to lose their lands and face displacement due to both extreme and slow-onset climate change events in the country[2]. Thus, it is a high priority for Bangladesh to take decisive measures to deal with the issue of displacement of people due to climate change impacts, including floods, cyclones, erosion on riverbanks and coastal areas, sea-level rise and salinization. While Bangladesh has been successful in reducing the loss of lives from cyclones and floods, it has been less effective in creating conditions to help displaced persons recover access to land, housing and livelihoods once disasters are over.

Bangladesh has adopted a comprehensive approach to address the challenges faced by displaced individuals. As part of this strategy, the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) is conducting participatory research to enhance knowledge and understanding of land access for displaced persons. The goal is to contribute to improved policies and interventions that meet their housing and livelihood needs.

The research is being conducted in various areas of Bangladesh, including slums in the capital city of Dhaka, and Sirajganj District Municipality and its Union, Char. Findings show that most displaced persons occupied Government land (Khas Land) before their displacement. When they were hit by disasters, they faced both economic and non-economic loss and damage. People and communities affected by floods mainly reported damages to homes, roads and bridges, loss of agricultural crops and domestic animals. Those affected by erosion, meanwhile, primarily reported loss of land, assets and livelihood, as well as loss of economic stability, psychological distress and anxiety, loss of community networks and customs, as well as cultural and religious infrastructure (e.g. mosque, mandir, graveyard) – all effects that are magnified by population displacement. This demonstrates that one-size solutions will not fit all displacement contexts.

Research indicates that most displaced persons prefer to remain near their original homes, provided land is available. If they cannot find land in these familiar areas, they typically move to nearby locations or the nearest city. After the initial displacement, many individuals ultimately relocate to larger cities like Dhaka. Throughout this journey, their livelihoods often change to adapt to the urban labor market, which can lead to de-skilling and impoverishment, at least in the short term.

Access to land plays a crucial role in influencing these mobility decisions. However, many displaced individuals lack awareness of their land rights and do not follow the necessary procedures to register and reclaim their losses. Instead, they tend to rely on traditional customs. This reliance can create conflicts and hinder the effective resolution of displacement issues.

Economic and non-economic losses and damages overwhelm local adaptative capacities. This highlights the urgency of establishing a global Loss and Damage architecture that can support affected persons and communities.

The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) was established at CoP28 in Dubai to provide support to vulnerable countries that are facing the impacts of climate change. The operationalization of the fund has been a key policy item since, and was an important element of policy discussions at the UNFCCC COP29 in Baku. Currently, the total funding pledged to the FRLD is about $720 million – a sum widely inadequate to address growing impacts and needs.

Much remains to be done to operationalise the FRLD. First, mechanisms for accessing climate finance for countries facing displacement challenges, particularly the most vulnerable ones, including Bangladesh, should be simplified. Moreover, channels should be established to directly support communities affected by displacement due to sudden and slow-onset events climate shocks. This support needs to translate into protecting the livelihoods of displaced and at-risk populations, particularly women, youth, and indigenous communities.

Mainstreaming human mobility considerations into climate action plans provides a foundation for these efforts, as it enables local governments to address displacement issues through site-specific adaptation and loss and damage responses and empowers community organizations managing displacement at the grassroots level through technical and financial resources, structures and collaborations. These efforts also need to be supported by a broader integration of human mobility in climate policy. NDC and NAP priorities should be aligned with development planning to ensure that long-term urban planning, flood management measures, and land policies align with displacement challenges.

Bangladesh stands at the frontline of climate-induced displacement. Bangladesh’s National Action Plan to Implement the National Strategy on Internal Displacement (2022-2042) provides a strong foundation for rights-based and community-centric solutions. By drawing on its experiences, Bangladesh can position itself as a global leader in advocating for solutions to climate-induced displacement, contributing valuable lessons and policy pathways for other vulnerable countries.

Addressing displacement requires a whole-of-society approach that bridges policy, funding, and grassroots action. Ensuring access to land, securing livelihoods, and empowering communities—particularly women and marginalized groups—will be pivotal in building a more resilient and adaptive future for Bangladesh in the face of climate change

[1] Sakib, SM Najmus. (2022, November 29). “Climate change displaced millions of Bangladeshis in 2022: WHO.” Anadolu Agency. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/climate-change-displaced-millions-of-bangladeshis-in-2022-who/2750491

[2] Clement, Viviane; Rigaud, Kanta Kumari; de Sherbinin, Alex; Jones, Bryan; Adamo, Susana; Schewe, Jacob; Sadiq, Nian; Shabahat, Elham. 2021. Groundswell Part 2: Acting on Internal Climate Migration. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/36248 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”

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