Case Studies: Contrasting Vulnerabilities to Climate Change (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Case Study: Bangladesh
Bangladesh is mostly a low-lying, flat delta
It is vulnerable to any changes in sea levels and flooding because:
75% of the country is less than 10 m above sea level
The Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers converge in Bangladesh
80% of the country sits on the low-lying floodplains of the delta
The country is already prone to flooding and tropical monsoon conditions
Seasonal flooding is normal and necessary to provide fertile soil and irrigation
But the size, intensity, and frequency of these events have increased
The monsoon rainfall is predicted to rise by 40% by 2030
In 1998, 75% of Bangladesh was flooded, making 30 million people homeless
Over 1,000 people died
700,000 hectares of crops were destroyed
Bangladesh's Flood Action Plan, 1988, aimed to protect the country from future flooding
It was funded by the World Bank and a number of HICs
Measures included:
Monitoring of flood levels
Effective flood warning systems
Construction of levees and embankments, which also provide protection from flooding by tidal waves and storm surges
Building 200 flood shelters on stilts for evacuated people
Creating flood water storage systems
Diverting flood water from buildings with 5000 km of drainage channels
Reducing deforestation
The FAP was not considered a success because:
Many parts of the project were never completed, including the dams and floodwater storage areas, due to inadequate funding and corruption
There was later a recognition that some flooding was necessary to maintain agriculture in many areas
8 million people were forced to move to accommodate the FAP constructions
Changing the channel upstream meant that areas downstream suffered more
The government cannot afford the maintenance costs
Case Study: Ghana
Ghana is one of Africa's fastest-growing economies
But 45% of the workforce is still employed in agriculture
Ghana is vulnerable to drought and reduced rainfall, which threaten food and energy security
Rainfall is expected to decrease 4% by 2040
Ghana is also expected to become hotter and drier in the future
Mean annual temperatures have increased by 1°C from 1960
Projected to increase by a further 1-3°C by the 2060s
25% of the population live in rapidly developing urban areas along the coast
Sea-level rise is expected to be 75–190 mm by 2100
Key Climate Change Impacts
Industry | Impact |
|---|---|
Agriculture | Increased loss and failure of crops Shorter growing season Loss of fertile land and desertification Increased pest and crop diseases |
Fisheries | Reduced productivity Reduced fish stocks Loss of food source Loss of income |
Energy | Reduced hydropower production Increased costs and price rises Intermittent services |
Water | Decline in water quality Sea water ingress and contamination of groundwater Drought Political tension between surrounding countries |
Human Health | Increased vector- and waterborne diseases Increased respiratory diseases Increased burden on healthcare systems |
The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) aims to address climate change impacts in an "integrated, coordinated and sustainable manner"
Adaptations have included:
Infrastructure development of dams, levees and seawalls
Preserving and restoring natural habitats, such as mangrove swamps, to provide ecosystem-based services
Capacity development through teaching people new techniques and how to empower themselves
Comparison of Contrasting Vulnerabilities to Climate Change
Factor | Bangladesh | Ghana |
|---|---|---|
Geographical | Low-lying coastal Tropical monsoon climate | 2 ecological zones: southern forest (30%) and the northern savannah Tropical climate influenced by the West African monsoon winds |
Social | High population density on low-lying floodplains Inadequate housing and infrastructure Lack of awareness and education | Over 55% of the population resides in urban areas, of which 25% are along low-lying coastal regions Increased rural-urban migration |
Economic | Lower middle-income, developing country with high and growing levels of income and wealth inequality Services sector contribution to GDP: 54.6% Agriculture contribution to GDP: 12.6% But largest employer at 37.7% | Lower middle-income, developing country with a stable and democratic government 70% of the country’s land area is dedicated to agriculture Early transition to an industry- and service-based economy. Fuelled by newly discovered offshore oil resources 45% of the workforce is dependent on rainfed agriculture Fisheries sector contribution to GDP: 4.5% |
Policy and Governance | Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) and the National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) | National Adaptation Planning (NAP) by government through education, sector-specific and local-level planning |
Adaptive Capacity | Hindered by limited resources, economic constraints, and lack of technology |
Government supported climate-smart agriculture and alternative livelihood systems |
Vulnerability to | More intense rain Increased intensity and frequency of cyclones and storms Increased mean sea levels Food insecurity | Higher temperatures Decrease in precipitation Increased rates of drought Food insecurity Water stress Increased stresses on health |
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