Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Coastal Afforestation Project
Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA): an evaluation of the “Community-based
Adaptation to
Climate Change through
Coastal
Afforestation in Bangladesh” Project (coastal afforestation/NAPA project).
Josephine Zappia
Due to Bangladesh’s extreme vulnerability to climate related impacts, adaptation is necessary for the political and economic survival of the country (Ali, 1999;
Sajjaduzzaman et al, 2005). Since developing countries have been historically less responsible for the emissions that cause climate change, it is the responsibility of developed countries to finance the cost of adaptation in addition to development aid commitments (Article 4.4 UNFCCC, 1992). To this end, the United Nations
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides support for adaptation under a global governance system, and has made National Adaptation Programs of Action
(NAPA) a requirement for all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in order to provide the space for participatory approaches and community-level inputs in adaptation policy-making (Ayers et al, 2009). Here, the rationale is that the impacts of climate change are experienced locally, so adaptation programs need to be formulated and implemented at the local level (Ayers 2011). The Least Developed Countries Expert
Group (LEG) affirms that “… early engagement of people at the grassroots level will be important in ensuring successful implementation of NAPA initiatives” (LEG,
2002:2).
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF), together with the United Nations
Development Program and the Global Environment Facility, has provided funding for its highest priority NAPA project: a $10.8 billion Coastal Afforestation project (20102013) which aims to reduce “… climate change hazards through coastal afforestation with community participation” in the coastal districts of Barguna and Patuakhali
(Western Region), Chittagong (Eastern Region), Bhola, and Noakhali (Central Region)
Adaptation to
Climate Change through
Coastal
Afforestation in Bangladesh” Project (coastal afforestation/NAPA project).
Josephine Zappia
Due to Bangladesh’s extreme vulnerability to climate related impacts, adaptation is necessary for the political and economic survival of the country (Ali, 1999;
Sajjaduzzaman et al, 2005). Since developing countries have been historically less responsible for the emissions that cause climate change, it is the responsibility of developed countries to finance the cost of adaptation in addition to development aid commitments (Article 4.4 UNFCCC, 1992). To this end, the United Nations
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides support for adaptation under a global governance system, and has made National Adaptation Programs of Action
(NAPA) a requirement for all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in order to provide the space for participatory approaches and community-level inputs in adaptation policy-making (Ayers et al, 2009). Here, the rationale is that the impacts of climate change are experienced locally, so adaptation programs need to be formulated and implemented at the local level (Ayers 2011). The Least Developed Countries Expert
Group (LEG) affirms that “… early engagement of people at the grassroots level will be important in ensuring successful implementation of NAPA initiatives” (LEG,
2002:2).
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF), together with the United Nations
Development Program and the Global Environment Facility, has provided funding for its highest priority NAPA project: a $10.8 billion Coastal Afforestation project (20102013) which aims to reduce “… climate change hazards through coastal afforestation with community participation” in the coastal districts of Barguna and Patuakhali
(Western Region), Chittagong (Eastern Region), Bhola, and Noakhali (Central Region)