Climate Migrants

Abstract

While climate change is creating a wave of migrants globally due to a variety of impacts, sea level rise is a particular threat to the 200 million people living at or below sea level. While wealthy nations may have the resources to build sea walls, relocate communities, and undertake other costly remedies, poorer nations may lack the financial resources to do so. Bangladesh is one of the countries most vulnerable to sea level rise-related climate migration. With 28% of Bangladeshi living along the coastline and the nation facing a potential loss of 11% of its land by 2050, an estimated 1 in 7 Bangladeshi will be displaced by the effects of climate change by 2050. In this unit, you’ll assess three options for easing the impacts of rising sea level on agricultural production in coastal regions of Bangladesh: planting salt-tolerant rice, switching to salt-tolerant aquaculture, and constructing polders to protect existing cropland along the coast from flooding. Your suggested remedy must consider social, economic, and ecosystem needs to ensure a sustainable solution.