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Climate Change and Sea-level Rise: The Case of the Coast

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The Implications of Climate and Sea–Level Change for Bangladesh

Abstract

The future impact of sea-level rise and climate change on the coastal zone of Bangladesh will depend on the vulnerability and resilience of its physical, biological, social and economic systems. Previous studies have estimated future coastal impacts by calculating the areas of low-lying land and assuming that these areas will be permanently lost under rising seas1. Such studies have failed to address the considerable natural resilience of the Bangladesh coastal zone. For example, the supply of river sediments to the coastal zone may well provide a buffer against sea-level rise. Furthermore, there is considerable human resilience to environmental change; adapting to constantly shifting lands, floods and cyclones is part of the way of life of coastal people. Understanding of such factors is necessary in order to fully assess the future effects of climate and sea-level change on the coast.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. BUP, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    A. Kausher (Visiting Scholar), M. Asaduzzaman (former visiting scholar) & S. Paul (PhD student and Associate of BUP)

  2. Ministry for Planning, State Government of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    R. C. Kay (Coordinator of Coastal Planning)

  3. CEARS, New Zealand

    S. Paul (PhD student and Associate of BUP)

Authors
  1. A. Kausher
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  2. R. C. Kay
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  3. M. Asaduzzaman
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  4. S. Paul
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Environmental and Resource Studies (CEARS), The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    R. A. Warrick (Research Director) (Research Director)

  2. Centre for Research and Action on Environment and Development, Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP), Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Q. K. Ahmad (Chairman) (Chairman)

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© 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Kausher, A., Kay, R.C., Asaduzzaman, M., Paul, S. (1996). Climate Change and Sea-level Rise: The Case of the Coast. In: Warrick, R.A., Ahmad, Q.K. (eds) The Implications of Climate and Sea–Level Change for Bangladesh. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0241-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0241-1_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-4001-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0241-1

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