Climate change hazards vulnerability and resilience capacity assessment for char land women in Bangladesh

Abstract

The physical and geographical characteristics has exposed Bangladesh to recurrent environmental hazards and vulnerable to natural disasters such as flood, tropical cyclone, tornadoes, storm surges, droughts and river bank and coastal erosion, salinity intrusion etc. The frequent climatic extreme events are adversely affecting the poor, marginal communities and their livelihoods in different climate affected zones in the country. The char people are exposed to multiple forms of vulnerability caused by different types of natural hazards than the people in other parts of the country. The physical characteristics inherent in the ecology of char formation make the char-lands one of the most fragile environments in the world. The frequent hazards in the char lands affect the lives of the dwellers especially the char-women severely. In depth analyses and analytical frameworks to understand the nexus between women disaster and climate change are almost nonexistent. As such an explorative study on the vulnerability of poor char land women and linkages between gender disaster and climate change issues, particularly in relation to enhancing women’s resilience capacities to address climate change is of considerable importance. This study attempts to identify the possible impacts and its vulnerability and the resilience capacity of char land women in Bangladesh to the climate hazards like tropical cyclones, storm surges, coastal and riverine erosion and flood water effects etc. Two types of char land areas viz the riverine char lands at Zanjira Upazila under Shariatpur district and coastal char lands at Sonagazi Upazila under Feni district of Bangladesh have been studied for the purpose. The general objectives of this research was to assess the risks and vulnerabilities of char land women and their livelihoods due to different climate hazards and to explore their coping mechanisms during hazards, their resilience capacity and to find out the similarities and dissimilarities between the two types of char women in vulnerability, coping and resilience capacity. Five specific dimensions- physical, economical, social, natural, and institutional were chosen to assess the disaster resilience capacity of women and a Climate Disaster Resilience Index (CDRI) was developed. Based on the index, the research also examines whether and how the women living in these climate vulnerable areas are impacted by multiple climate hazards and are adapting to and coping with the situation in terms of the five dimensions. The findings suggest that the women of the study chars have a discrete rural life style. They have their own coping strategy and show their resilience capacity and cope successfully under the climate stressed situation. They show their ability in coping with and adapting to various physical, socio economic, natural and institutional aspects. Women are marginal in all respects both within households and within society and the char land women are no exception from this. Although women are worse off in all five dimensions compared to men, they show their determination and resiliency and are able to cope in any adverse climatic situation with available resources. They are able to improvise methods and find alternatives to deal with adversities and demonstrate their capability to take responsibilities of their households at time of disasters. Women, particularly the poor are open to take up any economic activity and are active economic agents contributing notably to their family’s survival. However differences exist between the two char lands with respect to the climate disaster resilience index. Despite their many limitations the char land women’s main resources are their confidence, indigenous knowledge and hardworking capacity in harsh situation induced by climatic hazards. As such to support effective coping mechanisms, women inclusive planning and participatory disaster resilient policy are highly recommended to facilitate the sustainable livelihoods for these vulnerable char land women.