Abstrakt
The chapter addresses perceptions of the role of environmental changes and climate variability on migration patterns in Bangladesh. Climatic changes, together with a combination of other economic and social factors, potentially create significant demographic changes, including both internal and international migration flows.
To analyze the situation, this chapter uses in-depth interviews with local experts in source and targeted migration areas in Bangladesh and India. The interviewees' perceptions confirm some previous studies that the main livelihood activities of the local population are affected by significant environmental changes and sudden-onset hazards.
The local experts perceive these environmental changes as one of the most significant drivers of migration flows to Dhaka and abroad, especially to India. Nonetheless, the results suggest that environmental conditions interact with other economic, cultural and social factors.
The paper includes several recommendations for the local administration, public institutions and governmental agencies with regard to adaptation policies that help to protect the local population against the impacts of climate extremes. The policies should be oriented towards the provision of a safe infrastructure, adequate health care, and children's education.
Settlements in rural areas should be adapted to extreme climate events in ways that protect belongings, animals, crops, and seeds. Priority should be placed on the development of early warning system in all regions, which will allow a swift spread of information to local populations, in turn making way for swift responses to disasters.