Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) Delta

Climate change is intensifying globally with profound implications for vulnerable communities, particularly in low-income countries like Bangladesh. In the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) delta region, the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related events–such as flooding, cyclones, and salinity intrusion–result in irreversible losses. For households with limited economic resources and weak social safety nets, these disruptions compromise livelihoods, food security, and sustainable methods of resilience.

Despite their proximity to freshwater, millions of people in coastal areas face acute challenges accessing it. In regions like Satkhira, residents often travel miles to collect rainwater during the dry season, while others rely on saline water, risking health issues like diarrhea, cholera, and skin disease. The rise in salinity due to climate change and human activities such as shrimp farming exacerbates this crisis, affecting both human health and agricultural practices. Across the GBM delta, persistent inequalities in education, employment opportunities, and economic empowerment affect both men and women, though women and children are disproportionately impacted by climate change.

Projections suggest that by 2050, one in seven people throughout the country will be displaced by climate-related events, heightening stressors like food insecurity and increasing risks associated with accelerated migration. This unfolding narrative underscores the urgent need for collective action in the face of rising environmental pressures.