Book launch: Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change in Bangladesh by Bangladesh Scientist Dr Younus
Bangladeshi-Australian Research Fellow of Adelaide University, Dr Younus’ book entitled ‘Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change in Bangladesh’ has recently been published by the Springer (Netherlands). Nobel Laureate Professor Yunus has endorsed, and made comments on this book. The book launch of this book will be held on 25th September, Thursday at 1.30-2.30 pm at the Edgeloe and Basten Rooms in Mitchell Building in Adelaide University. Professors Warren Bebbington, Vice Chancellor of Adelaide University and Nick Harvey, Nobel Laureate and Director, Centre for Coastal Research, University of Adelaide both have agreed to become chief guests for this program. Ministers of SA, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities ans Social Sciences, Heads of the School and Department along with various academics and different professionals from the University of Adelaide and other Universities of SA would be participating on this occasion.
It would be highly appreciated if you accept to participate in this event and enjoy the multicultural book launching program.
Please confirm (md.younus@adelaide.edu.au; tel: 0425358973) if you want to participate. Bangladeshi food will be provided for launch.
Recent Book:
Younus, M. (2014): Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change in Bangladesh: Process, Assessment and Effect, Springer Netherlands, Foreword written by Nobel Laureate Professor Harvey (recognised in the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize as one of IPCC Lead Authors); endorsed by Nobel Laureate Professor Yunus.
About the book
The IPCC (2007, 2014) warned that the megadelta basins in South Asia, such as the Ganges Brahmaputra Meghna (GBM) will be at greatest risk due to increased flooding, and that the region’s poverty would reduce its adaptation capacity. A key issue in assessing vulnerability and adaptation (V&A) in response to extreme flood events (EFEs) in the GBM river basin is the concept of autonomous adaptation. This book investigates autonomous adaptation using a multimethod technique which includes two participatory rapid appraisals (PRA), a questionnaire survey of 140 participant analyses over 14 mauzas in the case study area, group and in-depth discussions and a literature review.
The study has four key approaches. First, it reviews the flood literature for Bangladesh from 1980 to 2014 and identifies a general description of flood hazard characteristics, history, and research trends, causes of floods and types of floods. Second, it examines farmers’ crop adaptation processes in a case study area at Islampur, Bangladesh, in response to different types of EFEs and describes how farmers have been adapting to the extreme floods over time. Third, it assesses the V&A in response to three EFEs in 1998, 1995, and 1988. V&A are categorized on the basis of a weighted matrix index. The book uses PRA methodology and makes an important methodological contribution for assessing V&A. Fourth; the book assesses the economic consequences of failure effects of autonomous adaptation in response to EFEs. The results show that Bangladeshi farmers are highly resilient to EFEs, but the economic consequences of failure effects of autonomous crop adaptation (FEACA) on marginal farmers are large. These failure effects are defined as total crop loss against potential production, plus total agricultural cost multiplied by the number of flood events in the studied area. Total agricultural cost includes cost of seedlings, fertilizer, pesticides, land preparation, human labor, and watering. The book estimates that the crop- related loss plus plants and houses damaged due to extreme flooding in 1998 in Bangladesh was US$14001.26 million.
The book contributes to current knowledge by filling three important research gaps as follows: (1) farmers’ autonomous crop adaptation processes in response to various types of EFEs; (2) methodological contribution for assessing V&A through PRA; and (3) the economic consequences of the failure effects of autonomous crop adaptations. The findings of this study can act as a guide to policy decisions for effective allocation of adaptation funds at community level in Bangladesh. The book concludes that urgent action is needed to improve the sustainable crop adaptation capacity at community level in the foreseeable future to cope with extreme floods under a regime of climate change.
Recent Articles/Papers:
1. Younus, M. (in press): Flood vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in Bangladesh: A Review, Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, Forthcoming, Print ISSN: 1464-3332, Online ISSN: 1757-560
2. Younus, M. and Harvey, N. (2014): Economic Consequences of Failed Autonomous Adaptation to Extreme Floods: A Case Study from Bangladesh, Local Economy, Volume 29 Issue 1-2 March 2014 pp. 20 – 35, The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit, SAGE Publication, UK. ISSN 0269-0942 (Print), 1470-9325 (Web).
3. Younus et al. (2014). Integrated Assessment and Decision-Support Tool for Community-based Vulnerability and Adaptation to Storm Surges in Four Coastal Areas in Bangladesh. In: Opportunities for the Critical Decade: Enhancing well-being within Planetary Boundaries. Presented at the Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics 2013 Conference, The University of Canberra and Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics, Canberra, Australia.
4. Alam, T. & Younus, M. (2014). Responses and Barriers of New Migrant Communities to Extreme Heat: A Case Study in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield in South Australia. In: Opportunities for the Critical Decade: Enhancing well-being within Planetary Boundaries. Presented at the Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics 2013 Conference, The University of Canberra and Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics, Canberra, Australia.
5. Younus, M., and Harvey, N. (accepted): Assessment of Vulnerability and Adaptation to Storm Surges: A Community-Based Case Study in Bangladesh, Risk Management Journal. ISSN: 1460-3799, EISSN: 1743-463
6. Younus, M. and Sharna, S. (accepted): Combination of Community-based Vulnerability and Adaptation to Storm Surges in Coastal Regions of Bangladesh, Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, Forthcoming, Print ISSN: 1464-3332, Online ISSN: 1757
7. Younus, M. (under review): Autonomous Crop Adaptation Processes to Extreme Floods: A Case Study in Bangladesh, Submitted in the Environmental Hazards.
