1.4. Resilience and Adaptive Capacity

Dhaka, the city of more than 12 million people is encompassing both rapidly globalizing economy and infrastructurally poor neighbourhoods. Every day people are migrating to the city looking for a better life and livelihood for various climatic reasons. Among the 5.4 million urban poor living in cities more than 63% live in Dhaka alone, high density of population with limited or no access to services make living conditions challenging.

Dhaka is a bustling metropolis and a key example of urbanization in developing countries. With over 12 million people, it presents a mix of riches and significant poverty. Many people move to Dhaka seeking better opportunities due to climate change effects in their home areas. However, the high population density leads to insufficient services and poor living conditions, making the city a challenging environment for the poor.

Imagine a small town where everyone wants to move to a big city for work. As many people arrive, the city struggles to provide enough housing, schools, and hospitals. This overwhelms the infrastructure, similar to how Dhaka struggles with its growing population.

The future climate change pattern may impact Dhaka from flooding and creating heat island where temperature may become a few degrees higher than the surrounding areas.

Climate change is expected to worsen conditions in Dhaka. This includes increased flooding due to heavy rains and rising waters, as well as the urban heat island effect, where city temperatures rise because of buildings and limited vegetation. Such changes can endanger lives and livelihoods, particularly for the urban poor.

Think of a sponge in water – as you pour water over it, it can become soaked and start to drip everywhere. Similarly, when heavy rains hit Dhaka, the city can be overwhelmed, leading to flooding in poor neighborhoods that are least equipped to handle it.

The research identified several coping strategies, such as making physical modifications within built environment and improvements at the neighbourhood level. To reduce the impacts of waterlogging, they increased plinth height, made barriers at doorfront, arranged higher storage facilities, etc.

In response to flooding and other climate-related issues, the urban poor in Dhaka employ various strategies to cope with and adapt to these challenges. They modify their homes by elevating floors (plinths), building barriers to prevent water from entering, and creating communal efforts to maintain clean drainage systems. These strategies showcase resilience and innovation.

It's similar to how you would protect your belongings during a flood by putting everything on high shelves or using sandbags at your door. The families in Dhaka are instinctively applying similar strategies to safeguard their lives and properties.

Social networks helped people to get assistance during disasters and improved living conditions and livelihood opportunities. Assets accumulated over time increased resilience.

Having strong social networks is crucial for resilience in the face of challenges. In Dhaka, relationships with neighbors and community members enable the urban poor to receive help during crises, improving their chances of survival and recovery. Over time, accumulating assets such as savings and resources enhances their ability to withstand and recover from disasters.

Think of a community or neighborhood potluck where everyone brings a dish to share. When times are tough, people rely on each other for food, support, and assistance, just as the urban poor in Dhaka rely on their networks to help them through difficult times.

The future challenges of adaptation planning in city level needs to be creative, understanding and establishing connections between diversity and complexity..

Adaptation planning for cities like Dhaka must address the unique challenges posed by climate change and urbanization. This requires innovative solutions that recognize the varying experiences of different communities. Effective strategies will not only address current vulnerabilities but also promote sustainable development and resilience for future generations.

Imagine a teacher who must create different lesson plans for various students, recognizing that each learner has unique needs. Similarly, city planners must craft diverse strategies that cater to the distinct challenges faced by different communities within Dhaka.

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