Climate Change: Impacts on the Socio-Economic Conditions of Fishing People in the Coastal Region of Bangladesh
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CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACTS ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF FISHING PEOPLE IN THE COASTAL REGION OF BANGLADESH LIPIKA BHADRA Student ID 18318858 Supervisors Chair Supervisor: Associate Professor Daud Hassan Director, International Centre for Ocean Governance (ICOG), School of Law Co-Supervisor: Dr Beatriz Garcia Senior Lecturer School of Law A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Law, Western Sydney University, Australia April 2020 Thesis declaration I certify that the work that has been presented in this thesis under the title “Climate Change: Impacts on the Socio-Economic Conditions of Fishing People in the Coastal Region of Bangladesh” is to the best of my ability, knowledge and belief, original, except as acknowledged in the text. I herewith proclaim that I have not submitted this material, either in full or in parts for obtaining a degree to any other institution other than Western Sydney University. I would also like to certify that the thesis is an original piece of research that has been written by me. Any help or assistance that I have taken during my research work and in the preparation of the thesis has been duly acknowledged. Lipika Bhadra ID 18318858 I Dedication To my respected parents Jitendra Nath Bhadra and Roma Rani Bhadra, my beloved husband Bikash Kumar Saha and my son Arko Saha who have always kept me in their affection, love and prayers. II Acknowledgement I would like to express my grateful thanks to my principal supervisor, Associate Professor Daud Hassan, for his support, comments, guidance and inspiration throughout this tough period of my PhD study. Associate Professor Hassan’s world class expertise has encouraged and inspired me to undertake this research. His valuable comments and feedback have helped me to improve my thesis remarkably. I am very grateful for his academic and mental support during my candidature of this thesis. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my co-supervisor, Dr Beatriz Garcia, for her never-ending patience and intensive guidance. Her constructive feedback on specific chapters and beneficial assistance has tremendously improved the quality and standard of my thesis. Both supervisors closely examined the changes that I made during my review of the structure of my thesis and assisted me significantly. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Professor Donna Craig for inspiring me during this stressful journey. My fellow researchers have also been a source of unwavering support. I want to express my gratitude to all academics of the School of Law for valuable guidance at various stages. My heartfelt thanks also go to the Western Sydney University Librarian and his team for their generous support. I also want to thank the administrative staff in the School of Law who were kind enough to provide me with administrative and logistical support. I duly appreciate the support of the Ministry of Environmental and Climate Change, Bangladesh, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladesh, Finance Ministry, Bangladesh and Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Bangladesh. More importantly, the Climate Change Cell and Climate Change Unit in Dhaka, Bangladesh also deserve thanks for providing information. I express my gratitude to the Ministry of Public Administration, Bangladesh for giving me the opportunity of pursuing this PhD course. Especially, Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Former Principal Secretary to the Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Mr Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Government. I also convey my thanks to Dr Geoffrey Marnell for providing editorial support. III Finally, I thank my husband and my loving son who made this seemingly never-ending study possible for me to finish with their unconditional love, patience and inspiration. Abstract Climate change has been one of the most critical concerns in recent decades globally. Climate change is predicted to have a range of direct and indirect impacts on marine and freshwater capture fisheries, with implications for fisheries-dependent economies and coastal fishing communities. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in the world. Being a coastal country where most of its people’s living is heavily dependent on fishing, the socio-economic rights of the coastal fishing people are being conspicuously affected by climate change. The coastal environments particularly at risk include low-lying coastal plains, sandy beaches, coastal wetlands and coral reefs. Socio- economic conditions of fish farmers, especially in the coastal region in Bangladesh, have been severely affected because of climate change. The impacts of climate change are increasing, including natural disasters—such as rise in sea level—climate disasters and ecological imbalances that are the primary culprits in the demolition, deterioration or diminishment of the socio-economic rights of the coastal fishing people in Bangladesh. This research analyses the impacts of climate change on coastal fishing people as well as the significant human rights of coastal fishing people that are affected by climate change. The research examines the causes, impacts on, and the relation between climate change and the socio-economic and environmental rights of the coastal fishing people. This study investigates the existing international laws, declarations, conventions and agreements that are relevant for the mitigation of the impacts of climate change on coastal fishing people. In order to evaluate the current regime, the research also investigates the legal and institutional arrangements for the improvement of the socio-economic and environmental conditions of the coastal people of three other coastal states of the Bay of Bengal (BoB) including India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. This research critically analyses the existing legal frameworks in relation to climate change and climate-induced impacts on the coastal fishing people of Bangladesh. In light of this, this thesis identifies several social and legal drawbacks that are affecting socio-economic conditions of the coastal fishing communities in Bangladesh. Finally, this research proposes IV recommendations for improving the socio-economic conditions of the coastal fishing people of Bangladesh that could be helpful for policy makers to address the issue more effectively. Publications Lipika Bhadra and Asraful Alam, ‘Disaster Risk Reduction and the Capacity Building Plan: Mitigation of the Impacts of Climatic Disasters in the Coastal Area of Bangladesh’ (2019) 5(2) Journal of Climate Change 1–7. Lipika Bhadra, ‘Global framework: Addressing the Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Population’ (2019) XVIII Journal of Judicial Administration Training Institute 41–72. V List of Abbreviations AASWM Ari Atoll Solid Waste Management ADB Asian Development Bank ADMC Asian Disaster Management Centre ADP Annual Development Programme AMCDRR Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction APFIC Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission AR5 Fifth Assessment Report AUS-AID Australian Agency for International Development BCCRF Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund BCCSAP Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan BCCT Bangladesh Climate Change Trust BCCTF Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund BFDC Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation BFRI Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute BJMSS Bangladesh Jatiya Matshyajibi Samabay Samiti BNEP Bangladesh National Environment Policy BoB Bay of Bengal BOI Board of Investment CB Closed Beels CBD Conservation of Biological Diversity CBC Climate and Environment Division CBMF Community Based Fisheries Management CBO Community Based Organization CC Catch Certificate CCA Climate Change Adaptation CCAC Climate Change Advisory Council CCAP Climate Change Action Programme CCC Climate Change Cell CCD Coast Conservation Department CCPI Climate Change Performance Index CCS Catch Certificate Scheme CCTF Climate Change Trust Fund CCU Climate Change Unit CDM Clean Development Mechanism CDMP Comprehensive Disaster Management Program CECM Clean Energy for Climate Mitigation CEIP Coastal Embankment Improvement Project CFC Chlorofluorocarbon CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species COP Conference of the Parties CRZ Coastal Regulation Zone CSCCNE Coordinated Studies on Climate Change for North East region CZM Coastal Zone Management CZMP Coastal Zone Management Plan VI CZP Coastal Zone Policy DAHD&F Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries DFAR Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources DMA Disaster Management Act DMRD Disaster Management and Relief Division DNP Department of National Planning DoE Department of Environment DoF Department of Fisheries DRR Disaster Risk Reduction EBA Ecosystem-Based Adaptation ECCO Environment and Climate Change Outlook EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone EU European Union EWCE Extreme Weather and Climate Events FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation FAB Fisheries Advisory Board FAR First Assessment Report FIP Fishery Improvement Project FMA Fisheries Management Agency FY Fiscal/Financial Year FYP Five Year Plan GAP Good Aquaculture Practices GCF Green Climate Fund GDP Gross Domestic Product GEF Global Environment Facility GHG Greenhouse Gas GMP Good Manufacturing Practices GO Government organisation GoB Government of Bangladesh GoM Government of Maldives HACCP Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points ICCPR International Covenant