Jubilee Post News & Views
Dr. Seema Javed
Bangladesh faces worsening extreme heat, fuelled by climate change. The country is suffering economic and social setbacks, highlighting further concerns as climate change intensifies,leaving a trail of record-breaking temperatures. They are significantly higher than the country’s average monthly maximum temperature of 30-33°C. As a result of this power cuts rolled across the country, stifling its export industry and raising public health concerns
Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, has been experiencing a notable increase in average temperatures over the years. Historical data reveals a concerning upward trend, with average daytime temperatures rising by approximately 2.74°C in the past two decades.
This increase is much higher than the global average of around 1.2°C and already above the Paris Climate Agreement’s goal of keeping warming below 1.5°C. Bangladesh faces a unique set of challenges or causes that contribute to the intensification of heat waves. Firstly, its geographical location in the tropical region amplifies the effects of climate change.
Additionally, urbanisation and deforestation have led to the phenomenon known as the “heat island effect”, where cities experience higher temperatures in comparison to rural areas. Over 23 million people live in Dhaka, making it the fourth-most populous city in the world.
As climate change intensifies, rising sea levels will cover 17% of the country’s low-lying regions and displace around 20 million people by 2050.
The nation is ranked the seventh-most vulnerable country to climate impacts. It faces increasing risks of flooding, sea level rise and cyclones, which threaten coastal areas and vulnerable communities.
Long-term adaptation strategies are necessary to address these impacts of global warming. However, the country is unable to support the needed adaptation on its own. The World Bank estimates the country will need USD 12.5 billion (3% of the country’s GDP) in the medium term to support adaptation efforts.
Heat Worsens Anxiety Symptoms and Other Disorders
Research has associated heatwaves and extreme heat with a range of mental health impacts. High temperatures are associated with increases in cases of anxiety, depression and suicide. They can also affect behaviour, contributing to increased incidence of aggression, violence and substance use, and can negatively impact attention, memory and reaction time. Sleep difficulties associated with extreme heat can contribute to and worsen such symptoms.
Soaring temperatures can also aggravate symptoms in those with existing mental health conditions. Reports show spikes in heat-related deaths in psychiatric patients and in mental health emergencies in times of high humidity and temperatures.
Heat, Humidity and Mental Health in Bangladesh
In a 2023 study published in journal The Lancet Planetary Health, researchers found that exposure to higher temperatures, humidity and worsening floods in Bangladesh heightened the likelihood of individuals suffering from anxiety and depression. A 1°C temperature rise had a 21% higher probability of an anxiety disorder and 24% higher likelihood of depression and anxiety together. This was a first-of-its-kind study for Bangladesh, contributing to the expanding global body of literature highlighting the significant association between climate stressors and adverse mental health outcomes around the world.
