The context

Bangladesh, with a land area of 14,570 square kilometres, is a vast delta. It possesses a distinctive natural resource base with approximately 80% of its land comprising flood plains and wetlands adorned by more than 7,000 rivers. Situated in close proximity to the Eastern Himalayas and serving as the receiving country for most of its watershed Bangladesh is extremely susceptible to frequent flooding.

Bangladesh, being one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world, is exposed to a high range of climate vulnerabilities such as erratic rainfall pattern, tropical cyclones, sea level rises, salinity intrusion, floods and droughts. The coastal and mangrove areas (the Sundarbans: about 39,400 sq.km.), are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise.

It is therefore essential to incorporate climate risk information when it comes to state investments in infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and highways.  

The Planning Information System (PLIS) and the Climate Check Method (CCM)

A Planning Information System (PLIS) based on a Geographic Information System (GIS) has been developed. It provides planning officials with a digitalized tool to appraise government investment projects with a climate change adaptation lens. Climate risk information and geospatial data becomes accessible and usable, allowing the potential impacts of climate change such as floods, cyclones or extreme heat to be taken into account. This allows for the creation of resilient infrastructure and services that can withstand future climate conditions. PLIS is a user-friendly digital platform that enables government officials from different wings and Sector Divisions of the Bangladesh Planning Commission to use climate risk information effectively.

Relevant information, such as the historical and current behaviour of rivers, including their changes over the past ten years, is integrated into PLIS giving stakeholders crucial insights into climate risks and potential necessary adaptations.

Suppose, for instance, that there is a proposal to construct a power plant in Bangladesh. The user can create a new project in PLIS including the desired location of the plant.

In the user interface, various layers such as water resources, physical features, soil condition, spatial planning and land use or disaster management can be selected for spatial analysis.

After the relevant layers have been selected the user will be forwarded to the Climate Check Method (CCM).  

The CCM is designed to help identify and develop appropriate adaptation measures that are specific to a particular location or region in Bangladesh. The CCM is a framework that has been created by drawing upon the Climate Check Questions. These questions have been formulated by analysing various plans, reports, guidelines, laws and policies of the Bangladesh government. After analysing the selected relevant climate information and answering the CCM questions a PDF that summarizes the findings will be generated.

How can better data contribute to better policy?

By integrating climate data into policy formulation, policymakers can identify vulnerable areas, assess potential risks and develop targeted strategies for adaptation and mitigation. This data-driven approach promotes evidence-based policymaking, enhances resilience planning and ensures that policies align with the long-term goal of sustainable development in the face of climate change challenges.

Where do we go from here?

After handing over PLIS and CCM to the political partner, the Planning Commission will extend the project for another year to further the roll out of this approach. The software is interoperable with the Planning Commission's in-house software allowing the tool to be anchored within the move to digitalize the complete public investment project appraisal process. PLIS and CCM can potentially also be used during the planning of new government projects, allowing climate risks information to be incorporated from the very beginning.