In addition to the hot weather, the weather is predicted to become more severe, with storms and heavy rainfall events becoming more frequent. Flooding is already a major problem in Dhaka and roads and streets often get submerged during rainy days. Apart from this, it has become even more complicated, due to which people are losing their lives in even greater numbers due to the spread of waterborne diseases. For city dwellers, it’s going to be much hotter and much more difficult.
These projected changes in Dhaka’s summer climate require technological innovations, and at the same time, prompt action from urban authorities, governments, NGOs, communities, the general public, and multiple stakeholders. If we plant more trees, create green spaces and take many other measures, we can make our cities cooler, and reduce the suffering of heat for the citizens.
Rising temperatures, rising humidity and increased frequency of extreme weather events in Dhaka require urgent attention as the city experiences severe impacts on health, water and livability through innovative and sustainable approaches. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has a stunning and rapidly evolving urban landscape, with both development opportunities and ecological challenges. With over 24 million inhabitants and expected to grow to over 27 million by 2030, Dhaka poses huge challenges on local resources due to high population pressure and growth rates and at the same time, new approaches are needed to maintain the ecology of the city.