Climate change related migration in Bangladesh

The document examines the dual nature of climate-influenced migration in Bangladesh, noting that while it can drive economic growth and serve as a vital adaptation strategy, it also exposes migrants to exploitation and poor living conditions in cities like Dhaka. It argues for proactive policies to protect migrant rights and enhance the adaptive potential of movement.

• Migration in Bangladesh is driven by a complex mix of factors; while approximately 9.7 million people are estimated to migrate over the next 40 years from areas facing climate stresses, less than a million of these are attributed specifically to the added impact of climate change, with the rest driven by population growth, economic needs, and existing climate-related stresses.
• Remittances from both internal and international migration support national economic growth and help households cope with natural disasters. International migration on short-term contracts is particularly effective at reducing poverty due to higher wage differentials compared to internal migration to Bangladeshi cities.
• Migration functions as a form of climate change adaptation by removing people from hazardous locations, diversifying livelihoods, and providing income sources that are not disrupted by environmental hazards.
• Despite the benefits, migrants often face significant hardships in destination cities, specifically in Dhaka, where they frequently reside in poor housing vulnerable to environmental hazards and lack access to education and health services.
• To maximize the benefits of migration as an adaptation strategy, the document recommends comprehensive policies to protect the rights of internal migrants—particularly in the construction, brick kiln, and garment sectors—and the provision of skills training for urban employment.

APA

Kniveton, D., Black, R., Martin, M., Siddiqui, T., & Islam, M. T. (2013). Climate change related migration in Bangladesh. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/PB-4-max-29102013ed.pdf

Chicago

Kniveton, Dominic, Richard Black, Maxmillan Martin, Tasneem Siddiqui, and Mohammad Towheedul Islam. Climate change related migration in Bangladesh. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2013. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/PB-4-max-29102013ed.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kniveton |first1=Dominic |last2=Black |first2=Richard |last3=Martin |first3=Maxmillan |last4=Siddiqui |first4=Tasneem |last5=Islam |first5=Mohammad Towheedul |title=Climate change related migration in Bangladesh |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=July 2013 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/PB-4-max-29102013ed.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kniveton2013climate, author = {Kniveton, Dominic and Black, Richard and Martin, Maxmillan and Siddiqui, Tasneem and Islam, Mohammad Towheedul}, title = {{Climate change related migration in Bangladesh}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2013}, month = jul, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/PB-4-max-29102013ed.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }