Overview of BDP 2100
Bangladesh faces substantial downside risks from the interface of its deltaic geographical configuration, high population density, and regular episodes of a range of natural disasters including flooding, river bank erosion, sea level rise, salinity intrusion, tidal surge, cyclones and water-logging. Moreover, dry season water shortage and wet season water surpluses; vulnerability from being a lower riparian to much of the river inflows are important characteristics. In addition, the growing water demand from rapid urbanization and industrialization; rapid depletion of groundwater owing to over-exploitation in many areas; arsenic poisoning of ground water; and a range of water quality issues emerging from industrialization and urbanization all combine to make the effective management of the Delta challenge a major driver of national development. In view of the special long-term challenges for development outcomes presented by climate change and natural hazards, the Government of Bangladesh has adopted a long-term integrated tecno-economic plan ‘Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100’ (BDP2100) which was approved at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, presided over by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Chairperson of the NEC, on 4 September 2018.
BDP 2100 seeks to integrate the short to medium term aspirations of Bangladesh to achieve upper middle income (UMIC) status and eliminate extreme poverty by FY2031 and developed country status by 2041 with the longer-term challenge of sustainable management of water, ecology, environment and land resources in the context of their interaction with natural disasters and climate change. The BDP2100 looks primarily at the medium-term delta agenda (2016-40) but is concerned that the decisions taken today have implications for the longer-term agenda for 2040 and beyond. In this regard, it sets up a long-term vision for the evolution of the Bangladesh Delta by the end of the 21st Century but defines short and medium-term goals as steps to reach that vision. These goals, associated strategies, policies, institutions and investments are moving targets and adaptive in nature. They are adaptive to changing natural events in order to respond appropriately and stay the course to the path of the long-term Delta vision. 4 September 2018.
BDP 2100 Vision, Mission and Goals:
A long-term delta vision and mission were adopted in BDP 2100 alongwith three higher-level national goals and six Delta specific goals focusing on water, ecology and land use that contribute to achieving these higher-level goals to realize the mission and translate the vision into reality.
Vision: Achieving safe, climate resilient and prosperous Delta
Mission: Ensure long term water and food security, economic growth and environmental sustainability while effectively reducing vulnerability to natural disasters and building resilience to climate change and other delta challenges issues through robust, adaptive and integrated strategies, and equitable water governance.
Higher level National goals:
- Goal 1: Eliminate extreme poverty by 2030;
- Goal 2: Achieve upper middle-income status by 2030, and
- Goal 3: Being a prosperous country beyond 2041.
BDP 2100 Delta specific goals:
- Goal 1: Ensure safety from floods and climate change related disasters;
- Goal 2: Enhance water security and efficiency of water usages;
- Goal 3: Ensure sustainable and integrated river systems and estuaries management;
- Goal 4: Conserve and preserve wetlands and ecosystems and promote their wise use;
- Goal 5: Develop effective institutions and equitable governance for in-country and transboundary water resources management; and
BDP2100 Strategies
Furthermore, BDP has provided nation-wide strategies on i) Flood Risk and ii) Freshwater Management. It has also provided strategies for a total of 9 thematic areas:
i) Water Supply Sanitation and Waste Management; ii) Transboundary Water Management; iii) Dynamizing Inland Water Transport System; iv) Agriculture, Food Security, Nutrition and Livelihood; v) Sustainable Land Use and Spatial Planning; vi) Environment, Ecology and Bio-Diversity; vii) Advancing the Blue Economy; viii) Renewable Energy and ix) Earthquake.
BDP 2100 has also devised strategies for six hotspots (the planning unit of BDP 2100):
i) Coastal Zone, ii) Barind and Drought Prone Areas, iii) Haor and Flash Flood Areas, iv) Chattogram Hill Tracts, v) River Systems and Estuaries and vi) Urban Areas.
The formulation of BDP2100 and its implementation is a complicated process, as a holistic approach is being applied to a complex delta with long-term time horizon and its execution. Adaptive Delta Management basically means managing uncertainty and risks, being prepared to some extent, able to adapt as and when required and when better solutions are available. In this respect, BDP2100 requires changing the usual planning and decision-making process impacting the delta and related governance and institutional environment.