Unlike the alarmist mainstream media coverage of climate change, ICCCAD research looks at climate change and development practically. We don’t think of those affected by extreme floods and rising sea levels as climate change “victims,” but as climate change “warriors.” Alongside the empowerment this change of wording gives to those affected, we acknowledge that there is much to be learned …

Lying in the heart of the world’s largest river delta, Dhaka is both one of the world’s fastest growing cities and one of the most flood prone urban regions in the world. While the city’s first levees or embankments were built under the colonial regime during the 1860s, its first major flood control project was the Greater Dhaka Flood Protection …

I thought the field trip would be nice escape from my routine in Dhaka but I never imagined it would become an inspiration to my work on loss and damage. More often than not, loss and damage is perceived as a calculation of monetary impacts following an extreme event, and more controversially as a method of compensation to developing countries. …

During our journey back on a ferry to Dhaka from Bagerhaat, I kept thinking about the unending resiliency of our people to adapt with the nature’s fury that often disrupts their lives.  I also learned a critical lesson from Dr. Huq.  That people, above all, are at the core of development in Bangladesh. Our field trip took us to several …

Traveling with ICCCAD in rural Bangladesh visiting flood prone communities was an insightful and inspiring experience to a visiting researcher like myself. Although Dhaka has its own crazy charm, coming out of the city always makes one realize what a beautiful country Bangladesh is. Intensely green, with colorful saris hanging out to dry. During our four day trip, we visited …

A colleague told me how a French diplomat arrived at Dhaka airport in tears, but when the time came for him to leave, he was again a wreck and covered in tears. When I first heard this, I thought, “Too right, tears of joy!”. But, with my time in Bangladesh coming to an end, I can finally see the proverbial irony. As …

Arriving in Dhaka the day after a general election embroiled in controversy and starting my time off confined to one neighbourhood because of hartals had me understandably uneasy about my time here at first, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. From the mountains in Bandarban to the rice paddies in Jessore, from a small Hindu village nestled next to …

I had the chance to attend the first Resilience Academy the BRAC CDM centre in Savar and it was an unforgettable experience. All the participants came from different places in the world, with different backgrounds, different experiences and different approaches of what resilience means in the context of climate change. This diversity made the group very vibrant and the discussions so fruitful! …

I visited Bangladesh for ten weeks in the spring, joining the team at ICCCAD as a visiting researcher and volunteer for CBA 07, whilst completing my masters research. My overall experience was fruitful and rewarding, though it held many challenges throughout. My masters research examines the impact of global climate change knowledge for local climate change adaptation. This includes investigation …

My time at ICCCAD has been short, but very rewarding. I came here as a visiting researcher working on a project for my master’s degree thesis, and while I was only in Dhaka two months I will be leaving feeling as if I have accomplished all the goals I set for myself while being here. My research is not particularly …