Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh and its Challenges

On September 4, 2018, the Bangladeshi government approved the Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh (BDP 2100), with the goal of creating a "safe, climate-resilient, and prosperous Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh" by the year. Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh, or something similar, is the strategy for advancing Bangladesh towards the close of the twenty-first century.

To create Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh exactly the way we want to establish Bangladesh in the upcoming years of this century, efforts have been done in that direction.

Indeed, Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh is a collection of long-term plans and follow-up initiatives for ensuring long-term food and water security, economic development, and environmental sustainability while significantly lowering vulnerability to natural disasters and increasing resilience to climate change and other challenges in the delta through effective, adaptive, and integrated plans and fair water governance.

In fact, a long-term plan is required due to the Bangladesh delta's complexity and dynamics in order to handle problems and take advantage of opportunities. Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh, a comprehensive and integrated plan taking into account various themes and sectors for the entire country, was developed by the General Economics Division (GED) of the Bangladesh Planning Commission in response to that need and under the direction of the Hon'ble Prime Minister.

This mega plan includes a description of the requirements for managing natural resources. Alongside that, it also includes a techno-economic plan that addresses economic and technological matters (such as GDP growth, poverty reduction, employment, food security, and investment) for the entire nation. A 2030 investment activities connected to the mobilizing of financial resources is part of Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh, which is also a workable plan.

This plan's heavy focus on climate change challenges, including temperature rise, unpredictable rainfall patterns, sea level rise, etc., is another crucial aspect, and it did so by using an Adaptive Delta Management (ADM) strategy. The climate change issue has been included as an exogenous variable in Delta plan-2100's development planning for the first time in any development planning.

Two policy alternatives are taken into consideration in order to highlight the function of Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh and its Challenges its contribution to the long-term development of Bangladesh. One is known as the Business As Usual (BAU) Policy Option, in which it is shown that as the negative effects of climate change and natural disasters worsen, the GDP growth rate gradually starts to slow down and capital efficiency declines, leading to a reduction in agricultural output, unemployment, migration, and pressure on urbanization.

In order to attain higher and more sustainable growth trajectories in the face of diverse weather-related natural hazards and dangers, the Delta Plan (DP) Policy Option, the second option, comprises the implementation of substantial climate change related adaptation measures.

This DP policy choice will enable us to assure becoming a rich nation by 2041 as well as the national level goals of eradicating extreme poverty and obtaining UMIC status by 2030. Additionally, according to the macroeconomic analysis conducted for Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh, the end of extreme poverty would occur around 2041 under the Business As Usual (BAU) policy option. However, if the nation chooses the Delta Plan policy option, extreme poverty might be gone by 2027. Without BDP 2100, the Bangladesh Delta is expected to experience annual economic loss of 1.7% of GDP or more as a result of the effects of climate change and natural disasters.

The cornerstone of Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh is the management of water resources using Adaptive Delta Management (ADM). It is a long-term, comprehensive, and integrated plan. With the effects of climate change and natural disasters as the exogenous factor, efforts have been undertaken to combine integrated water resources management (IWRM) with economic growth and development. In BDP 2100, water is regarded as being the most crucial element for the sustainability of this delta, both for the ecosystem and for people.

Various areas that address water security, climate change impact and environmental sustainability, food security and livelihood, economic growth, social development, knowledge development, biodiversity conservation, forestry, crop production, and other topics are important IWRM components. The precise goals for Delta are defined in accordance with this.

The objectives are to protect people from floods and disasters caused by climate change, ensure water security and efficient water use, ensure sustainable and integrated river system and estuary management, conserve and preserve wetlands and ecosystems and encourage their proper use, develop efficient institutions and equitable governance for in-country and trans-boundary WR management, and achieve the best possible use of land and water resources.

All of these objectives are connected to the SDGs, either directly or indirectly. It should be noted that each of the six BDP 2100 goals is entirely connected to SDG Goals 2, 6, 13, and 14, and only loosely connected to Goals 1, 5, 8, 9, and 11 and 15. In order to realis Bangladesh's Vision for 2041, the 8th Five Year Plan (FYP) as well as the 2nd Perspective Plan (2021-41) will continue this linkage, supported by relevant actions and policy.

Three levels, namely National (Flood Risk Management and Fresh Water), Hotspot-based, and plans for cross-cutting concerns, are where Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh plans and interventions are developed. Sustainable land use and spatial planning, agriculture, food security and livelihood, transboundary water resource management, active inland water transport system, blue economy, renewable energy, and earthquake preparedness are all cross-cutting concerns taken into account by BDP.

The fact that this massive plan adhered to the idea of "Living with Nature" and added "no regret" precautions is one of its standout characteristics. The goals of "economic growth" and "environmental sustainability" are taken into account for all of the strategies and related interventions. All parties were involved in the development and implementation of Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh. Lessons from all other pertinent plans and policies have been included into the plan's development.

The plan itself is "horizontally" and "vertically" integrated, which is most crucial. Baseline investigations in 26 key areas pertinent to the are another crucial activity carried out prior to the creation of the strategy. Studies on climate change, natural resources, the environment, and ecology were done, with a review of previous findings and consideration. All of these baseline investigations were examined and eventually accepted by the Technical Advisory Committee, a group of renowned academics, researchers, subject matter experts, and professionals.

Only the first step has been taken towards attaining a safe, climate-resilient, and profitable delta with the formulation and approval of Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh. The biggest difficulties surround its successful execution. There aren't many issues that need to be handled methodically and clearly. the coordination between/between/within agencies and ministry/divisions; the alignment of planning, implementation, and financing activities of Delta ministries/divisions with BDP 2100; the alignment of delta implementation works with Annual Development activities (ADP); the design of the appropriate mode of financing for PPP related projects under investment plan; and the financing of its investment plan.

In addition to the cooperation and coordination of all the parties, we should start certain initiatives right now to solve the aforementioned difficulties. These include creating the "Delta Wing" in the GED to provide overall support, direction, and coordination for the BDP 2100 implementation, creating the "Delta Fund" and the necessary institutional arrangements, creating the "Delta Knowledge Hub" to host, update, and share data/information gathered for and relevant to the BDP 2100, and presenting the BDP 2100 to the development partners and negotiating with them to secure investments for the projects.

For BDP 2100 to be implemented successfully, coordination and cooperation amongst implementing agencies as well as cooperation with upper riparian countries are considered essential. These include the creation of the "Delta Wing" in GED for general support, direction, and coordination of the BDP 2100 implementation, the "Delta Fund" and pertinent essential institutional arrangements, and the "Delta Knowledge Hub" for hosting, updating, and sharing of data and information gathered for and pertinent to the Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh .developing new pricing policies for Water and Sewerage services; presenting BDP 2100 to the development partners and negotiating with them to secure investments for the projects listed in the IP of BDP 2100; reviewing the concepts for the Water User Association (WUA) and its Terms of Reference (TOR).

The primary worry for the upcoming days is the successful deployment of BDP 2100. The proper technical capability of the pertinent organizations is primarily responsible for successful implementation. To help with the implementation of Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh , GED is working on a project to address this issue. The project seeks to promote institutional strengthening, capacity building, facilitation of implementation, support for investment planning and funding, validation of investment plan, and review and update Delta plan-2100 in Bangladesh , as deemed essential, with continuously advancing new knowledge and tools.

With the assistance of local, national, and international specialists and a large number of stakeholders from all spheres of life, the plan took four years to develop. It was to verify by technical specialists as well as government policy officials at every level of its development until its final approval. In this regard, we look forward to the government's active involvement, contribution, and support as well as that of the private and civic society and the media.