By Catherine Jacob in Bangladesh

Aklima is 22 years old. Three weeks ago, her village, Chopora, in southern Bangladesh, was one of many to feel the wrath of Cyclone Sidr. She was swept away by the storm surge with her one-year-old child, Koli. She survived, but couldn't save Koli from drowning.

This is just one of the tragic tales we've heard on our short journey through a country that is now on the front line of climate change.

Bangladesh is of course no stranger to extreme weather events. Great floods and cyclones have claimed the lives of millions over the decades. But scientists now insist the most severe cyclones are becoming more frequent, because the oceans which fuel them are warming up.

And there's more bad news for the people of Bangladesh. As climate change causes sea levels to rise, the frequent floods this country is blighted by are also getting worse. In fact, by the end of the century, climatologists predict a fifth of the country will be under water. And some 30 million people here will be climate change refugees.

That's why helping countries adapt to climate change is so high up the agenda at the UN's Bali conference.

The charity Tear Fund has just published a disaster report calling for an adaptation fund to provide £25bn a year to help poor countries like Bangladesh protect themselves from the sea.

That, of course, would involve a huge transfer of wealth from rich countries to their developing global neighbours.

As many environmentalists are keen to point out, Bangladesh has barely contributed to the world's carbon emissions - yet it is now suffering more than most.

This week, the developed world's delegates in Bali will decide whether to put their money where their mouths are.

Comments

[john london 11 Dec 2007 14:40:26]

Posted by: Ashadul Islam, UK 7 Dec 2007 22:13:14
'It is needless to say that rich industrialised nations are mostly responsible for climate change. Their lavish life style is directly related to this global problem.'
The recent problems is an act of God and cannot be blamed on anyone. If countries like Pakistan,India,China and other such like countries spent a lot less on weapons and more on developing their countries and economy there would not be such a high proportion of people in the poverty trap - like the Bangladeshi people. The troble with the islamic nations of this world is that none of them seem willing to accept their own short comings and the oil rich islamic nations are too greedy to help out their poorer islamic brothers. Yet when it comes to Jihad etc they all stick together - why because they just love to kill and maim. Therefore, I for one will never be convinced that the so called climate change is the sole fault of the western world.

[Ashadul Islam, UK 7 Dec 2007 22:13:14]

There should not be any more doubt about climate change. It’s a reality now; and happening across the world – today in Bangladesh and tomorrow in somewhere else. So, accept climate change seriously and make best efforts to check it. Otherwise, nations like Bangladesh will continue to pay heavy prices for climate change. Question is being raised who is to blame for climate change. Who is to pay compensations for the losses being made for climate change? Thousands of poor Bangladeshis have lost everything in recent super cyclone - lands, livelihoods and lives. Claiming compensations is not the way to tackle climate change. It is needless to say that rich industrialised nations are mostly responsible for climate change. Their lavish life style is directly related to this global problem. However, we don’t have enough time to spend on blaming; now we need to work harder to curb carbon emissions. Rich nations will have to come forward with effective planning to check climate change. Remember, no nation will be able to escape climate change if it allows to go unchecked.

[john london 7 Dec 2007 11:14:09]

Jamie Ward, London 7 Dec 2007 01:07:50
Climate change is not the fault of the western countries as our politicians try to make us believe. The causes of climate change has many facets and only one of those facets can be contributed to mankind. Furthermore, if all the developed countries ceased to exist, climate change will still occur. Added to this fact the largest contributors to problem are countries like India, China, America, The Middle East, Africa and last but not least Asia. Britains' carbon footprint is something like 0.08% which in laymans terms is a drop in the ocean. Please wiseup and do not be conned by this money grabbing government that has latched on to the green factor to levy more taxes on the people. Just look at the hype about how Genetically Modified foods were bad for you and that we should all go Organic, another marketing spin to charge more for food. Now the same gurus that preached the praises of organic foods are saying that no evedience can be found that G.M. food is deterimental to our health. Judge for yourself.

[Jamie Ward, London 7 Dec 2007 01:07:50]

I was amazed when i watched this report today. It's tough to think the day to day actions we take in the west are causing things like this but i beleive it's true. I think we all have to start taking accountability for our everyday actions that pollute the world. Some of it can be so simple to make a difference, Well done to Tear Fund for making people aware and leading the way

[john london 6 Dec 2007 11:37:58]

One cannot imagine the loss the people of Bangladesh have and are experiencing. However, we here in Britain have also our own problems with extreme weather and flooding and although I feel sorry for the people of Bangladesh, I cannot help feeling that the Government should look at first the situation in this country and provide the necessary funding to help out own people that have paid their taxes and supported this country through two world wars and now the illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanstan. Why is it that the Government can find huge sums of money for countries like Sudan, Bangladesh and the illegal wars yet find it difficult to fund some life saving drugs, medical procedures,better pensions and last but not least our own indigenous people that are taxed to the hilt and down trodden in favour of immigrants with regard to housing, benefits and concessions with religious requirements. There is an old but true saying 'CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME'

[Scott Hertfordshire 5 Dec 2007 12:26:25]

This is yet another country hit by disaster and many lives were lost. This is not just about money to resolve these issues it's also about awareness and informing the planet how we can all help. This is the about the future of our planet and the people who live here. Climate change has been a concern for many years and is a serious concern. I feel that people are turning a blind eye unless it effects them directly however it's only a matter of time before it does. Yes money does play a huge factor in these situations but how good is money to anyone when the planet you live on is dying. we have reduced our planets life through greed and now is the time we all gave something back to stop so many innocent people dying.

[Khalid 5 Dec 2007 09:07:39]

One cannot even imagine the hurt and anguish such disaters create, however, natural. Bangladesh like many a coastal town has indeed suffered immensly by virtue of underfunding, however, what amazes me further without belief is the fact that as many a muslim nation surrounds the vicinity, local help from those acclaiming to be the faithful spend most time and money on destruction of brotherhood, yet let their own suffer without due care.
As for the 25Bn so required, a tall order indeed, however, I urge all muslims and other such organisation known as terror cells to channel their money towards the builidng of brick houses for these very people as they know, by taking such measure forthwith, they themselves will be on the path to enjoy the fruits of heaven. So, come on "Sign Your Name Across My Heart" and give "Terrence Trent Derby" and the people of Bangladesh and elsewhere something to be proud of in your latter years on earth! However, there will be no defence on the day of judgment. So lets start rebuilding today.