Costing the Earth

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Costing the Earth: Qasa’s Farm - Building Resilience in Bangladesh

Qasa’s Farm - Building Resilience in Bangladesh

BBC Radio 4 - Costing the Earth, Qasa’s Farm - Building Resilience in Bangladesh

Qasa Alom explores the future of his farm on the frontline of climate change in Bangladesh

Bangladesh faces sea-level rise and extreme flooding but it’s also adapting fast. Qasa Alom considers the future of his farm and asks what we can learn as extreme events increase.

Qasa Alom has always been told that his family farm in Sylhet, Bangladesh is his heritage. His parents have spent their time and money trying to maintain the estate and his father has always hoped Qasa would take on some of the strain. Born in Britain, Qasa had other ideas about how he wanted to spend his time but he now faces a new challenge; how to protect his family’s roots from climate change.

Bangladesh’s low elevation and high population density make it one of the most vulnerable countries as climate change accelerates extreme weather conditions such as heat and floods and sea-levels rise. Qasa’s village has always faced flooding but the future looks more unpredictable. Now as Qasa considers his future commitment to the farm he finds a country that is battling extremes but also finding solutions.

Early weather warning systems which incorporate local knowledge and using community resolve to insure everyone gets to safety are one example. Changing crops, farming shellfish and growing jute to build up soil naturally are also being trialled and, most importantly, migration by climate refugees is being planned for. As a leader in climate adaptation Bangladesh is leading the world but will it be enough to keep Qasa committed to helping to maintain his family’s way of life here?

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Costing the Earth

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