Evaluating climate change governance in Bangladesh—perspectives of governmental and non-governmental organisations

Climate change issues have become a major concern for many people in Bangladesh. Effective climate change governance practices reinforce various actions to reduce the adverse effects of climate change from a national to local level. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the climate change governance practices of governmental and non-governmental organisations in Bangladesh. The study specifically investigates community perceptions of climate change governance practices in a coastal subdistrict (Hatiya Upazila of Noakhali) of Bangladesh. The literature review undertaken for this study provided a synthesis of the current understanding of the research issue. Five criteria - accountability, transparency, participation, government effectiveness and resources - were used to assess climate change governance practices at the national and local level. A mixed-method research design, combined with an interpretative phenomenological approach, was applied to interpret the study findings. Head-of-household surveys, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to collect data from the study areas. Secondary sources of data and information were used to support the study findings. Governmental organisations, even with their limitations, play an important role in maintaining accountability, transparency and the participation of relevant stakeholders in various climate change-related projects and programs. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), along with government organisations, work to enhance the capacity of vulnerable communities to withstand climate change–induced disasters. This study found that NGOs are following many of the governance criteria that will ensure their actions are most effective. Moreover, it was clear that climate change governance is becoming an important issue in the local communities, as people are the main victims of climate change effects. Many challenges remain in the way climate change governance is currently practiced in Bangladesh. Based on the research findings, this thesis proposes several recommendations to improve existing climate change governance practices in Bangladesh.